ENGLISH
REFERENCE

up to sb

fixed phr..
B2 Upper Intermediate Oxford

fixed phr.. used to say that someone has the responsibility or the right to make a choice.

fixed phr.. an idiomatic construction indicating that a decision, responsibility, or course of action is the prerogative of the person specified.


SIMPLE

It is up to you to choose the restaurant.

CONTEXTUAL

We have provided all the necessary information, so now it is up to the committee to decide.

COMPLEX

Whether the company survives this financial crisis is ultimately up to the shareholders and their willingness to reinvest.

Usage

usually follows the dummy subject 'it' (e.g., 'It's up to him').

Teaching tip

this phrase is often used to empower the listener or to deflect responsibility; contrast it with 'depend on' which is more neutral and less about personal choice.

Pitfall

It is up for you.It is up to you.the preposition 'to' is required to indicate the person who holds the power of decision.

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