Meaning

"It's up to you" means "You decide." You give the choice to the other person, either because you really don't mind or because it's their business. The picture is of a decision resting on someone, sitting on top of them like a weight they carry. You'll also hear it with other people: "It's up to the manager," "It's up to the jury."

It is neutral and polite, and it's the friendly version of "whatever". It can go wrong in one situation: when someone asks for your opinion and you keep saying "it's up to you", they may feel you're pushing all the work onto them. Add a small preference to help: "It's up to you, but I'd lean toward the earlier train."

In a conversation

DanielElif
  1. Daniel
  2. Elif
  3. Daniel
  4. Elif
  5. Daniel

Say it out loud

Tap a sentence to hear it. Say it after the voice.

Check yourself

1Elif first says "It's up to you." What does she mean?
2A friend keeps asking where you want to eat, and you keep saying "It's up to you." How might they feel?

Practice · 3 min

Listen, then say each line. "Up" and "you" both get stress, with a soft, open finish.

Say it today

Use it once in a real conversation before tomorrow. Out loud counts, even to yourself.