What Does “Lavish sth upon sb” Mean?
“Lavish sth upon sb” means to give someone a lot of something, usually gifts, praise, or attention, in a very generous or extravagant way.
Introduction
The phrase “lavish sth upon sb” is commonly used to describe situations where someone gives something valuable or abundant to another person. Whether it is love, gifts, or compliments, to lavish something upon someone means to do it generously and often with great enthusiasm. Understanding the “lavish sth upon sb meaning” helps learners use this expression correctly in both spoken and written English. This phrase is often used in formal or literary contexts but can also appear in everyday speech when emphasizing generosity or abundance.
Quick Info Box
- Phrasal verb: Lavish something upon somebody
- Type: Transitive
- Level: B2 (Upper-Intermediate)
- Short meaning: To give something freely and generously to someone
Structure (Grammar Rules)
“Lavish sth upon sb” is a transitive phrasal verb. The object (something) is placed between “lavish” and “upon” or after “upon.”
- Separable: Lavish something upon somebody
- Example: She lavished gifts upon her children.
- Or: She lavished upon her children gifts and praise.
The phrase is generally followed by the preposition “upon,” not “on.”
How to Use “Lavish sth upon sb”?
Use this phrase when you want to express that someone is giving something in large amounts or with great generosity. It can refer to material objects like gifts or intangible things like love, attention, or praise. It often emphasizes the abundance and sometimes the extravagance of what is given.
Examples
Imagine a wealthy parent who gives many presents to their child. You can say:
- The millionaire lavished expensive gifts upon his grandchildren during the holidays.
- She lavished praise upon her team after the successful project.
- They lavished their guests with food and drinks at the party.
- Parents often lavish love upon their newborn babies.
- He lavished attention upon his new puppy, buying toys and treats.
These sentences show how “lavish sth upon sb in a sentence” reflects generosity and abundance.
Common Mistakes
People sometimes confuse the preposition or the position of the object. Here are common errors and corrections:
- Incorrect: She lavished gifts on her friends. (should use “upon” instead of “on”)
- Correct: She lavished gifts upon her friends.
- Incorrect: They lavish upon their children love. (object placement is awkward)
- Correct: They lavish love upon their children.
Remember, “lavish” is usually followed by the object before “upon.”
Differences / Synonyms
Similar phrases include “shower sb with sth” and “heap sth on sb.” These also express giving generously but differ slightly:
- Shower sb with sth: Often used informally and suggests giving many things quickly.
- Heap sth on sb: Implies giving a large amount, sometimes too much, often of praise or criticism.
- Lavish sth upon sb: More formal and emphasizes generosity and abundance, often with a positive tone.
For example, “She showered her friends with gifts” sounds casual, while “She lavished gifts upon her friends” sounds more elegant.
Common Collocations
The verb “lavish” is often used with nouns that express abundance or generosity. Common collocations include:
- Lavish praise upon sb: To give a lot of praise.
- Lavish gifts upon sb: To give many or expensive gifts.
- Lavish love upon sb: To show a lot of love.
- Lavish attention upon sb: To pay a great deal of attention.
- Lavish resources upon sb: To provide plenty of resources or money.
Related Phrasal Verbs
Here are related phrasal verbs of lavish sth upon sb:
Real-life Dialogue
Here is a simple conversation using “lavish sth upon sb”:
Anna: Did you see how much John gave his daughter for her birthday?
Ben: Yes, he really lavished gifts upon her! She must feel very special.
Anna: I agree. He always lavishes love and attention on his family.
Practice
Fill in the blanks with the correct form of “lavish sth upon sb”:
- She __________ (lavish / praise / her students) after the exam.
- They __________ (lavish / gifts / their friends) during the festival.
- Parents often __________ (lavish / love / their children).
FAQs
- What does “lavish sth upon sb” mean?
It means to give someone something in a very generous or abundant way.
- Can I use “lavish on” instead of “lavish upon”?
“Lavish upon” is more correct and formal; “lavish on” is less common and may be considered informal.
- Is “lavish sth upon sb” separable?
Yes, you can separate the object and the preposition: “lavish gifts upon her” or “lavish upon her gifts.”
- What kinds of things can be lavished?
Love, praise, gifts, attention, resources, and similar things can be lavished.
- Is “lavish” always positive?
Usually, yes. It suggests generosity, but sometimes it can imply extravagance or excess.
