the spirit moves someone

English

Etymology

Reflecting the senses of spirit as enthusiasm, as energy or will ( ≈ notion), or as mood (compare in the mood); sometimes also taken to be a reference to the Holy Spirit.

Phrase

the spirit moves (someone)

1. One desires or decides on something.
   • 1910, P. G. Wodehouse, Psmith in the City:

     'I may possibly say a few words,' said Psmith carelessly, 'if the spirit moves me. Who am I that I should deny people a simple pleasure?'

   • 1963, United States. Congress. House. Committee on Foreign Affairs, Winning the Cold War: The U.S. Ideological Offensive, page 218:

     Let me say that we are open at this point for questions and let's have an interchange as the spirit moves you with respect to bringing out whatever points you are interested in.

   • 1984, Military Media Review, volume 11, number 4, page 18:

     Don't just think about the content of your publication whenever the spirit moves you. Think content FIRST. Then think about HOW you can present all that good CONTENT with some contemporary design strategies.

   • 2016, Emmanuelle Peraldo, Literature and Geography, page 224:

     If the spirit moves me, I can stand in the center of the room. If the spirit moves me in another direction, I can stand in any one of the four corners and in this way bring myself into contact with two walls at the same time.

Related terms

• the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak