ENGLISH
REFERENCE

live up

idiom
Meaning

To fulfil the expectations placed upon one.


Examples
SIMPLE

The new movie did not live up to the hype.

CONTEXTUAL

He worked hard to ensure his performance would live up to the high expectations of his manager.

COMPLEX

Despite the immense pressure to live up to his family's prestigious reputation, he chose a quiet life far from the public eye.

Anchors to
Related idioms8entries
  1. 01

    die the way one lived

    To die because of or after doing something characteristic of oneself, especially something that one enjoyed doing.

  2. 02

    live a lie

    To conceal something about oneself, without the knowledge of which others cannot know one's true character or perspective.

  3. 03

    live and die by

    Be completely reliant upon.

  4. 04

    live and let live

    To be tolerant; to enjoy the pleasures and opportunities which life offers and to allow others to do the same.

  5. 05

    live beyond one's means

    Have a lifestyle where one's spending regularly exceeds one's income.

  6. 06

    live down

    To cause others to forget about something embarrassing that happened to oneself.

  7. 07

    live in sin

    To cohabit as if husband and wife without being married.

  8. 08

    live in the past

    To dwell on and ruminate about past events.

Last updated April 17, 2026