Everyone gets bored sometimes. It might happen when you’re waiting in a long line, sitting through a slow class, or stuck indoors on a rainy day. Feeling bored can make time seem to move slowly, and it can be hard to know what to do. That’s where language comes in. People use special phrases, called idioms, to talk about boredom in fun and interesting ways.
Idioms help us understand feelings by using pictures made of words. When people say they’re “bored to tears” or that something is “as dull as dishwater,” they are using idioms to describe how they feel. These sayings are part of everyday language and can make talking about boredom more creative. In this article, we’ll learn 33 idioms about boredom, see what they mean, and look at fun ways to use them.
Idioms About Boredom
1. Bored to tears
Meaning: Extremely bored
Example Sentence:
• I was bored to tears during the long car ride.
• That history movie made me bored to tears.
Other ways to say: Really bored, super bored
Fun Fact/Origin: This phrase shows that someone is so bored they could almost cry.
Usage: Used when something feels very slow or dull.
2. Bored stiff
Meaning: Very bored, not excited at all
Example Sentence:
• He was bored stiff while waiting for his turn.
• I get bored stiff during long meetings.
Other ways to say: Totally bored, bored out of your mind
Fun Fact/Origin: “Stiff” means not moving. If you’re bored stiff, you’re not doing anything fun.
Usage: Used when someone has nothing interesting to do.
3. Bored out of my mind
Meaning: Feeling so bored it’s hard to think of anything else
Example Sentence:
• I was bored out of my mind during the lecture.
• She was bored out of her mind while babysitting.
Other ways to say: Really bored, can’t focus
Fun Fact/Origin: This means your brain feels empty because there’s nothing fun happening.
Usage: Used when someone is stuck in a very dull situation.
4. Like watching paint dry
Meaning: Very slow and boring to watch
Example Sentence:
• That movie was like watching paint dry.
• The class felt like watching paint dry.
Other ways to say: Really slow, no fun at all
Fun Fact/Origin: Watching paint dry takes a long time and nothing exciting happens.
Usage: Used to describe something very dull.
5. Twiddle your thumbs
Meaning: Have nothing to do, feel bored
Example Sentence:
• I sat there twiddling my thumbs waiting for the show.
• We had to twiddle our thumbs until the bus arrived.
Other ways to say: Just waiting around, do nothing
Fun Fact/Origin: People sometimes spin their thumbs in circles when they are bored.
Usage: Used when someone is just sitting and waiting.
6. Climb the walls
Meaning: Feel very bored or restless
Example Sentence:
• She was climbing the walls from boredom at home.
• I started to climb the walls after two days with no internet.
Other ways to say: Super restless, going crazy
Fun Fact/Origin: This phrase shows someone wants to escape from boredom.
Usage: Used when boredom feels really strong.
7. Nothing to write home about
Meaning: Not very interesting
Example Sentence:
• The museum was okay, but nothing to write home about.
• His new game is nothing to write home about.
Other ways to say: Just okay, not exciting
Fun Fact/Origin: People used to write letters home about exciting things.
Usage: Used when something is boring or unremarkable.
8. In a rut
Meaning: Doing the same boring thing over and over
Example Sentence:
• I feel like I’m in a rut doing the same homework every day.
• Their weekend was the same again—they’re in a rut.
Other ways to say: Stuck, tired of routine
Fun Fact/Origin: A rut is a track made by wheels that’s hard to get out of.
Usage: Used when life feels dull and repetitive.
9. Same old, same old
Meaning: The usual boring routine
Example Sentence:
• “How’s school?” “Same old, same old.”
• Every day it’s the same old, same old.
Other ways to say: Nothing new, same thing again
Fun Fact/Origin: This phrase repeats to show nothing changes.
Usage: Used when someone’s life feels too predictable.
10. As dull as dishwater
Meaning: Very boring
Example Sentence:
• The book was as dull as dishwater.
• That speech was as dull as dishwater.
Other ways to say: Super boring, plain
Fun Fact/Origin: Dishwater looks cloudy and boring.
Usage: Used to describe something with no excitement.
11. Go stir-crazy
Meaning: Feel crazy from being bored and stuck inside
Example Sentence:
• I went stir-crazy during the snowstorm.
• We were stuck at home and started to go stir-crazy.
Other ways to say: Feel trapped, lose your mind
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from being locked in a “stir,” which is slang for prison.
Usage: Used when someone feels bored from being stuck indoors.
12. Kick your heels
Meaning: Wait around with nothing to do
Example Sentence:
• We kicked our heels for an hour before the game started.
• She had to kick her heels while waiting for a ride.
Other ways to say: Wait around, do nothing
Fun Fact/Origin: People used to literally kick their heels while standing and waiting.
Usage: Used when someone is wasting time while waiting.
13. Dull as ditchwater
Meaning: Extremely boring
Example Sentence:
• The show was dull as ditchwater.
• His speech was dull as ditchwater.
Other ways to say: Really boring, not exciting
Fun Fact/Origin: Ditchwater is dirty and still—not exciting at all.
Usage: Used to describe something very plain and boring.
14. Killing time
Meaning: Doing something just to pass the time
Example Sentence:
• I was just killing time before dinner.
• She played games to kill time at the airport.
Other ways to say: Pass time, waste time
Fun Fact/Origin: This means time is so slow that people want to “get rid” of it.
Usage: Used when doing anything to make time go faster.
15. Watching the grass grow
Meaning: Something is very slow and boring
Example Sentence:
• That lecture was like watching grass grow.
• Waiting for the bus felt like watching the grass grow.
Other ways to say: Super slow, not exciting
Fun Fact/Origin: Grass grows very slowly, so watching it is dull.
Usage: Used when something is painfully boring.
16. Not my cup of tea
Meaning: Not something you enjoy
Example Sentence:
• That book is not my cup of tea—it’s too slow.
• Fishing is not my cup of tea.
Other ways to say: Don’t like it, not for me
Fun Fact/Origin: In the UK, “a cup of tea” means something enjoyable.
Usage: Used to say something is boring or unliked.
17. Dragging on
Meaning: Taking a long time and feeling boring
Example Sentence:
• The class dragged on forever.
• The meeting kept dragging on.
Other ways to say: Taking too long, slow-moving
Fun Fact/Origin: To “drag” means to move slowly.
Usage: Used when something feels like it’s never ending.
18. Mind-numbing
Meaning: So boring it makes you feel numb
Example Sentence:
• That long drive was mind-numbing.
• The show was mind-numbing.
Other ways to say: Super dull, brain-freezing
Fun Fact/Origin: Your mind feels like it shuts down from lack of excitement.
Usage: Used when something is extremely boring.
19. Going through the motions
Meaning: Doing something without energy or excitement
Example Sentence:
• He was just going through the motions in class.
• She went through the motions during practice.
Other ways to say: Not trying hard, just doing it
Fun Fact/Origin: Shows someone is doing something, but doesn’t care about it.
Usage: Used when someone is bored and uninterested.
20. It’s like pulling teeth
Meaning: Very slow or difficult and boring
Example Sentence:
• Getting him to talk was like pulling teeth.
• That lesson was like pulling teeth.
Other ways to say: Really hard, painfully boring
Fun Fact/Origin: Pulling teeth is slow and not fun—just like boring tasks.
Usage: Used to describe boring or hard things.
21. A drag
Meaning: Something that is boring or annoying
Example Sentence:
• Homework on a weekend is a drag.
• That long movie was such a drag.
Other ways to say: A pain, no fun
Fun Fact/Origin: A “drag” is something that slows you down.
Usage: Used to describe boring tasks or things.
22. A snooze-fest
Meaning: Something so boring it makes you sleepy
Example Sentence:
• That show was a snooze-fest.
• The class turned into a snooze-fest.
Other ways to say: Sleepy, dull
Fun Fact/Origin: “Snooze” means to sleep; this shows it’s boring enough to nap.
Usage: Used for events that are very dull.
23. Fall asleep on your feet
Meaning: So bored or tired, you could sleep while standing
Example Sentence:
• I was so bored I almost fell asleep on my feet.
• He looked like he’d fall asleep on his feet during the lecture.
Other ways to say: Too tired, very bored
Fun Fact/Origin: Used to describe how boring things can feel like sleep is near.
Usage: When something is very slow and boring.
24. Nod off
Meaning: To fall asleep because you’re bored or tired
Example Sentence:
• I nodded off during the movie.
• He nodded off in the meeting.
Other ways to say: Doze off, fall asleep
Fun Fact/Origin: “Nod” means your head drops when you start to sleep.
Usage: Used when boredom or tiredness leads to sleep.
25. Going nowhere fast
Meaning: Doing something boring that’s not helping
Example Sentence:
• This game is going nowhere fast.
• We’re going nowhere fast with this project.
Other ways to say: Not improving, wasting time
Fun Fact/Origin: This phrase means nothing fun or helpful is happening.
Usage: Used when boredom comes from not making progress.
26. Dead as a doornail
Meaning: Very lifeless or boring
Example Sentence:
• That town was dead as a doornail.
• The party was dead as a doornail.
Other ways to say: Lifeless, dull
Fun Fact/Origin: An old saying that means totally dead, used for dull places.
Usage: Used when something is very quiet or boring.
27. Talk your ear off
Meaning: Talk too much, making it boring
Example Sentence:
• He talked my ear off about video games.
• She talks your ear off about her cat.
Other ways to say: Talk nonstop, never stop talking
Fun Fact/Origin: Imagine someone talking so long it wears your ear out.
Usage: Used when long talking gets boring.
28. Make your eyes glaze over
Meaning: So boring it’s hard to stay alert
Example Sentence:
• His speech made my eyes glaze over.
• I started to zone out—my eyes glazed over.
Other ways to say: Zone out, can’t stay focused
Fun Fact/Origin: Eyes look dull when someone is bored or sleepy.
Usage: Used when something is super boring.
29. Doesn’t light your fire
Meaning: Not exciting or interesting
Example Sentence:
• That movie just doesn’t light my fire.
• Math doesn’t light his fire.
Other ways to say: Not fun, not exciting
Fun Fact/Origin: A fire gives warmth and energy; if it doesn’t light, it’s dull.
Usage: Used when something fails to excite you.
30. Put you to sleep
Meaning: So boring it could make someone sleep
Example Sentence:
• That speech could put anyone to sleep.
• The book put me to sleep in five minutes.
Other ways to say: Super dull, makes you sleepy
Fun Fact/Origin: This idiom shows that boring things can make people very tired.
Usage: Used for very slow or quiet activities.
31. Yawn-fest
Meaning: Something very boring
Example Sentence:
• That movie was a yawn-fest.
• His long talk turned into a yawn-fest.
Other ways to say: Dull, nap-worthy
Fun Fact/Origin: Yawning happens when people are tired—or bored.
Usage: Used to describe long, boring things.
32. Have the attention span of a goldfish
Meaning: Get bored or distracted quickly
Example Sentence:
• He has the attention span of a goldfish during lessons.
• I couldn’t focus—I felt like a goldfish.
Other ways to say: Can’t focus, easily bored
Fun Fact/Origin: People joke that goldfish forget things fast.
Usage: Used when someone can’t pay attention because of boredom.
33. One long yawn
Meaning: Something totally boring from start to end
Example Sentence:
• That movie was one long yawn.
• Her story was one long yawn.
Other ways to say: Super boring, never exciting
Fun Fact/Origin: A yawn is a natural sign of boredom or sleepiness.
Usage: Used to describe something with no exciting parts at all.
Quiz: Idioms About Boredom
Instructions: Choose the best meaning for each idiom. Only one answer is correct.
Question Key
1. What does “bored to tears” mean?
A) Feeling very sad
B) Very bored
C) Crying from joy
2. If something is “like watching paint dry,” it is:
A) Super exciting
B) Very boring
C) Bright and colorful
3. What does “twiddle your thumbs” mean?
A) Make music
B) Spin around
C) Have nothing to do
4. If someone “climbs the walls,” they feel:
A) Really bored or restless
B) Happy and playful
C) Sleepy
5. What does “nothing to write home about” mean?
A) Very exciting
B) Not very interesting
C) Good news to share
6. What does “in a rut” describe?
A) Feeling stuck doing the same boring thing
B) Going on a fun trip
C) Making a new habit
7. If someone says “same old, same old,” they mean:
A) Something exciting just happened
B) Things are the same and boring
C) They are doing something new
8. What does “killing time” mean?
A) Wasting time until something happens
B) Getting in trouble
C) Playing a game with friends
9. If a task is “like pulling teeth,” it is:
A) Easy to do
B) Fun and quick
C) Slow and difficult
10. What is a “snooze-fest”?
A) A fun party
B) Something very boring
C) A sleepover
11. If something “puts you to sleep,” it is:
A) Very fun
B) Boring
C) Scary
12. What does “yawn-fest” mean?
A) Full of food
B) Very boring
C) Super funny
13. If someone has “the attention span of a goldfish,” they:
A) Can focus for a long time
B) Get bored or distracted quickly
C) Like water
Answer Key
- B) Very bored
- B) Very boring
- C) Have nothing to do
- A) Really bored or restless
- B) Not very interesting
- A) Feeling stuck doing the same boring thing
- B) Things are the same and boring
- A) Wasting time until something happens
- C) Slow and difficult
- B) Something very boring
- B) Boring
- B) Very boring
- B) Get bored or distracted quickly
Wrapping Up
Boredom can feel like time is standing still. But idioms give us fun ways to talk about it. From “bored to tears” to “watching grass grow,” these phrases help describe those dull moments in a playful way. Next time you feel bored, try using one of these sayings. It might make things a little more interesting.
