live vicariously through someone

Meanings

1. 1phraseidiom

   to experience life indirectly by watching or hearing about another person's activities, rather than doing them yourself

   Grammar: Takes an object: 'live vicariously through someone'. The adverb 'vicariously' comes before 'through'.

   Patterns

   • live vicariously through someone

   He lives vicariously through his son, who plays professional football.

   After her illness, she lived vicariously through her friends' travel stories.

2. 2phraseidiomdisapproving

   to try to satisfy your own unfulfilled desires by pushing another person to achieve them

   Grammar: Often used in a disapproving way about parents or partners.

   Patterns

   • live vicariously through someone

   Some parents live vicariously through their children, forcing them into activities they never enjoyed.

   Stop living vicariously through your sister and find your own hobby.

Common combinations

live vicariously through someone

She lives vicariously through her daughter's success in dance.

live vicariously through someone's experiences

He lives vicariously through his friends' experiences on social media.

live vicariously through someone else

Instead of living vicariously through someone else, try new things yourself.

Synonyms and how they differ

live through someone vicariously

This has the same meaning but is less common; 'live vicariously through someone' is the standard phrase.

Commonly confused: live vicariously through someone or vicarious liability?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “live vicariously through someone”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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