life of the party, the

Someone who brings a lot of energy and enthusiasm to a social event, perhaps the main focus or source of enjoyment. Bill is definitely the life of the party—he's currently trying to get everyone up to dance!

Fig. a person who is lively and helps make a party fun and exciting. Bill is always the life of the party. Be sure to invite him. Bob isn't exactly the life of the party, but he's polite.

A lively, amusing person who is the center of attention at a social gathering. For example, Eileen was the life of the party, telling one good story after another. [First half of 1800s]

An animated, amusing person who is the center of attention at a social gathering.

A lively individual who helps make a social gathering a success. This term, dating from the first half of the nineteenth century, began as the life and soul of the party, but in time the second half was dropped. Joshua Ferris used it in his short story, “The Pilot”: “His pilot was a comedy in which the main character was a recovering alcoholic. . . . He was the ‘life of the party’” (New Yorker, June 14–21, 2010).