bring the house down

Meaning

This idiom is used when a performer makes the audience laugh, clap, or cheer very loudly. It describes a highly successful, energetic performance that gets an enthusiastic reaction. It is typically used for live shows, stand-up comedy, or musical performances.

Examples

• The comedian's hilarious joke about public transport really brought the house down.

  The comedian's hilarious joke about public transport really brought the house down.

• Her powerful high note at the end of the song brought the house down.

  Her powerful high note at the end of the song brought the house down.

• The school play was amazing; the kids managed to bring the house down.

  The school play was amazing; the kids managed to bring the house down.

• He always knows how to bring the house down with his impressions of famous celebrities.

  He always knows how to bring the house down with his impressions of famous celebrities.

• The band's final encore brought the house down, with everyone standing up and cheering.

  The band's final encore brought the house down, with everyone standing up and cheering.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ The performance brought down the house.

  ✓ The performance brought the house down.

  While 'bring down the house' is occasionally heard, the standard, most natural idiomatic word order is 'bring the house down'.

• ✗ He brought the home down with his performance.

  ✓ He brought the house down with his performance.

  The idiom strictly uses 'house' (referring to the theater audience), not 'home' or 'room'.

Related Expressions

Practice

• The stand-up comic's final routine is sure to ___.

  💡 Make the audience laugh or cheer loudly.

  Show answer

  bring the house down

• She sang so beautifully that she managed to ___.

  💡 Get an enthusiastic reaction from the audience.

  Show answer

  bring the house down