Meaning trap
brighten up
make brighter or happier
to make something or someone look or feel happier, or to make a place lighter and more cheerful.
Don't mix these meanings
Same phrase, different job.
to make something or someone look or feel happier, or to make a place lighter and more cheerful.
Another meaning of 'brighten up' is 'become brighter or happier'; compare the examples to keep the meanings separate.
Hear it in context
Notice where the phrase sounds natural.
- A bunch of flowers can really brighten up a room.daily life
- Adding some colorful posters can brighten up a classroom and make it a more inviting place to learn.IELTS speaking
Fix the pattern
Pattern: subject + brighten up + object
WrongYour message really brightened up me.
RightYour message really brightened me up. / ...brightened up my day.
With a pronoun, the object goes in the middle: 'brighten me up'.
Patternsubject + brighten up + object
Use it right
Choose the version that sounds natural in speech.
'Brighten up' is the everyday verb for making a place or person more cheerful; the paraphrase is wordy.
Build natural chunks
Words that usually travel with it.
brighten up + place/personthe roommy daythe placethings
Don't confuse it
Compare with 'decorate', which is only about appearance, not mood.
Related
- brighten up (become brighter or happier) — Another meaning of 'brighten up' is 'become brighter or happier'; compare the examples to keep the meanings separate.