elevator music

Meaning

Dull, repetitive, and overly soft instrumental music often played in public places like elevators, lobbies, or supermarkets. It is usually used in a slightly negative or sarcastic way to describe music that is boring, unexciting, or generic.

Examples

• I was put on hold for twenty minutes listening to terrible elevator music.

  I was put on hold for twenty minutes listening to terrible elevator music.

• The lobby was quiet except for some generic elevator music playing in the background.

  The lobby was quiet except for some generic elevator music playing in the background.

• This new album is so boring; it sounds like elevator music.

  This new album is so boring; it sounds like elevator music.

• They played jazzy elevator music to keep the waiting room calm.

  They played jazzy elevator music to keep the waiting room calm.

• I can't stand this restaurant's playlist; it's just endless elevator music.

  I can't stand this restaurant's playlist; it's just endless elevator music.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ The restaurant was playing lift music.

  ✓ The restaurant was playing elevator music.

  While 'lift' is British English for 'elevator,' the idiomatic phrase for boring background music is almost universally 'elevator music.'

• ✗ I don't like this elevator's music.

  ✓ I don't like this elevator music.

  Do not use the possessive "'s" here. 'Elevator music' is a compound noun referring to a specific style of background music, not literally music belonging to a specific elevator.

Related Expressions

Practice

• The hold music on the phone line was just cheesy ___.

  💡 Boring, soft background music.

  Show answer

  elevator music

• Why does this cafe play such boring ___ instead of actual songs?

  💡 Generic, unexciting instrumental music.

  Show answer

  elevator music