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light up

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light someone or something up

to shine lights on someone or something. (See also light something up.) We lit Fred up with the headlights of the car. Light up the stage and let's rehearse.

See also: light, up

light something up

 

1. to light a fire, a gas burner, etc. I lit the kindling up and soon the fire was going. You light up the stove and get dinner going.

2. to light something to smoke, such as a cigarette, pipe, etc. (See also light someone or something up.) She lit the cigarette up and took in a great breath of the smoke. She lit up a cigarette.

See also: light, up

light up

 

1. to become brighter. Suddenly, the sky lit up like day. The room lit up as the fire suddenly came back to life.

2. [for someone] to become interested and responsive in something. We could tell from the way Sally lit up that she recognized the man in the picture. She lit up when we told her about our team's success.

See also: light, up

light up

to look happy Grandma's eyes would light up when she started talking about her younger days.

See also: light, up

light up something/somewhere

to add excitement to a place or thing She was one of those people who would light up a room. Her personality doesn't exactly light up a television screen - in fact, she's painfully shy.

See also: light, up

light up

1. Become or cause to become more animated or cheerful, as in Her laughter lit up the whole room, or His face lit up when he saw her. This expression transfers physical illumination to human moods. Also see lighten up. [Mid-1700s]

2. Start smoking a cigar, cigarette, or pipe, as in The minute he got outside the church he lit up. [Colloquial; mid-1800s]

See also: light, up

light up

v.

1. To illuminate or be illuminated: All the neon signs along the street light up at night.

2. To cause something to illuminate or be illuminated: The morning sun lit up the room. The miners lit their headlamps up and descended into the shaft.

3. To begin to burn: The gas burners lit up on the first try.

4. To cause something to burn; ignite something: I lit up a match and started the fire. I'll get some wood and light a fire up.

5. To ignite and begin smoking something, especially a cigarette, cigar, or pipe: I went out to the porch and lit up a cigar. He lit his pipe up with a match. She took a cigarette from the case and lit up.

6. To become animated or cheerful: The children's eyes lit up when they saw the size of the cake.

7. To cause someone or something to become animated or cheerful: The presence of the movie star lit up the room. He was feeling sad, but the surprise party lit his face up.

See also: light, up