live wire
Americannoun
noun
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informal an energetic or enterprising person
-
a wire carrying an electric current
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of live wire
An Americanism dating back to 1900–05
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Underneath the quiet sits a live wire: the “Magnificent Seven,” nearly left for dead after a punishing first half of 2026, but quietly coming back to life in the past two weeks.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 19, 2026
"He's a live wire and he's bringing a lot of energy into looking at what the Beatles mean, and what people want these days from us," said Sir Paul.
From BBC ● May 11, 2026
Tessa makes for a captivating protagonist, one who is resourceful and resilient, sardonic and defiant: “A live wire, always throwing off sparks,” in the words of one character.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 17, 2026
The basement of a rowhouse in South Baltimore exploded Saturday morning due to the combustive combination of a live wire and leaking natural gas.
From Washington Times ● Nov. 18, 2023
The nervy factionless girl jolts from her seat as if stuck with a live wire, and they all start toward the door.
From "Allegiant" by Veronica Roth
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
