50 Idioms About SCHOOL
Schools are an integral part of our lives, and we often use idioms related to schools and education in our everyday conversations. From “ace the test” to “teacher’s pet,” these idioms are not only a fun way to express ourselves but also a reflection of our experiences in the classroom.
- Hit the books – to study hard
Example: “I have an exam tomorrow, so I need to hit the books tonight.” - Learn the ropes – to learn how to do something
Example: “It takes a little while to learn the ropes in this new school.” - Acing a test – to do extremely well on an exam
Example: “She aced her math test and got the highest grade in the class.” - Biting the bullet – to face a difficult situation courageously
Example: “I know taking the final exam will be tough, but I just need to bite the bullet and do my best.” - Burning the midnight oil – to stay up late studying or working
Example: “I had to burn the midnight oil to finish my project on time.” - Cutting class – to skip a class or not attend
Example: “He got in trouble for cutting class too many times.” - Drop out – to leave school or a program before completing it
Example: “I decided to drop out of college because I didn’t like my major.” - Get a passing grade – to receive a grade that is high enough to pass
Example: “I was worried about failing, but I managed to get a passing grade on my final.” - Get an A for effort – to receive recognition for hard work, even if the end result is not successful
Example: “Although he didn’t win the competition, he got an A for effort because he worked so hard to prepare.” - Get the hang of it – to understand how to do something after practicing it
Example: “It took a few tries, but I finally got the hang of playing the piano.” - Give it your all – to put in maximum effort
Example: “I know the project is challenging, but we need to give it our all to get it done.” - Go the extra mile – to put in more effort than what is expected
Example: “I went the extra mile to research my topic and it paid off with a great grade.” - Hit the ground running – to start a new project or job with full energy and enthusiasm
Example: “I’m excited to start this new class and hit the ground running with my studies.” - Pass with flying colors – to pass with an exceptional grade or performance
Example: “She studied hard and passed her final exam with flying colors.” - Pay attention – to focus on what is being said or taught
Example: “If you want to learn, you need to pay attention in class.” - Pull an all-nighter – to stay up all night working or studying
Example: “I had to pull an all-nighter to finish my research paper on time.” - Put your nose to the grindstone – to work hard and steadily
Example: “If you want to succeed, you need to put your nose to the grindstone and work hard.” - Raise your hand – to indicate that you want to speak or ask a question in class
Example: “If you have a question, raise your hand and the teacher will call on you.” - School of hard knocks – a place or situation where people learn by experiencing difficult or challenging circumstances
Example: “Growing up in poverty was my school of hard knocks.” - Sit on the fence – to be undecided or neutral about something
Example: “I’m still sitting on the fence about which college to attend.” - Study up – to research and study a topic thoroughly
Example: “I need to study up on this subject before I can write my essay.”
- Take a rain check – to postpone a plan or activity
Example: “I can’t go to the movies tonight, can we take a rain check and go next week instead?” - Teacher’s pet – a student who is favored by the teacher
Example: “Everyone thinks she’s the teacher’s pet because she always gets the best grades.” - Throw in the towel – to give up on something
Example: “After failing the final exam, I decided to throw in the towel and drop the class.” - Under the weather – feeling ill or unwell
Example: “I can’t come to school today, I’m feeling a little under the weather.” - Up to par – meeting the expected standards or requirements
Example: “Your essay needs to be up to par with the rest of the class.” - Use your noodle – to use your brain or think creatively
Example: “This problem requires some critical thinking, so use your noodle.” - Cut to the chase – to get to the point quickly
Example: “I don’t have time for small talk, let’s cut to the chase and talk about the project.” - Don’t judge a book by its cover – don’t make assumptions about something or someone based on their appearance
Example: “He may seem quiet, but don’t judge a book by its cover, he’s actually really smart.” - Easy as ABC – very easy to understand or do
Example: “Solving this equation is as easy as ABC.” - Face the music – to face the consequences of your actions
Example: “After cheating on the exam, he had to face the music and accept the punishment.” - Go back to square one – to start over from the beginning
Example: “After realizing my essay was completely off-topic, I had to go back to square one and rewrite it.” - Hit the nail on the head – to accurately identify or describe something
Example: “You hit the nail on the head with your analysis of the poem.” - In a nutshell – in summary or briefly
Example: “In a nutshell, the project requires us to work in teams and present our findings next week.” - Jump through hoops – to go through a lot of effort or obstacles to achieve something
Example: “I had to jump through hoops to get accepted into this program, but it was worth it.” - Keep your nose clean – to behave well and avoid trouble
Example: “If you want to succeed in this school, you need to keep your nose clean and follow the rules.” - Live and learn – to learn from experience
Example: “I made a mistake on my last project, but I’ll live and learn and do better next time.” - Mind over matter – the power of the mind to overcome physical obstacles or discomfort
Example: “I know the marathon will be tough, but I just need to keep a positive attitude and use mind over matter.” - No pain, no gain – you need to work hard and put in effort to achieve success
Example: “Studying for exams can be difficult, but no pain, no gain, right?” - On the ball – being alert and quick to respond
Example: “She’s always on the ball and ready to answer any questions the teacher asks.” - Play hooky – to skip school without permission
Example: “He got caught playing hooky and received detention as a punishment.” - Quick on the draw – to be fast at responding or acting
Example: “In this class, you need to be quick on the draw and ready to participate in discussions.”
- Rub elbows with – to spend time with and socialize with someone
Example: “She enjoys going to networking events to rub elbows with professionals in her field.” - School of hard knocks – the experience of learning from difficult or challenging situations in life
Example: “Growing up in a rough neighborhood was her school of hard knocks.” - Teacher’s aide – an assistant to a teacher
Example: “The teacher’s aide helped the students with their homework and graded their assignments.” - Under one’s belt – to have achieved or experienced something
Example: “She has several internships under her belt, which makes her a competitive job candidate.” - Walk the talk – to back up words with actions
Example: “As a teacher, it’s important to not only tell students to study hard but also to walk the talk and show them how.” - X marks the spot – a phrase used to indicate a specific location
Example: “The treasure is buried in the backyard, X marks the spot!” - Year in and year out – consistently, over a long period of time
Example: “He’s been working at the school year in and year out for the past 20 years.” - Zero tolerance – a policy that strictly prohibits certain behavior or actions
Example: “The school has a zero-tolerance policy for bullying, and any student caught bullying will face severe consequences.”
These idioms about school serve as a reminder of the important role that education plays in our lives. Whether we’re reminiscing about our school days or navigating the challenges of the modern workplace, these idioms offer a unique and colorful way to communicate our thoughts and experiences. So, the next time you’re chatting with friends or colleagues, try incorporating some of these school-related idioms into your conversation and see how they add a little extra spice to your language!
