raving about something

Meanings

1. 1phrasefixed phraseinformal

   Talking with great enthusiasm and praise about someone or something.

   Grammar: Used after be, as in 'She is raving about the film'; the object follows about.

   Patterns

   • be raving about something
   • rave about someone

   All my friends are raving about that new restaurant downtown.

   He came home from the concert raving about the guitar player.

   The critics were raving about her performance for weeks.

2. 2phrasefixed phraseinformal

   Speaking in a wild, confused, or angry way about a subject.

   Grammar: Often used when someone's words seem unreasonable or out of control.

   Patterns

   • be raving about something

   The man on the street corner was raving about the end of the world.

   She was still raving about the unfair decision hours later.

Common combinations

be raving about

Everyone is raving about the new bakery on Main Street.

raving fan

The singer has thousands of raving fans.

rave about

My parents rave about the old movies they grew up with.

raving review

The play got raving reviews in the local paper.

Synonyms and how they differ

praise

Praise is neutral and can be formal; raving about something is more emotional and informal.

gush about

Gush about also means to praise enthusiastically, but it often suggests slightly too much emotion.

enthuse about

Enthuse about is a more formal British choice; raving about is common in everyday American speech.

Opposites

Word family

rave verb

To praise something very enthusiastically.

rave noun

A large dance party with electronic music.

raving adjective

Wild or talking nonsense, as in 'a raving lunatic'.

Commonly confused: raving about something or raving mad?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “raving about something”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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