9 Polite Ways to Say “It’s Up to You”

Are you trying to figure out how to say “it’s up to you” politely? It’s quite dismissive on its own, so you might need to word it better.

Luckily, we’re here to help. This article has gathered the best synonyms to help you replace “it’s up to you” in your writing. For example:

• The ball is in your court
• The choice is yours
• You decide
• It’s your choice
• I’m leaving it up to you
• I want you to let me know
• You should come up with something
• I’m open to your ideas
• Tell me what you want to do

Keep reading to learn more about these alternatives. There are examples provided for each to show you the situations where they work best.

1. The Ball Is in Your Court

“The ball is in your court” is a great example of what to say instead of “it’s up to you.” It’s an idiomatic expression that shows someone can make all the decisions.

You can use it as a sports metaphor. The implication is that someone holds all the power, and you want them to decide what the outcome should be.

Here are some examples to show you how it works:

• Well, the ball is in your court, Jack. I don’t want to pester you into making the wrong decision.
• The ball is in your court. I’ll do whatever you decide. Just let me know when you’ve thought about it.

2. The Choice Is Yours

“The choice is yours” is a great alternative to “it’s up to you.” You should use it when you want to give someone the power to choose something.

It’s friendly, too, so it works well when you’re trying to encourage someone to pick the right thing to do.

You can also refer to these examples to help you:

• The choice is yours, though, Sara. I won’t sway your decision either way. Let me know what you think.
• Okay, so the choice is yours. There’s no reason for me to be here while you decide the outcome.

3. You Decide

“You decide” is a short and sweet phrase that works well here. It’s a supportive and fairly friendly phrase.

Generally, you can use it when you want someone to make a decision without your (or anyone else’s) input.

However, some may argue that it’s not particularly polite. Generally, though, you can get away with a simple phrase like this one when speaking with friends.

You may want to refer to these examples:

• Well, you decide. I have decided most things lately, so I want someone else to chip in.
• You decide! I’m happy to do whatever you pick. Honestly, I don’t mind at all.

4. It’s Your Choice

“It’s your choice” is a great synonym for “it’s up to you.” It keeps things simple, making sure that someone knows the decision is up to them.

“Choice” gives someone the freedom to decide whatever they want. That’s what makes it such a useful alternative to include in friendly situations.

Also, these examples will help you understand it:

• There is no reason for me to make this decision. So, it’s your choice. What will it be?
• It’s your choice, Jake. I haven’t got a clue which one to pick! It’s all on you.

5. I’m Leaving It up to You

“I’m leaving it up to you” is a decent synonym to use here. You can use it in informal situations when discussing plans with friends.

It only works if you don’t mind what the other person selects, as you are leaving the entire decision in their hands.

Here are a few examples to help you understand it:

• I’m leaving it up to you now. After all, I don’t think it’s wise for me to chip in on this matter.
• Here are the only two choices left to make. I’m leaving it up to you, but I don’t want you to feel pressured.

6. I Want You to Let Me Know

“I want you to let me know” is another way to say “it’s up to you” formally. It shows that you want someone to decide something without you helping them.

“Let me know” also suggests you’re giving them time to think. You may not expect the answer right away. Instead, you might want to give them a short while to think things through.

How about referring to these examples to help you:

• I want you to let me know which choice you want to stick with. I’ll do whichever one you decide.
• Well, I want you to let me know when you’ve decided! There’s no reason for us to wait around.

7. You Should Come Up With Something

“You should come up with something” is a demanding yet respectful phrase. It suggests that someone should help you decide on an outcome.

Generally, it works best when you need help thinking of something. You might want to use it when discussing project plans with a colleague and encouraging them to think about their own ideas.

Also, you can check out these examples:

• You should come up with something on your own. I don’t think I’m going to help you with this.
• I’m afraid you should come up with something without their input. You can certainly do this!

8. I’m Open to Your Ideas

“I’m open to your ideas” is a refreshing and friendly synonym for “it’s up to you.” It lets someone know that you’re happy to hear them out.

You can use this phrase in many informal and formal contexts. While it might work best when talking to friends, there are still some situations when you can include it in a business setting to show that you’re happy working with others.

Here are a few examples to help you:

• It’s OK! I’m open to your ideas! We can figure it out as we go, but the original choice is yours.
• I’m open to your ideas, Mathias. So, which of these will you pick?

9. Tell Me What You Want to Do

“Tell me what you want to do” is a great alternative to “it’s up to you.” You can use it professionally to show that someone has all the power. It shows that they should decide the outcome of something without your input.

Alternatively, it works conversationally when discussing plans with friends. If you want them to decide something without your help, you can ask them to tell you what to do. That way, they can come to their own conclusion without relying on you.

Here are some great examples to show you how it works:

• Can you tell me what you want to do? I need to figure out whether I should bring anything.
• Tell me what you want to do when you’ve decided. We should do it together once you’ve picked it.

Is “It’s Up to You” Rude?

“It’s up to you” is not rude, but it is casual. You should only use it conversationally, so it works best when speaking with friends rather than business partners.

Generally, “it’s up to you” lets someone know that you don’t want to decide something. Instead, you are leaving it up to someone else. It’s a non-committal phrase that some might see as inappropriate in formal settings.

So, we only recommend using it informally. Otherwise, you should find a more suitable synonym for professional settings.