Weekends in the USA are special. They’re a time when families relax, friends hang out, and people take breaks from school or work. You might hear some fun and strange expressions during the weekend. These are called idioms. Idioms are phrases that don’t always mean what the words say. But they help people talk about weekend plans in a fun way.
In this article, we will look at 25 idioms about weekends. Each one has a meaning and example sentence. They’re easy to remember and fun to use. If you’re in America, you’ve probably heard some of them already. Let’s check them out and see how these expressions can help you talk like a local.
Idioms About Weekend
1. Let your hair down
Meaning: To relax and enjoy yourself
Example Sentence:
• After a long week of school, I just want to let my hair down.
• Mom let her hair down at the backyard barbecue.
Other ways to say: Chill out, take it easy
Fun Fact/Origin: This phrase came from when women used to wear their hair up during work and let it down to relax at home.
Usage: Used when someone wants to relax during the weekend.
2. Paint the town red
Meaning: To go out and have a lively, fun time
Example Sentence:
• We’re going to paint the town red after the football game.
• The friends painted the town red Saturday night.
Other ways to say: Go out, party
Fun Fact/Origin: This started in the 1800s in the USA when wild nights out were described like spreading red paint.
Usage: Used when someone plans to go out and have fun.
3. Couch potato
Meaning: Someone who spends a lot of time sitting and watching TV
Example Sentence:
• I was a couch potato all Sunday watching cartoons.
• He turns into a couch potato every weekend.
Other ways to say: TV watcher, lazy day
Fun Fact/Origin: Came from American slang in the 1970s, mixing “couch” and “potato” to show someone sitting still like a potato.
Usage: Used when someone does nothing active on the weekend.
4. Sleep in
Meaning: To wake up later than usual
Example Sentence:
• I love to sleep in on Saturday mornings.
• She slept in and missed the pancake breakfast.
Other ways to say: Stay in bed, wake up late
Fun Fact/Origin: Common in American households after busy weekdays.
Usage: Used when talking about relaxing in the morning.
5. Burn the candle at both ends
Meaning: To stay up late and wake up early, getting tired
Example Sentence:
• He burned the candle at both ends all weekend working on his project.
• Don’t burn the candle at both ends or you’ll feel sick.
Other ways to say: Overwork, stay too busy
Fun Fact/Origin: From old times when people used candles for light and used both ends to make it burn faster.
Usage: Used when someone is too busy even on weekends.
6. Take a rain check
Meaning: To delay plans or say “not this time”
Example Sentence:
• I’ll take a rain check on the movie—too tired today.
• She took a rain check on the beach trip.
Other ways to say: Maybe later, not now
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from old baseball games in the USA when fans got a “rain check” if games were canceled.
Usage: Used when someone skips a weekend plan.
7. Catch some Z’s
Meaning: To sleep or take a nap
Example Sentence:
• I’m going to catch some Z’s before dinner.
• He caught some Z’s after playing soccer.
Other ways to say: Nap, rest
Fun Fact/Origin: “Z” is used to show snoring sounds in cartoons and comics.
Usage: Used when someone sleeps during the weekend.
8. Sunday best
Meaning: Your nicest clothes, usually worn on Sundays
Example Sentence:
• She wore her Sunday best to church.
• Grandpa always wears his Sunday best for brunch.
Other ways to say: Best outfit, dress up
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from church traditions in the USA.
Usage: Used when dressing nicely for weekend events.
9. Kick back
Meaning: To relax and take it easy
Example Sentence:
• Let’s kick back and enjoy the sunshine.
• After cleaning the house, she kicked back with a lemonade.
Other ways to say: Relax, chill
Fun Fact/Origin: “Kick back” may come from putting your feet up.
Usage: Used to describe a calm weekend moment.
10. Weekend warrior
Meaning: Someone who does a lot of physical activity only on weekends
Example Sentence:
• He’s a weekend warrior—playing basketball all Saturday.
• She’s a weekend warrior with yard work.
Other ways to say: Active on weekends, weekend athlete
Fun Fact/Origin: Used in the USA to describe people who only exercise on weekends.
Usage: Used for busy, active weekend people.
11. Call it a day
Meaning: To stop doing something for the day
Example Sentence:
• We played soccer all afternoon and called it a day at sunset.
• Dad grilled burgers, then called it a day.
Other ways to say: Finish up, wrap up
Fun Fact/Origin: Used in American work settings when work ends.
Usage: Often said at the end of weekend activities.
12. Bright and early
Meaning: Very early in the morning
Example Sentence:
• We left bright and early for the hiking trip.
• She always wakes up bright and early on Saturdays.
Other ways to say: Early in the day, up at dawn
Fun Fact/Origin: A common phrase in American homes and schools.
Usage: Used when starting weekend plans early.
13. Beat the weekend rush
Meaning: To do something before crowds arrive
Example Sentence:
• We went shopping early to beat the weekend rush.
• Let’s eat lunch now and beat the weekend rush.
Other ways to say: Get ahead, avoid the crowd
Fun Fact/Origin: Refers to busy weekend times in the USA, like at malls or stores.
Usage: Used when trying to avoid weekend crowds.
14. Take it easy
Meaning: To relax and not do anything stressful
Example Sentence:
• I’m just taking it easy today with a book.
• Grandpa likes to take it easy on Sundays.
Other ways to say: Rest, slow down
Fun Fact/Origin: Common in American talk to show rest.
Usage: Used for peaceful weekend moments.
15. Down time
Meaning: Free time to rest or relax
Example Sentence:
• I finally got some down time after baseball practice.
• The weekend is my favorite for down time.
Other ways to say: Break time, rest period
Fun Fact/Origin: Used in tech and sports in the USA, then became everyday speech.
Usage: Used when someone rests from their busy schedule.
16. Make the most of it
Meaning: To enjoy something as much as possible
Example Sentence:
• It’s the last weekend of summer—let’s make the most of it.
• They made the most of their time at the park.
Other ways to say: Enjoy fully, don’t waste it
Fun Fact/Origin: Very common in motivational American talk.
Usage: Often said to encourage fun on weekends.
17. All play and no work
Meaning: Doing only fun things and no chores
Example Sentence:
• This weekend was all play and no work.
• The kids want all play and no work on Saturdays.
Other ways to say: All fun, no chores
Fun Fact/Origin: Opposite of “All work and no play.”
Usage: Describes fun-only weekends.
18. Blow off steam
Meaning: To release stress or anger
Example Sentence:
• He went skateboarding to blow off steam.
• Playing video games helps her blow off steam.
Other ways to say: Cool down, release stress
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from steam engines that need to release pressure.
Usage: Often said when people need to relax during the weekend.
19. Just what the doctor ordered
Meaning: Exactly what you needed
Example Sentence:
• That nap was just what the doctor ordered.
• A weekend at the beach is just what the doctor ordered.
Other ways to say: Perfect, much needed
Fun Fact/Origin: Based on real advice from doctors to rest.
Usage: Used for relaxing weekend activities.
20. Off the clock
Meaning: Not working
Example Sentence:
• I’m off the clock now, time to enjoy the weekend.
• She’s off the clock and going fishing.
Other ways to say: Off work, free time
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from jobs that track time using a clock.
Usage: Used when people are done with work and starting the weekend.
21. Have a blast
Meaning: Have a lot of fun
Example Sentence:
• We had a blast at the pool party.
• I hope you have a blast at the zoo!
Other ways to say: Have fun, enjoy
Fun Fact/Origin: Became popular in American slang in the 1980s.
Usage: Often used to wish someone a fun weekend.
22. Put your feet up
Meaning: To rest and relax
Example Sentence:
• Dad put his feet up after mowing the lawn.
• After baking cookies, she put her feet up and watched TV.
Other ways to say: Relax, take a break
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from the action of reclining and lifting feet to rest.
Usage: Used for relaxing weekend moments.
23. In the weekend mood
Meaning: Feeling ready to enjoy the weekend
Example Sentence:
• I’m in the weekend mood—let’s get pizza.
• She’s in the weekend mood with her favorite music on.
Other ways to say: Ready for fun, feeling relaxed
Fun Fact/Origin: Not a set phrase, but often used in casual American talk.
Usage: Used when someone is excited about the weekend.
24. Out like a light
Meaning: To fall asleep very quickly
Example Sentence:
• He was out like a light after the soccer game.
• After the party, I was out like a light.
Other ways to say: Fell asleep fast, dozed off
Fun Fact/Origin: Compares sleep to how fast lights turn off.
Usage: Used after tiring weekend fun.
25. Call the shots
Meaning: To make the decisions
Example Sentence:
• Mom called the shots for our weekend picnic.
• He likes to call the shots during game night.
Other ways to say: Be the boss, lead
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from military or sports settings.
Usage: Used when someone controls weekend plans.
Quiz: Idioms About Weekend
Instructions: Choose the correct meaning of each idiom. Only one answer is correct. Think about real-life weekend examples to help you choose.
Question Key
1. What does “let your hair down” mean?
A) Get a haircut
B) Relax and have fun
C) Complain about your week
2. If someone is a “weekend warrior,” what are they doing?
A) Fighting with their family
B) Playing video games every day
C) Doing a lot of activity only on weekends
3. What does it mean to “sleep in”?
A) Sleep outside
B) Wake up late
C) Go to bed early
4. If someone says “take a rain check,” what do they mean?
A) They’re bringing an umbrella
B) They want to cancel or delay plans
C) They want to play in the rain
5. What does “kick back” mean?
A) Move your chair
B) Go for a run
C) Relax and take it easy
6. If you are “off the clock,” what are you doing?
A) Working late
B) Not working anymore
C) Checking the time
7. When someone is a “couch potato,” what are they doing?
A) Eating potatoes
B) Watching too much TV
C) Playing soccer
8. What does “bright and early” mean?
A) Late at night
B) Very early in the morning
C) At lunch time
9. If someone says they “had a blast,” what do they mean?
A) They were in a storm
B) They had a boring time
C) They had a lot of fun
10. What does it mean to “put your feet up”?
A) Dance fast
B) Jump high
C) Rest and relax
Answer Key
- B – Relax and have fun
- C – Doing a lot of activity only on weekends
- B – Wake up late
- B – They want to cancel or delay plans
- C – Relax and take it easy
- B – Not working anymore
- B – Watching too much TV
- B – Very early in the morning
- C – They had a lot of fun
- C – Rest and relax
Wrapping Up
Weekends in the USA are more than just time off—they’re a chance to relax, laugh, and enjoy life. These idioms about weekends are part of how Americans talk during their free time. Whether you’re a couch potato or a weekend warrior, these phrases help make conversations fun and easy.
Learning these sayings can help you speak more like a local. Try using one or two this weekend with your friends or family. It might make them smile—and it might help you sound more American, too.
