live wire

American

[lahyv] / laɪv /

noun

Informal.

an energetic, keenly alert person.

live wire British

/ laɪv /

noun

informal an energetic or enterprising person
a wire carrying an electric current

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

live wire Idioms

A highly alert or energetic person. For example, Sally's a real live wire; she brightens up any gathering. This metaphoric term transfers a wire carrying electric current to a lively individual. [c. 1900]

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.

I thought I would have become less of a live wire, but that hasn’t happened.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 21, 2025

I preferred being “that girl who owns that shop” instead of “that girl whose shop ended up closing,” and who felt like a failing live wire because of it.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 26, 2024

The power to the pylon should have been switched off while the work was carried out because it was impossible to maintain a safe working distance from the live wire, Cardiff Crown Court heard.

From BBC • Sep. 6, 2024

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

I’m an irritable live wire right now, and…if I’m completely honest, I’m probably just embarrassed to have anyone else see me this way.

From "Popcorn" by Rob Harrell

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023