We all go through many things in life. Some are fun, like learning to ride a bike. Others are hard, like moving to a new school. These events help us grow and learn. When people talk about these moments, they often use idioms. Idioms are phrases that don’t mean exactly what the words say, but they help explain feelings or lessons in a fun way.
Idioms about experience help describe what people go through. They tell stories about learning, trying, failing, and trying again. You may have heard someone say, “Been there, done that” or “Learn the hard way.” These are not just silly sayings. They show that someone has lived through something and learned from it. In this article, we’ll look at many of these idioms, what they mean, and how you can use them too.
Idioms About Experience
1. Been there, done that
Meaning: Already experienced something
Example Sentence:
• I’ve been there, done that with school plays.
• She didn’t want to go to the museum again—been there, done that.
Other ways to say: Already tried that, I’ve done this before
Fun Fact/Origin: Became popular in the 1990s from pop culture.
Usage: Used to show you already know about something.
2. Learn the hard way
Meaning: To understand something after a tough experience
Example Sentence:
• He learned the hard way not to leave homework until the last minute.
• I learned the hard way that touching a hot pan hurts.
Other ways to say: Realized too late, tough lesson
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from people getting into trouble before understanding.
Usage: Used when lessons are learned from mistakes.
3. A tough nut to crack
Meaning: A hard problem or person to understand
Example Sentence:
• This math problem is a tough nut to crack.
• My new teacher is a tough nut to crack.
Other ways to say: Hard to figure out, tricky
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from how hard nuts are to open.
Usage: Used to describe something confusing or difficult.
4. A wake-up call
Meaning: A moment that shows something needs to change
Example Sentence:
• Failing the quiz was a wake-up call for him.
• The loud thunder was a wake-up call to close the windows.
Other ways to say: Warning sign, time to act
Fun Fact/Origin: Started from hotel calls that wake guests.
Usage: Used to describe a sign that change is needed.
5. Bite off more than you can chew
Meaning: To try to do too much
Example Sentence:
• He bit off more than he could chew with three sports.
• I bit off more than I could chew by saying yes to five chores.
Other ways to say: Took on too much, overloaded
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from eating too much food at once.
Usage: Used when someone tries to do more than they can handle.
6. Hit the nail on the head
Meaning: To be exactly right
Example Sentence:
• She hit the nail on the head with her answer.
• You hit the nail on the head about why the team lost.
Other ways to say: Got it right, exactly
Fun Fact/Origin: From hammering nails in carpentry.
Usage: Used when someone understands something perfectly.
7. Cross that bridge when you come to it
Meaning: Don’t worry until it happens
Example Sentence:
• We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it if the trip gets delayed.
• Don’t stress now, we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it.
Other ways to say: Deal with it later, wait and see
Fun Fact/Origin: Refers to solving problems when they happen.
Usage: Used to calm someone down about future problems.
8. Walk a mile in someone’s shoes
Meaning: Try to understand how someone feels
Example Sentence:
• Before judging her, try walking a mile in her shoes.
• He walked a mile in his friend’s shoes and understood him better.
Other ways to say: Think from their view, show empathy
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from the idea that you understand better if you live like someone.
Usage: Used to show care or understanding of others.
9. On thin ice
Meaning: In a risky or dangerous spot
Example Sentence:
• He’s on thin ice after breaking the rules.
• I’m on thin ice with Mom after skipping chores.
Other ways to say: In trouble, close to danger
Fun Fact/Origin: From skating on ice that might crack.
Usage: Used when someone is close to getting in trouble.
10. Learn by doing
Meaning: To understand through action
Example Sentence:
• I learn by doing, so I tried the science experiment myself.
• She learns by doing instead of reading instructions.
Other ways to say: Practice makes perfect, hands-on learning
Fun Fact/Origin: Teachers often use this method in real-world lessons.
Usage: Used when people gain skills through practice.
11. Put yourself in someone’s shoes
Meaning: Imagine being in someone’s situation
Example Sentence:
• Put yourself in her shoes—she’s having a hard day.
• Before laughing, put yourself in his shoes.
Other ways to say: Think how they feel, show understanding
Fun Fact/Origin: Similar to “walk a mile in someone’s shoes.”
Usage: Used to teach empathy and kindness.
12. A bitter pill to swallow
Meaning: Something hard to accept
Example Sentence:
• Losing the game was a bitter pill to swallow.
• It was a bitter pill to swallow when she didn’t get picked.
Other ways to say: Tough to hear, hard truth
Fun Fact/Origin: Based on real pills tasting bad.
Usage: Used when dealing with disappointing news.
13. See the light
Meaning: To suddenly understand
Example Sentence:
• I finally saw the light and finished my homework early.
• She saw the light about being kind to others.
Other ways to say: Realize, finally get it
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from the idea of light bringing clarity.
Usage: Used when people understand something clearly.
14. In your shoes
Meaning: If I were you
Example Sentence:
• If I were in your shoes, I’d say sorry.
• In her shoes, I’d study harder.
Other ways to say: If I were you, in your place
Fun Fact/Origin: Connects to understanding another’s point of view.
Usage: Used to give advice by imagining being someone else.
15. Get your feet wet
Meaning: Try something for the first time
Example Sentence:
• I got my feet wet by joining the art club.
• She got her feet wet with her first babysitting job.
Other ways to say: Give it a try, start small
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from stepping into water slowly.
Usage: Used for trying something new.
16. Feel it in your bones
Meaning: Strong feeling or instinct
Example Sentence:
• I felt it in my bones that today would be special.
• She felt in her bones that something was wrong.
Other ways to say: Gut feeling, deep sense
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from old beliefs that bones sensed weather changes.
Usage: Used when someone has a strong feeling.
17. Experience is the best teacher
Meaning: You learn best by doing
Example Sentence:
• He fell, but now he knows. Experience is the best teacher.
• She made a mistake, but experience is the best teacher.
Other ways to say: Learn by doing, learn from mistakes
Fun Fact/Origin: This phrase is often used in school or work.
Usage: Used to support hands-on learning.
18. A taste of your own medicine
Meaning: Being treated the way you treat others
Example Sentence:
• He got a taste of his own medicine when someone ignored him.
• She didn’t like getting a taste of her own medicine.
Other ways to say: Payback, same treatment
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from medicine and doctors.
Usage: Used to point out unfair behavior.
19. Live and learn
Meaning: Make a mistake, then learn from it
Example Sentence:
• I forgot my lunch again—live and learn.
• She lost her place in line—live and learn.
Other ways to say: Learn from mistakes, move on
Fun Fact/Origin: A short way to show growth.
Usage: Used when things go wrong, but you grow.
20. Go through the wringer
Meaning: To go through a hard time
Example Sentence:
• He went through the wringer during tryouts.
• The test week put us all through the wringer.
Other ways to say: Had a rough time, struggled
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from wringing clothes to dry.
Usage: Used when someone has had a tough experience.
21. Learn the ropes
Meaning: To understand how things work
Example Sentence:
• It took me a week to learn the ropes at my new job.
• She’s still learning the ropes in the science club.
Other ways to say: Get the hang of it, figure things out
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from learning ropes on ships.
Usage: Used when someone is getting used to something.
22. A learning curve
Meaning: The time it takes to learn something
Example Sentence:
• Learning how to use the tablet had a steep learning curve.
• There’s a learning curve when starting piano.
Other ways to say: Takes time to learn, slow start
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from charts that show learning over time.
Usage: Used when new things take time to understand.
23. Trial and error
Meaning: Learning by trying and fixing mistakes
Example Sentence:
• She learned the recipe by trial and error.
• We built the robot using trial and error.
Other ways to say: Try and fix, test it out
Fun Fact/Origin: Common in science and invention.
Usage: Used when people keep trying until it works.
24. Put it to the test
Meaning: Try something out
Example Sentence:
• Let’s put our plan to the test during practice.
• I put my new shoes to the test during recess.
Other ways to say: Try it, check if it works
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from school tests and experiments.
Usage: Used when trying something to see if it works.
25. Look back and laugh
Meaning: Something that was bad becomes funny later
Example Sentence:
• We’ll look back and laugh at this messy trip.
• I tripped in front of everyone, but I can look back and laugh now.
Other ways to say: Laugh it off later, not a big deal
Fun Fact/Origin: Time makes embarrassing things easier.
Usage: Used when past problems don’t feel as bad anymore.
26. Take it with a grain of salt
Meaning: Don’t believe everything fully
Example Sentence:
• Take his story with a grain of salt—he likes to joke.
• She took the rumor with a grain of salt.
Other ways to say: Be careful believing, not 100% true
Fun Fact/Origin: Salt was used in old times to make things easier to swallow.
Usage: Used when not everything should be trusted.
27. Put your money where your mouth is
Meaning: Show actions to match your words
Example Sentence:
• He said he’d help—now put your money where your mouth is.
• She put her money where her mouth is and cleaned up.
Other ways to say: Prove it, back it up
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from betting or offering real help.
Usage: Used when someone should show they mean what they say.
28. Been through thick and thin
Meaning: Stayed strong through good and bad
Example Sentence:
• They’ve been friends through thick and thin.
• We stuck together through thick and thin during the project.
Other ways to say: Through good and bad, stuck it out
Fun Fact/Origin: Old phrase about changes in life.
Usage: Used to show lasting friendship or teamwork.
29. Like riding a bike
Meaning: Easy to remember once learned
Example Sentence:
• Skating is like riding a bike—you never forget.
• Playing piano is like riding a bike to her.
Other ways to say: Comes back easily, easy to do again
Fun Fact/Origin: Many people never forget how to ride a bike.
Usage: Used when something learned is easy to recall.
30. School of hard knocks
Meaning: Learning from life’s tough lessons
Example Sentence:
• He didn’t go to college, but he learned in the school of hard knocks.
• She said the school of hard knocks taught her a lot.
Other ways to say: Life experience, learned the hard way
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from getting “knocked down” by hard times.
Usage: Used when people learn from real-life challenges.
31. Get the hang of it
Meaning: Learn how to do something
Example Sentence:
• I’m starting to get the hang of swimming.
• She got the hang of spelling big words.
Other ways to say: Learn it, figure it out
Fun Fact/Origin: May come from learning how to hang something right.
Usage: Used when someone starts to learn well.
32. Take the plunge
Meaning: Try something big or new
Example Sentence:
• He took the plunge and joined the band.
• I took the plunge and tried the roller coaster.
Other ways to say: Jump in, give it a go
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from diving into water.
Usage: Used when someone finally decides to try something new.
33. Go with your gut
Meaning: Trust your feeling or instinct
Example Sentence:
• I went with my gut and picked answer A.
• She went with her gut and asked for help.
Other ways to say: Trust yourself, follow your feeling
Fun Fact/Origin: “Gut” feelings come from how emotions affect your stomach.
Usage: Used when someone follows their instincts.
34. Cut your teeth on
Meaning: Gain first experience in something
Example Sentence:
• She cut her teeth on acting in school plays.
• He cut his teeth on small puzzles before trying big ones.
Other ways to say: First learned with, began with
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from babies growing teeth.
Usage: Used when describing where someone got started.
35. Been around the block
Meaning: Someone who has seen or done many things
Example Sentence:
• She’s been around the block—she knows what to expect.
• He’s been around the block with this kind of project.
Other ways to say: Has lots of experience, knows the ropes
Fun Fact/Origin: From walking around a town block, seeing things
Usage: Used when someone has lots of past experience.
Quiz: Idioms About Experience
Instructions: Read each question and the answer choices carefully. Pick the letter that best matches the meaning of the phrase or expression.
Question Key
1. What does “learn the hard way” mean?
A) Learn by asking a friend
B) Learn after making a mistake
C) Learn from reading a book
2. If someone “puts their money where their mouth is,” what are they doing?
A) Eating a snack
B) Talking too much
C) Proving what they say with actions
3. What does “a bitter pill to swallow” mean?
A) Something fun to do
B) A hard truth to accept
C) A yummy candy
4. If you “get your feet wet,” what are you doing?
A) Playing in water
B) Trying something for the first time
C) Washing your shoes
5. What does it mean if someone is “on thin ice”?
A) Wearing ice skates
B) Being in a risky situation
C) Walking slowly
6. What does “go through the wringer” mean?
A) Go through a car wash
B) Have a fun time
C) Go through something very difficult
7. What does “been there, done that” mean?
A) Already experienced it
B) Wants to do it again
C) Doesn’t want to try
8. If you “walk a mile in someone’s shoes,” what are you doing?
A) Borrowing shoes
B) Trying to understand their life
C) Running a race
9. What does “hit the nail on the head” mean?
A) Use a hammer
B) Say something exactly right
C) Make a mistake
10. What does “cut your teeth on” mean?
A) Brush your teeth
B) Get your first experience
C) Chew hard food
11. What does “get the hang of it” mean?
A) Hang something up
B) Let it go
C) Start learning how to do it
12. What does “live and learn” mean?
A) Make mistakes and learn from them
B) Watch others make mistakes
C) Never make a mistake
13. What does “trial and error” mean?
A) Try once
B) Learn by testing and fixing mistakes
C) Watch someone else
14. What does “take the plunge” mean?
A) Jump in water
B) Try something new
C) Go to bed early
15. What does “been around the block” mean?
A) Went for a walk
B) Had lots of life experience
C) Got lost
Answer Key
- B – Learn after making a mistake
- C – Proving what they say with actions
- B – A hard truth to accept
- B – Trying something for the first time
- B – Being in a risky situation
- C – Go through something very difficult
- A – Already experienced it
- B – Trying to understand their life
- B – Say something exactly right
- B – Get your first experience
- C – Start learning how to do it
- A – Make mistakes and learn from them
- B – Learn by testing and fixing mistakes
- B – Try something new
- B – Had lots of life experience
Wrapping Up
Idioms about experience help us explain the things we go through in life. These phrases are short, but they say a lot. Whether it’s making a mistake or trying something new, there’s usually an idiom that fits. Learning these sayings helps us speak clearly and understand others better.
Try using some of these idioms in your daily conversations. You’ll see how they add meaning and help you talk about life in a simple and fun way.
