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.

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

Mr James, a high-voltage utility line worker from Arkansas, lost most of his face when it accidentally touched a 7,200-volt live wire in 2021.

From BBC • Nov. 9, 2023

Madievsky’s prose crackles like a live wire throughout this sometimes hilarious, always harrowing novel.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 19, 2023

I look up at Caleb, whose eyes are alight with knowledge, like there’s a live wire running through each of them.

From "Allegiant" by Veronica Roth

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