We make choices every day. Some are small, like picking what to eat. Others are big, like choosing a new school or deciding who to trust. When people talk about making decisions, they sometimes use special phrases called idioms. These are sayings that don’t mean exactly what the words say, but they help explain our thoughts in fun and simple ways.
In this article, you’ll learn about idioms that people use when they are deciding something. These idioms can make talking about choices easier and more interesting. Whether you’re picking a team, solving a problem, or choosing between two things, these sayings can help you understand and share what you’re thinking. Let’s look at some of the most common idioms about making decisions.
Idioms About Making Decisions
1. Sit on the fence
Meaning: To not choose one side or the other.
Example Sentence:
– Jamie sat on the fence when his friends argued.
– I couldn’t pick a favorite, so I sat on the fence.
Other ways to say: Stay neutral, not take sides
Fun Fact/Origin: This idiom comes from someone actually sitting on a fence, not jumping to either side.
Usage: Used when someone can’t or won’t make a decision.
2. Bite the bullet
Meaning: To do something difficult or unpleasant.
Example Sentence:
– I had to bite the bullet and do my homework.
– She bit the bullet and apologized.
Other ways to say: Face the music, get it over with
Fun Fact/Origin: Soldiers used to bite on a bullet during painful surgery.
Usage: Used when someone finally does something hard.
3. At a crossroads
Meaning: At a point where a big decision must be made.
Example Sentence:
– He was at a crossroads and had to choose a high school.
– She’s at a crossroads in life.
Other ways to say: Time to choose, in a tough spot
Fun Fact/Origin: This comes from standing where roads meet and needing to pick a path.
Usage: Used when someone has more than one choice to pick from.
4. Make a call
Meaning: To decide something.
Example Sentence:
– Coach made the call to cancel practice.
– It’s your turn to make the call.
Other ways to say: Choose, decide
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from sports or jobs where someone gives the final word.
Usage: Used when a decision needs to be made quickly.
5. In two minds
Meaning: To feel unsure or torn between two options.
Example Sentence:
– I’m in two minds about going to the party.
– She’s in two minds about what to order.
Other ways to say: Confused, unsure
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from the idea of thinking in two different ways at once.
Usage: Used when someone can’t decide between two things.
6. Take the plunge
Meaning: To decide to do something big or risky.
Example Sentence:
– He took the plunge and joined the school play.
– I finally took the plunge and tried sushi.
Other ways to say: Go for it, take a chance
Fun Fact/Origin: It comes from diving into water, not knowing how cold it is.
Usage: Used when someone does something scary or new.
7. On the fence
Meaning: To not make a choice.
Example Sentence:
– I was on the fence about which game to buy.
– She stayed on the fence during the vote.
Other ways to say: Can’t decide, stuck in the middle
Fun Fact/Origin: Similar to “sit on the fence” – not leaning either way.
Usage: Used when someone avoids picking a side.
8. Draw a line
Meaning: To set a limit or make a rule.
Example Sentence:
– Mom drew a line at staying up past 9.
– I had to draw a line and say no.
Other ways to say: Set a boundary, make a rule
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from actually drawing a line to mark a limit.
Usage: Used when someone decides what’s allowed and what’s not.
9. Cross that bridge when you come to it
Meaning: Don’t worry now—decide later.
Example Sentence:
– If we get lost, we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it.
– Let’s wait and see, then decide.
Other ways to say: Worry later, decide when needed
Fun Fact/Origin: This comes from the idea of only dealing with a problem when it happens.
Usage: Used when you don’t want to decide yet.
10. Toss-up
Meaning: A decision that could go either way.
Example Sentence:
– It’s a toss-up between pizza and burgers.
– The game was a toss-up until the last second.
Other ways to say: Fifty-fifty, hard to call
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from tossing a coin to decide something.
Usage: Used when both choices seem equal.
11. Play it by ear
Meaning: To decide what to do as things happen.
Example Sentence:
– We didn’t plan much. We’ll play it by ear.
– Let’s see how it goes and play it by ear.
Other ways to say: Go with the flow, decide later
Fun Fact/Origin: Musicians who don’t read music “play by ear.”
Usage: Used when someone doesn’t want to plan too much.
12. Cut to the chase
Meaning: To skip the small talk and get to the decision.
Example Sentence:
– Let’s cut to the chase—do you want to go or not?
– He cut to the chase and made a choice.
Other ways to say: Get to the point, skip the rest
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from old movies where people wanted to get to the action scenes.
Usage: Used when someone wants to decide fast.
13. Call the shots
Meaning: To be the one who decides.
Example Sentence:
– Mom calls the shots about bedtime.
– The teacher calls the shots in class.
Other ways to say: Be in charge, make the rules
Fun Fact/Origin: From the military or sports, where someone gives commands.
Usage: Used when someone has the power to choose.
14. Take a stand
Meaning: To make a clear choice and support it.
Example Sentence:
– She took a stand for her best friend.
– It’s time to take a stand and say what you want.
Other ways to say: Speak up, decide clearly
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from standing up to show your choice.
Usage: Used when someone chooses a side and sticks with it.
15. Go out on a limb
Meaning: To take a risk with your decision.
Example Sentence:
– He went out on a limb and picked the hard project.
– She went out on a limb and told the truth.
Other ways to say: Take a chance, risk it
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from climbing a tree limb that might not hold your weight.
Usage: Used when someone makes a risky or bold choice.
16. Back and forth
Meaning: Changing your mind many times.
Example Sentence:
– I went back and forth about joining the team.
– He’s back and forth on which shirt to wear.
Other ways to say: Keep changing, can’t decide
Fun Fact/Origin: The phrase comes from something moving one way, then the other.
Usage: Used when someone keeps changing their decision.
17. In a pickle
Meaning: In a tricky spot where a decision is hard.
Example Sentence:
– I’m in a pickle—I forgot both homework and lunch.
– He’s in a pickle with two tests on the same day.
Other ways to say: In trouble, in a mess
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from an old phrase about being mixed up like in a jar of pickles.
Usage: Used when someone’s in a hard situation.
18. Jump the gun
Meaning: To decide or act too early.
Example Sentence:
– Don’t jump the gun—wait for the teacher to say go.
– She jumped the gun and started without reading the directions.
Other ways to say: Rush ahead, act too soon
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from runners starting before the race gun goes off.
Usage: Used when someone decides before it’s time.
19. Weigh your options
Meaning: To think carefully before choosing.
Example Sentence:
– You should weigh your options before picking a camp.
– He weighed his options and picked the cheaper one.
Other ways to say: Think it through, compare
Fun Fact/Origin: Like using a scale to see which option is heavier or better.
Usage: Used when someone is thinking hard before a choice.
20. The ball is in your court
Meaning: It’s your turn to decide.
Example Sentence:
– I gave you the choices, now the ball is in your court.
– The teacher said it’s up to me—the ball is in my court.
Other ways to say: It’s your move, your turn
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from tennis, when it’s the other player’s turn to hit.
Usage: Used when someone has to make the next decision.
21. In the driver’s seat
Meaning: To be in control of the decision.
Example Sentence:
– She’s in the driver’s seat for this project.
– I’m in the driver’s seat now that I finished the tasks.
Other ways to say: In charge, leading
Fun Fact/Origin: The driver controls where the car goes.
Usage: Used when someone has the power to choose.
22. Know the ropes
Meaning: To understand how to make the right choices.
Example Sentence:
– Once you know the ropes, picking classes is easy.
– He knows the ropes, so he helped me decide.
Other ways to say: Understand how it works
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from sailing, where ropes are used to steer the ship.
Usage: Used when someone knows what to do and how to choose.
23. Put your foot down
Meaning: To make a strong decision and stick to it.
Example Sentence:
– Mom put her foot down—no more cookies.
– He put his foot down about cleaning his room.
Other ways to say: Be firm, say no
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from stomping your foot to show you’re serious.
Usage: Used when someone won’t change their mind.
24. Sleep on it
Meaning: Wait until tomorrow to decide.
Example Sentence:
– I’ll sleep on it and tell you in the morning.
– She needed time, so she slept on it.
Other ways to say: Think overnight, decide later
Fun Fact/Origin: Sleeping can help clear your mind and make better choices.
Usage: Used when someone wants more time to choose.
25. Between a rock and a hard place
Meaning: Stuck with two hard choices.
Example Sentence:
– I’m between a rock and a hard place—both choices are bad.
– He was between a rock and a hard place on the test.
Other ways to say: No easy choice, tough spot
Fun Fact/Origin: Like being squeezed between two hard things.
Usage: Used when all options are difficult.
26. Change of heart
Meaning: To change your mind or decision.
Example Sentence:
– I had a change of heart and joined the team.
– She had a change of heart and said yes.
Other ways to say: New idea, different feeling
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from the idea that your heart changes how you feel.
Usage: Used when someone changes their decision.
27. Crunch time
Meaning: The last moment when a decision must be made.
Example Sentence:
– It’s crunch time—we have to pick a project now.
– During crunch time, I chose the shorter book.
Other ways to say: Final moment, decision time
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from the pressure or “crunch” of time running out.
Usage: Used when there’s no time left to decide.
28. Up in the air
Meaning: Not decided yet.
Example Sentence:
– Our weekend plans are still up in the air.
– The teacher said the test date is up in the air.
Other ways to say: Unsure, undecided
Fun Fact/Origin: Like something floating, not settled.
Usage: Used when a choice hasn’t been made yet.
29. Back to square one
Meaning: Starting over after a decision didn’t work.
Example Sentence:
– That idea failed, so we’re back to square one.
– The game crashed, and now I’m back to square one.
Other ways to say: Start again, restart
Fun Fact/Origin: From board games where players go back to the start.
Usage: Used when someone has to start over.
30. Split decision
Meaning: When people can’t agree on one choice.
Example Sentence:
– The group had a split decision about where to eat.
– It was a split decision on who won the game.
Other ways to say: Tie, disagreement
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from sports judges not agreeing.
Usage: Used when opinions are divided.
31. Take the heat
Meaning: Accept blame for a tough choice.
Example Sentence:
– I’ll take the heat for choosing the wrong answer.
– He took the heat when the plan didn’t work.
Other ways to say: Accept blame, face trouble
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from “heat” meaning pressure or blame.
Usage: Used when someone owns their decision, even if it’s wrong.
32. Kick the can down the road
Meaning: To delay a decision.
Example Sentence:
– Don’t kick the can down the road—just choose.
– The team kept kicking the can down the road.
Other ways to say: Put off, wait longer
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from kids literally kicking a can and not picking it up.
Usage: Used when someone avoids choosing.
33. Put all your eggs in one basket
Meaning: To rely on only one decision or plan.
Example Sentence:
– Don’t put all your eggs in one basket—apply to more schools.
– He put all his eggs in one basket and lost.
Other ways to say: Risk everything, one chance
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from carrying eggs in one basket—if dropped, all break.
Usage: Used when someone takes a big risk with one choice.
Quiz: Idioms About Making Decisions
Instructions: Choose the correct meaning for each idiom. Each question has one correct answer. Use what you’ve learned from the idioms to find the best choice.
Question Key
1. What does it mean when someone is “on the fence”?
A) They already picked a side
B) They are unsure and haven’t decided
C) They are leading the group
2. If you “bite the bullet,” what are you doing?
A) Refusing to decide
B) Doing something fun
C) Doing something hard even if you don’t want to
3. What does “the ball is in your court” mean?
A) It’s your turn to make a decision
B) You’re watching someone else decide
C) The game is over
4. If someone says “I’ll sleep on it,” what does that mean?
A) They don’t care
B) They want to decide tomorrow
C) They are going to forget it
5. What does it mean to “take the plunge”?
A) To jump into a pool
B) To take a big or risky step
C) To stop trying
6. What does it mean when something is “up in the air”?
A) It’s decided already
B) It’s not decided yet
C) It’s very high up
7. If a person “calls the shots,” what are they doing?
A) Following others
B) Making the decisions
C) Leaving the group
8. What does “in a pickle” mean?
A) Being in a sour mood
B) Being in a fun place
C) Being in a tough or tricky situation
9. If someone “jumps the gun,” what did they do?
A) Acted too soon
B) Waited too long
C) Followed the rules
10. What does “weigh your options” mean?
A) Choose the heaviest item
B) Think about each choice carefully
C) Look at prices only
11. What does “put all your eggs in one basket” mean?
A) Make several plans
B) Save money
C) Depend on one choice or plan
12. If a group makes a “split decision,” what happened?
A) Everyone agreed
B) The group couldn’t agree on one answer
C) They didn’t vote at all
Answer Key
- B) They are unsure and haven’t decided
- C) Doing something hard even if you don’t want to
- A) It’s your turn to make a decision
- B) They want to decide tomorrow
- B) To take a big or risky step
- B) It’s not decided yet
- B) Making the decisions
- C) Being in a tough or tricky situation
- A) Acted too soon
- B) Think about each choice carefully
- C) Depend on one choice or plan
- B) The group couldn’t agree on one answer
Wrapping Up
Making decisions can be tricky. These idioms help us talk about the choices we face. Some show that we feel unsure. Others talk about being brave or waiting for the right time. When you use these sayings, you can make your ideas clearer and more fun.
The next time you have to choose something—big or small—try using one of these idioms. It’s a great way to understand your own thinking and to share it with others in a simple and smart way.
