50+ Children and Babies Idioms in English

Children and Babies Idioms

The world of children is full of wonder, innocence, and sometimes, a little chaos! Language reflects this beautifully, offering a treasure trove of idioms related to children and babies. So, grab your sippy cup and prepare to explore some delightful idioms that capture the essence of childhood!

List of Children and Babies Idioms

Children and Babies Idioms with Meaning and Examples

Bundle of Joy

• Meaning: Refers to a newborn baby, emphasizing the happiness they bring.
• Example: The new baby brought the family a bundle of joy.

Cry Over Spilled Milk

• Meaning: To be upset over something that has already happened and cannot be changed.
• Example: Don’t cry over spilled milk, it’s already done.

Tie the Knot

• Meaning: To get married.
• Example: They’re planning to tie the knot next spring.

Bun in the Oven

• Meaning: A slang term for a woman who is pregnant.
• Example: She’s got a bun in the oven and is due in September.

Drop a Baby

• Meaning: To give birth.
• Example: She’s about to drop the baby any day now.

Born with a Silver Spoon in One’s Mouth

• Meaning: To be born into a wealthy or privileged family.
• Example: He was born with a silver spoon in his mouth, always had everything handed to him.

Cry Like a Baby

• Meaning: To cry loudly and uncontrollably.
• Example: He cried like a baby when he heard the news.

In the Family Way

• Meaning: To be pregnant.
• Example: She’s in the family way and expecting her first child.

Like Taking Candy from a Baby

• Meaning: Describes something that is very easy to do.
• Example: Winning the game was like taking candy from a baby.

Out of the Mouths of Babes

• Meaning: Wisdom or insight spoken by a child.
• Example: Wisdom often comes out of the mouths of babes.

Spitting Image

• Meaning: A phrase used to describe someone who looks very similar to another person, often a parent.
• Example: He’s the spitting image of his father.

Take Candy from a Baby

• Meaning: To take advantage of someone’s weakness or vulnerability.
• Example: It’s as easy as taking candy from a baby.

Throw the Baby Out with the Bathwater

• Meaning: To discard something valuable along with something undesirable.
• Example: Don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater; let’s keep what works.

Wet Behind the Ears

• Meaning: To be young, inexperienced, or immature.
• Example: He’s still wet behind the ears, he needs more experience.

Bring up Baby

• Meaning: To raise a child.
• Example: They’re learning how to bring up baby while juggling work.

Be a Chip Off the Old Block

• Meaning: To closely resemble one or both parents in appearance or behavior.
• Example: She’s a chip off the old block, just like her father.

Pram Face

• Meaning: Used to describe the expression on a baby’s face when they are sleeping in a pram (stroller).
• Example: She has a pram face, looks so young with her baby.

Rock the Cradle

• Meaning: To take care of a child or children.
• Example: The mother rocked the cradle to soothe the baby.

Shake the Baby

• Meaning: An idiom used to emphasize the seriousness of an action or decision.
• Example: You shouldn’t shake the baby; it’s dangerous.

The Stork

• Meaning: A mythical bird believed to deliver babies to families.
• Example: The stork brought a new baby to our family.

Apple of My Eye

• Meaning: Someone’s favorite person.
• Example: My daughter is the apple of my eye.

Born with a Silver Spoon in Their Mouth

• Meaning: Born into a wealthy or privileged family.
• Example: She was born with a silver spoon in her mouth and never had to worry about money.

Child’s Play

• Meaning: Something very easy to do.
• Example: Solving that puzzle was child’s play for him.

In Embryo

• Meaning: In the early stages of development.
• Example: The plan is still in embryo stage, nothing concrete yet.

Monkey See, Monkey Do

• Meaning: Imitating others without thinking.
• Example: Children often mimic their parents, it’s like monkey see, monkey do.

Babe in the Woods

• Meaning: Someone who is innocent or inexperienced.
• Example: He’s a babe in the woods when it comes to navigating the city.

Little Pitchers Have Big Ears

• Meaning: Children can hear more than adults realize.
• Example: Watch what you say; little pitchers have big ears.

A new lease on life

• Meaning: A fresh start or opportunity for improvement.
• Example: After recovering from the illness, she felt like she had a new lease on life.

Ankle-biter

• Meaning: A young child.
• Example: An ankle-biter ran past us in the park.

As easy as ABC

• Meaning: Extremely easy or simple.
• Example: Learning to ride a bike was as easy as ABC for him.

At the drop of a hat

• Meaning: Without hesitation or delay.
• Example: He’s always ready to go camping at the drop of a hat.

Babe In Arms

• Meaning: A very young child.
• Example: She held the babe in arms while shopping.

Baby boomer

• Meaning: A person born during the baby boom (post-World War II).
• Example: He’s a baby boomer, born after World War II.

Baby steps

• Meaning: Small, incremental actions or progress.
• Example: She’s taking baby steps to overcome her fear of public speaking.

Barefoot and pregnant

• Meaning: A stereotype referring to women who are homemakers and mothers.
• Example: She preferred to be barefoot and pregnant, staying at home and caring for her family.

Born on the wrong side of the blanket

• Meaning: Illegitimate birth.
• Example: He was born on the wrong side of the blanket, but his parents got married later.

Born yesterday

• Meaning: Naive or inexperienced.
• Example: Don’t treat me like I was born yesterday; I know what’s going on.

Boys will be boys

• Meaning: Excusing boys’ behavior as typical.
• Example: Boys will be boys; they like to play rough.

Child’s Play

• Meaning: Something very easy to do.
• Example: Fixing the car engine was child’s play for him.

Chip off the Old Block

• Meaning: Someone who resembles one or both parents.
• Example: He’s a chip off the old block; he’s just like his father.

Cry over spilled milk

• Meaning: Worrying about something that has already happened and can’t be changed.
• Example: There’s no use crying over spilled milk; let’s focus on fixing the problem.

Kids’ stuff

• Meaning: Something considered easy or trivial.
• Example: Climbing that tree was kids’ stuff for him.

Knee-high to a grasshopper

• Meaning: Very young or short in stature.
• Example: She’s been playing the piano since she was knee-high to a grasshopper.

Like a kid in a candy store

• Meaning: Extremely excited or happy.
• Example: He was like a kid in a candy store when he saw all the new gadgets.

Like taking candy from a baby

• Meaning: Extremely easy.
• Example: Solving the puzzle was like taking candy from a baby.

Out of the mouths of babes

• Meaning: Wisdom or insight from children.
• Example: Wisdom often comes out of the mouths of babes.

Packed like sardines

• Meaning: Crammed together tightly.
• Example: We were packed like sardines on the crowded bus.

Sleep like a baby

• Meaning: Sleep deeply and peacefully.
• Example: After a long day, I slept like a baby.

Small fry

• Meaning: Unimportant or insignificant people or things.
• Example: He’s just a small fry in the company, not a decision-maker.

Throw the baby out with the bath water

• Meaning: Discard something valuable along with something undesirable.
• Example: Let’s not throw the baby out with the bathwater; there are still some good ideas in there.

Understanding these idioms adds a playful and descriptive dimension to your conversations about children and parenthood. The next time you witness a child’s innocent curiosity or marvel at a newborn’s arrival, you can reach for one of these idioms to express yourself with humor and warmth.

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