nightlife
noun /ˈnaɪtlaɪf/
/ˈnaɪtlaɪf/
[uncountable]- entertainment that is available in the evening and at night
- Our hotel was a short walk from the beach and the local nightlife.
Collocations Town and countryTown and countryTown- live in a city/a town/an urban environment/(informal) a concrete jungle/the suburbs/shanty towns/slums
- live (especially North American English) downtown/in the downtown area/(British English) in the city centre
- enjoy/like the hectic pace of life/the hustle and bustle of city life
- cope with the stress/pressure of urban life
- get caught up in the rat race
- prefer/seek the anonymity of life in a big city
- be drawn by/resist the lure of the big city
- head for the bright lights (of the big city/New York)
- enjoy/love the vibrant/lively nightlife
- have/be close to all the amenities
- be surrounded by towering skyscrapers/a soulless urban sprawl
- use/travel by/rely on (British English) public transport/(North American English) public transportation
- put up with/get stuck in/sit in massive/huge/heavy/endless/constant traffic jams
- tackle/ease/reduce/relieve/alleviate the heavy/severe traffic congestion
- be affected/choked/damaged by pollution
- live in a village/the countryside/an isolated area/a rural backwater/(informal) the sticks
- enjoy/like the relaxed/slower pace of life
- enjoy/love/explore the great outdoors
- look for/find/get/enjoy a little peace and quiet
- need/want to get back/closer to nature
- be surrounded by open/unspoilt/picturesque countryside
- escape/quit/get out of/leave the rat race
- seek/achieve a better/healthy work-life balance
- downshift to a less stressful life
- seek/start a new life in the country
- (British English, informal) up sticks/ (North American English, informal ) pull up stakes and move to/head for…
- create/build/foster a strong sense of community
- depend on/be employed in/work in agriculture
- live off/farm/work the land
- tackle/address the problem of rural unemployment
Culture nightlifenightlifeWhat people do in the evening depends very much on where they live as well as on their tastes. In Britain Friday and Saturday evenings in most city centres are busy, with crowds of mainly young people moving between cinemas, pubs, clubs and bars. In rural areas people often go to the local pub but if they want more choice of entertainment they have to travel to a town. Similarly in the US, people living in New York have very different possibilities for a good night out compared with those living in small towns.Pubs in Britain attract a wide range of age groups. Older people tend to choose quieter pubs where conversation is easier than in the pubs and bars that are popular among younger people, where loud music is played. The main activity is drinking, usually beer or lager (= a type of pale light beer). People have to be over 18 to drink alcohol. Some pubs also have live music. Pub crawls, in which several pubs are visited in one evening, are popular with younger people. When pubs close people may look for something to eat or go to a club.Bars are often aimed at trendy young people, and cocktail bars are usually smarter and more expensive. In the US bars range from those popular with students, where the drinks are cheap, to those in hotels where customers must dress smartly. Bartenders make hundreds of different drinks by combining various kinds of alcohol. The British custom of buying a round, when each person in a group takes a turn to buy a drink for everyone else, is not always the rule in the US. Sometimes each person pays for his or her own drinks, or a group might run a tab (= the bartender writes down what they have) and then everyone pays part of the bill when they leave. Some bars provide free snacks, especially during happy hour (= a time when drinks cost less). In the US people must be over 21 to drink alcohol. There are special alcohol-free bars for teenagers.A popular activity among young people is to go clubbing (= go to clubs to drink and dance). There is a charge to get in and drinks are usually more expensive than in pubs. Cities like New York and London are famous for their clubs. The music is usually modern dance music but some play soul, jazz or pop.People living in or near a city or town can go to the cinema (NAmE movie theater) or theatre or to a concert. Large concert venues in Britain include the Albert Hall and the O2 Arena in London, and the Manchester Arena. In the US people occasionally go to dinner theater: they sit at tables in a theatre for a meal and stay there afterwards to watch a play. Other places to go include comedy clubs, where comedians perform live, and sports events.Gambling is illegal in some parts of the US but in Las Vegas and Atlantic City there are many casinos where people can gamble. Some communities run bingo games for low stakes (= bets). In Britain there are casinos and bingo is also popular.Going out for dinner in a restaurant is a very popular activity. Many people also enjoy entertaining at home. They may have a dinner party for a few friends or a party with drinks and snacks to which many people are invited.