110+ Feelings and Emotions idioms with meanings and examples
Learn useful Idioms to express feelings and emotions in English.
All the Rage
Meaning: Very much in fashion
Example: Yoga pants are all the rage in North America right now, but in two years probably nobody will be wearing them.
Air Rage
Meaning: Angry behavior inside an airplane
Example: Most people are calm on long plane flights, but once in a while you have to deal with air rage, usually fueled by alcohol.
Break a leg
Meaning: good luck
Example: Break a leg for your performance tonight.
Butterflies in my stomach
Meaning: feeling nervous or anxious
Example: Before the exam, I had butterflies in my stomach.
Act One’s Age
Meaning: To be mature, not childish
Example: I don’t care if Amber did steal your doll. That’s enough crying. Act your age!
Out of Sight, Out of Mind
Meaning: When you don’t see something or someone, you tend to forget about that thing or person.
Example: When I broke up with Jake, I was heartbroken. But since he moved away, I hardly ever think about him. Out of sight, out of mind!
Chase your tail
Meaning: to be busy but without achieving anything
Example: I’ve been chasing my tail all day and haven’t completed anything.
Cold feet
Meaning: being scared to do something that you have agreed to do
Example: He got cold feet before the wedding and ran away.
Cry over spilt milk
Meaning: to lament something that has already happened
Example: Don’t cry over spilt milk, just move on and find a solution.
Cup of tea
Meaning: something that one enjoys or is interested in
Example: Playing sports isn’t really my cup of tea.
Cut the mustard
Meaning: to meet the required standard
Example: He didn’t cut the mustard and was fired from his job.
Devil’s advocate
Meaning: taking an opposing view for the sake of argument
Example: She played devil’s advocate and presented the opposite opinion.
Diamond in the rough
Meaning: someone or something with potential but needs improvement
Example: The new singer is a diamond in the rough, but needs some polishing.
Do or die
Meaning: to succeed or fail completely
Example: It’s a do or die situation, we have to win this match.
Draw a blank
Meaning: to be unable to recall or remember something
Example: I drew a blank when I was asked the answer to the question.
Drive Someone Up the Wall
Meaning: Deeply irritate someone
Example: When Marie hums at her desk, it drives up up the wall.
Down in the Dumps
Meaning: Depressed, sad
Example: You’ve been down in the dumps all week. Let’s go to the football game – that’ll cheer you up.
Drop a bombshell
Meaning: to reveal unexpected or shocking news
Example: He dropped a bombshell by announcing he was quitting his job.
Eat your heart out
Meaning: to be jealous of someone or something
Example: He can eat his heart out as I got the promotion he wanted.
Elephant in the room
Meaning: an obvious problem or issue that people avoid discussing
Example: His drinking problem was the elephant in the room that no one wanted to talk about.
Eye candy
Meaning: someone or something visually appealing
Example: The new car is real eye candy.
Face the music
Meaning: to accept the consequences of one’s actions
Example: He knew he was going to be fired and had to face the music.
Fair-weather friend
Meaning: someone who is only a friend during good times
Example: She is a fair-weather friend who is only around when things are going well.
Feather in one’s cap
Meaning: an accomplishment or achievement to be proud of
Example: Winning the marathon was a feather in his cap.
Feel blue
Meaning: feeling sad or depressed
Example: I’m feeling blue today, and don’t feel like doing anything.
Fit as a fiddle
Meaning: in good health and physical condition
Example: She exercises daily and is fit as a fiddle.
Fly off the handle
Meaning: to become very angry quickly
Example: He flew off the handle when he saw the damage to his car.
Get cold feet
Meaning: to become nervous or scared about something
Example: She got cold feet and cancelled her wedding.
Get the ball rolling
Meaning: to start something
Example: Let’s get the ball rolling on this project.
Get Carried Away
Meaning: Become overly enthusiastic
Example: Sure, you can invest a little money, but don’t get carried away – people lose lots of money on the stock market.
Get your act together
Meaning: to start behaving properly
Example: You need to get your act together and start studying.
Give someone the cold shoulder
Meaning: to ignore someone
Example: She gave him the cold shoulder after their argument.
Go the extra mile
Meaning: to do more than is expected
Example: She always goes the extra mile to help others.
Have a heart of gold
Meaning: to be kind and generous
Example: She has a heart of gold and is always helping others.
Head in the clouds
Meaning: to be daydreaming or not paying attention
Example: He has his head in the clouds and didn’t hear what I said.
Hit the nail on the head
Meaning: to be exactly right
Example: She hit the nail on the head when she said we needed more staff.
In the heat of the moment
Meaning: acting impulsively or without thinking
Example: He said some hurtful things in the heat of the moment during the argument.
Jump for joy
Meaning: to be extremely happy or excited
Example: She jumped for joy when she got accepted to her dream school.
Kick the bucket
Meaning: to die
Example: He kicked the bucket last night after a long illness.
Kill two birds with one stone
Meaning: to accomplish two things at the same time
Example: By going to the supermarket on my way home from work, I killed two birds with one stone.
Let the cat out of the bag
Meaning: to reveal a secret
Example: He let the cat out of the bag about the surprise party.
Live and learn
Meaning: to learn from one’s mistakes
Example: I made a mistake and now I know better, live and learn.
Look on the bright side
Meaning: to focus on the positive aspects of a situation
Example: Instead of dwelling on the negative, try to look on the bright side.
Lose one’s cool
Meaning: to become angry or upset
Example: He lost his cool when he saw the damage to his car.
Love at first sight
Meaning: falling in love immediately upon meeting someone
Example: They fell in love at first sight and have been together ever since.
Make a long story short
Meaning: to summarize briefly
Example: To make a long story short, I lost my wallet and had to cancel all my credit cards.
Make ends meet
Meaning: to have enough money to pay for necessities
Example: With a part-time job, it’s hard to make ends meet.
Miss the boat
Meaning: to miss an opportunity
Example: He missed the boat by not applying to the job on time.
Meeting of the Minds
Meaning: Strong instinctive agreement on something
Example: At first the negotiations weren’t going well, but when the president of the company and I sat down over drinks, we had a real meeting of the minds.
Money talks
Meaning: having financial power or influence
Example: Money talks, and he was able to buy his way out of trouble.
No pain, no gain
Meaning: to achieve success, one must work hard and endure difficulties
Example: She knew that no pain, no gain and worked hard to achieve her goals.
Not Playing with a Full Deck
Meaning: Stupid, mentally deficient or impaired
Example: John’s suggestions in the meeting were ridiculous. Sometimes I think he’s not playing with a full deck.
Scare the Living Daylights out of Someone
Meaning: Frighten someone severely
Example: I know my boyfriend was just trying to be nice, but when I opened the door to my apartment and everyone yelled “Surprise!” it scared the living daylights out of me.
Off the hook
Meaning: to be released from responsibility or blame
Example: He got off the hook when someone else admitted to the crime.
On cloud nine
Meaning: to be extremely happy or excited
Example: She was on cloud nine after getting engaged.
On the ball
Meaning: being alert and aware
Example: She is always on the ball and never misses a deadline.
Out of the blue
Meaning: unexpectedly
Example: The news came out of the blue and was a shock to everyone.
Over the moon
Meaning: to be extremely happy or excited
Example: He was over the moon when he got accepted to his dream school.
On the Fence
Meaning: Undecided between two choices
Example: I’m on the fence about the election – both candidates have their good and bad points.
Passing Fancy
Meaning: A temporary interest or attraction
Example: Many people thought Uggs were just a passing fancy, but they’ve been popular for several years now.
Play it by ear
Meaning: to improvise or make decisions as one goes along
Example: We don’t have a plan yet, so let’s just play it by ear.
Pull someone’s leg
Meaning: to tease or joke with someone
Example: He was just pulling your leg about the meeting being cancelled.
Put one’s foot in one’s mouth
Meaning: to say something embarrassing or offensive
Example: He put his foot in his mouth when he made that inappropriate joke.
Pet Peeve
Meaning: A small thing that you find particularly annoying
Example: My pet peeve is people who bring large numbers of items to the express checkout at the supermarket.
Raining cats and dogs
Meaning: that it’s raining heavily, usually in a sudden and unexpected manner
Example: The storm was so severe that it was raining cats and dogs, and we could barely see the road while driving.
Red as a beet
Meaning: blushing or embarrassed
Example: When he realized his mistake, he turned red as a beet.
Ruffle someone’s feathers
Meaning: to irritate or upset someone
Example: Her comment about his cooking skills really ruffled his feathers.
See eye to eye
Meaning: to agree with someone
Example: We see eye to eye on most things, but not on this issue.
Sick at heart
Meaning: feeling deeply saddened or troubled
Example: She was sick at heart after hearing about the tragic accident.
Six of one, half a dozen of the other
Meaning: two alternatives that are equally good or bad
Example: It doesn’t matter which restaurant we go to, they’re both the same, six of one, half a dozen of the other.
Steal someone’s thunder
Meaning: to take credit for someone else’s idea or achievement
Example: She stole his thunder by presenting his idea as her own.
Stick one’s neck out
Meaning: to take a risk
Example: He stuck his neck out and invested all his savings in the startup.
Tear-Jerker
Meaning: A film or book that makes you cry
Example: The film “Love Story,” with its story of young love cut short by death, was one of the most successful tear-jerkers of all time.
Take the bull by the horns
Meaning: to confront a problem directly
Example: She decided to take the bull by the horns and talk to her boss about the issue.
Taste of your own medicine
Meaning: experiencing the same negative treatment that you have given to others
Example: He finally got a taste of his own medicine when his boss yelled at him in front of everyone.
The ball is in your court
Meaning: it’s your turn to take action or make a decision
Example: I’ve given you all the information you need, now the ball is in your court.
The best of both worlds
Meaning: to have the advantages of two different things
Example: Working from home gives me the best of both worlds – I can be productive and still spend time with my family.
The devil is in the details
Meaning: small things can cause big problems
Example: We need to pay attention to the details, the devil is in the details.
Pull Yourself Together
Meaning: Control your emotions; recover from a strong emptional upset
Example: I know it was hard seeing your ex-boyfriend at the bar, but you need to pull yourself together so we can go home.
The last straw
Meaning: the final problem or event that causes someone to reach their limit
Example: When he was late for the third time, it was the last straw and she broke up with him.
The writing on the wall
Meaning: a clear indication of what is to come
Example: The declining sales were the writing on the wall that the company was in trouble.
Through thick and thin
Meaning: through good times and bad
Example: They’ve been through thick and thin together and their bond is unbreakable.
Throw in the towel
Meaning: to give up or quit
Example: After months of trying, he finally threw in the towel and admitted defeat.
To have a frog in one’s throat
Meaning: to have difficulty speaking due to nervousness or emotion
Example: She had a frog in her throat and couldn’t finish her speech.
To have a heavy heart
Meaning: feeling very sad or burdened
Example: She had a heavy heart after her dog died.
To have a chip on one’s shoulder
Meaning: to be easily offended or defensive
Example: He has a chip on his shoulder and always thinks people are criticizing him.
Take It Easy
Meaning: Don’t hurry; relax; don’t get angry
Example: I’ve been working too hard. I just want to head for the islands and take it easy for a few days.
To have a gut feeling
Meaning: to have a strong intuition or instinct
Example: She had a gut feeling that something was wrong and it turned out she was right.
To have cold feet
Meaning: to feel nervous or hesitant about something
Example: The athlete had cold feet before the big competition and considered dropping out.
Under the Impression
Meaning: Believing something, perhaps mistakenly
Example: I was under the impression that you were going to pick me up at the airport.
To have one’s head in the clouds
Meaning: to be unrealistic or impractical
Example: She has her head in the clouds if she thinks she can become a millionaire overnight.
To hit the nail on the head
Meaning: to be accurate or correct
Example: He hit the nail on the head when he identified the main problem.
To let the cat out of the bag
Meaning: to reveal a secret
Example: She let the cat out of the bag and told everyone about the surprise party.
To make a long story short
Meaning: to summarize something briefly
Example: To make a long story short, they got lost on their way to the concert and missed the opening act.
To make one’s blood boil
Meaning: to make someone very angry
Example: His rude comment made her blood boil.
To play devil’s advocate
Meaning: to argue against something for the sake of debate
Example: I’m not actually against your idea, but let me play devil’s advocate for a moment.
To pull someone’s leg
Meaning: to tease or joke with someone
Example: I was just pulling your leg, I didn’t actually win the lottery.
To save face
Meaning: to avoid embarrassment or humiliation
Example: He apologized to his boss to save face after his mistake.
To spill the beans
Meaning: to reveal a secret
Example: He spilled the beans and told everyone about their surprise trip.
To take a rain check
Meaning: to postpone a plan to a later time
Example: Can we take a rain check on the movie tonight? I’m not feeling well.
To walk on eggshells
Meaning: to be cautious and sensitive in dealing with someone
Example: She had to walk on eggshells around her boss to avoid offending him.
To wear one’s heart on one’s sleeve
Meaning: to openly show one’s emotions
Example: He wears his heart on his sleeve and is not afraid to show his vulnerability.
Under the weather
Meaning: feeling sick or unwell
Example: I’m feeling under the weather and think I’ll stay home today.
When pigs fly
Meaning: an expression used to say that something is impossible
Example: You think he’ll apologize? When pigs fly!
You can’t judge a book by its cover
Meaning: appearances can be deceiving
Example: She may seem quiet, but you can’t judge a book by its cover- she’s actually very smart and interesting.
You can’t have your cake and eat it too
Meaning: you can’t have two incompatible things at the same time
Example: You can’t have your cake and eat it too- you have to choose between a high-paying job and flexible working hours.
You hit the jackpot
Meaning: to get extremely lucky
Example: When she won the lottery, she hit the jackpot.
Your guess is as good as mine
Meaning: to say that you don’t know the answer
Example: How long will the meeting last? Your guess is as good as mine.
Your heart sinks
Meaning: feeling disappointed or disheartened
Example: Her heart sank when she saw the test results and realized she failed.
Your time will come
Meaning: to encourage someone to be patient and wait for their turn
Example: Don’t worry, your time will come and you’ll get the promotion you deserve.
Actions speak louder than words
Meaning: what someone does is more important than what they say
Example: He promised to help me move, but he never showed up actions speak louder than words.
All that glitters is not gold
Meaning: the attractive external appearance of something is not a reliable indication of its true nature.
Example: He bought a used car that looked great on the outside, but all that glitters is not gold- it turned out to have many mechanical problems.
A penny for your thoughts
Meaning: a request to know what someone is thinking about
Example: A penny for your thoughts you seem lost in thought.
You can’t make an omelet without breaking eggs
Meaning: to achieve something good, it’s necessary to make sacrifices or endure difficulties
Example: Starting a new business is hard work, but you can’t make an omelet without breaking eggs.
Barking up the wrong tree
Meaning: pursuing the wrong course of action
Example: If you think he’s the one who stole your wallet, you’re barking up the wrong tree.
Beat around the bush
Meaning: avoiding the main topic or question
Example: Don’t beat around the bush, just tell me what you want.
Bite the bullet
Meaning: to face a difficult situation with courage
Example: She had to bite the bullet and tell her boss she was resigning.
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