Pain is something everyone in America feels sometimes. It can come from falling off a bike, losing a game, or hearing bad news. But people don’t always say “I feel pain.” They often use special phrases called idioms. These idioms help people talk about pain in more interesting or simple ways.
In this article, we will look at common idioms Americans use to talk about pain. Some of these idioms sound funny, but they still make sense when you know what they mean. You’ll learn what they mean and how to use them. This can help you understand what others are saying, and it can make your own speaking and writing better too.
Idioms About Pain
1. A pain in the neck
Meaning: Someone or something that is very annoying
Example Sentence:
– Cleaning my room every day is a pain in the neck.
– That long homework was a pain in the neck.
Other ways to say: A hassle, a bother
Fun Fact/Origin: This idiom comes from the idea that neck pain is small but really annoying.
Usage: Used when something is frustrating or bothering you.
2. Feel the burn
Meaning: To feel strong pain from working hard, especially while exercising
Example Sentence:
– My legs felt the burn after running up the hill.
– You’ll feel the burn if you lift heavy things.
Other ways to say: Feel the strain, feel sore
Fun Fact/Origin: Athletes often say this during workouts when muscles start to hurt.
Usage: Often said when someone is working hard or feeling sore from it.
3. Rub salt in the wound
Meaning: To make someone feel worse after something bad already happened
Example Sentence:
– Missing the bus was bad, but losing my lunch money rubbed salt in the wound.
– He laughed at me after I fell, which rubbed salt in the wound.
Other ways to say: Make things worse, add insult to injury
Fun Fact/Origin: Long ago, people thought salt helped wounds, but it also stings.
Usage: Used when something makes a bad situation feel even worse.
4. A splitting headache
Meaning: A very bad headache
Example Sentence:
– I had a splitting headache after staying up all night.
– Loud music gave me a splitting headache.
Other ways to say: Bad headache, pounding head
Fun Fact/Origin: “Splitting” means it feels like your head might break in two.
Usage: Describes strong head pain.
5. Break your heart
Meaning: To make someone very sad, especially in love or loss
Example Sentence:
– It broke my heart when my dog ran away.
– Seeing her cry broke his heart.
Other ways to say: Hurt badly, crush someone’s feelings
Fun Fact/Origin: People feel heart pain when they’re really sad, even though it’s emotional.
Usage: Used for deep sadness, especially from love or loss.
6. Twist the knife
Meaning: To make someone feel worse on purpose
Example Sentence:
– He twisted the knife by reminding me I failed the test.
– She already felt bad, but his joke twisted the knife.
Other ways to say: Make it worse, rub it in
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from the idea of someone turning a knife after hurting someone.
Usage: Used when someone is cruel during a sad time.
7. A gut punch
Meaning: Something that feels shocking or very upsetting
Example Sentence:
– Hearing the bad news was a gut punch.
– It felt like a gut punch when I didn’t make the team.
Other ways to say: A big blow, heartbreaking news
Fun Fact/Origin: Getting punched in the stomach can make you feel weak or shocked.
Usage: Used for sudden, painful disappointment.
8. Feel like death warmed over
Meaning: To feel very sick or tired
Example Sentence:
– I felt like death warmed over after catching the flu.
– He looked like death warmed over after staying up all night.
Other ways to say: Feel awful, feel very sick
Fun Fact/Origin: This is a dramatic way to say you feel super sick or weak.
Usage: Used when someone is very unwell or exhausted.
9. Like pulling teeth
Meaning: Something very hard or painful to do
Example Sentence:
– Getting my brother to clean his room is like pulling teeth.
– Talking to her about homework was like pulling teeth.
Other ways to say: Difficult, hard to deal with
Fun Fact/Origin: Pulling teeth is painful, so this compares it to something hard.
Usage: Used when someone won’t do something easily.
10. A sore spot
Meaning: A subject that makes someone feel upset or sensitive
Example Sentence:
– Don’t ask him about his grades—it’s a sore spot.
– Money is a sore spot for their family.
Other ways to say: Sensitive topic, touchy subject
Fun Fact/Origin: Just like a bruise, a sore spot hurts when touched.
Usage: Used for emotional topics that hurt to talk about.
11. Feel the sting
Meaning: To feel hurt or sadness
Example Sentence:
– She felt the sting of losing the game.
– I still feel the sting of his words.
Other ways to say: Feel hurt, feel sharp sadness
Fun Fact/Origin: The word “sting” describes sharp quick pain, like a bee sting.
Usage: Used when something causes emotional or physical pain.
12. Add insult to injury
Meaning: To make a bad thing even worse
Example Sentence:
– I fell in the mud, and then it started raining—adding insult to injury.
– She lost her book and got blamed for it too, which added insult to injury.
Other ways to say: Make it worse, double the trouble
Fun Fact/Origin: This idiom is from an old Roman story where a man was hurt twice.
Usage: When a second bad thing follows the first.
13. A kick in the teeth
Meaning: A big and unfair disappointment
Example Sentence:
– Losing my spot on the team was a kick in the teeth.
– Getting grounded on my birthday was a kick in the teeth.
Other ways to say: A big blow, a real letdown
Fun Fact/Origin: A kick to the teeth would hurt and surprise anyone.
Usage: Used when something feels very unfair or mean.
14. A heavy heart
Meaning: Feeling deep sadness
Example Sentence:
– She walked away with a heavy heart.
– He had a heavy heart after hearing the bad news.
Other ways to say: Feeling down, really sad
Fun Fact/Origin: The heart is where we feel emotion; “heavy” means it’s full of sorrow.
Usage: Used for emotional pain or loss.
15. Hit a nerve
Meaning: To say something that really upsets someone
Example Sentence:
– Her comment hit a nerve and made him mad.
– That joke about school hit a nerve with me.
Other ways to say: Upset someone, struck a chord
Fun Fact/Origin: Nerves hurt when touched; this compares words to touching a sore nerve.
Usage: Used when words bring up strong feelings.
16. Knock the wind out of someone
Meaning: To shock or hurt someone badly
Example Sentence:
– The bad grade knocked the wind out of me.
– When I got hit in soccer, it knocked the wind out of me.
Other ways to say: Shock someone, take someone by surprise
Fun Fact/Origin: This comes from sports, when you get hit and can’t breathe right away.
Usage: Used for strong emotional or physical shock.
17. Carry the weight of the world
Meaning: To feel like you have too many problems
Example Sentence:
– He looked like he was carrying the weight of the world.
– She carries the weight of the world on her shoulders.
Other ways to say: Feel overwhelmed, feel heavy inside
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from Greek myths where Atlas held up the sky.
Usage: Used when someone is under a lot of stress or sadness.
18. Cry your eyes out
Meaning: To cry a lot
Example Sentence:
– She cried her eyes out after her dog got lost.
– He cried his eyes out during the sad movie.
Other ways to say: Sob, weep
Fun Fact/Origin: This doesn’t mean real eyes come out—it just means a lot of tears.
Usage: Used when someone cries heavily.
19. Pain in the backside
Meaning: Someone or something very annoying
Example Sentence:
– My little brother can be a pain in the backside sometimes.
– That pop quiz was a pain in the backside.
Other ways to say: A pest, a real bother
Fun Fact/Origin: It’s just a nicer way to say “pain in the butt.”
Usage: Used for something that is frustrating or annoying.
20. Give someone a hard time
Meaning: To bother or upset someone
Example Sentence:
– He gave me a hard time for losing the game.
– She’s always giving her sister a hard time.
Other ways to say: Tease, trouble someone
Fun Fact/Origin: This idiom means causing stress or discomfort for someone.
Usage: Used when someone is mean or annoying.
21. On pins and needles
Meaning: Feeling nervous or worried
Example Sentence:
– I was on pins and needles waiting for my test score.
– She felt on pins and needles before the tryouts.
Other ways to say: Nervous, anxious
Fun Fact/Origin: Pins and needles feel sharp—this shows how waiting can be painful.
Usage: Used when someone is very tense or waiting for something important.
22. A slap in the face
Meaning: An action or comment that feels insulting or hurtful
Example Sentence:
– Not being invited was a slap in the face.
– It felt like a slap in the face when he ignored me.
Other ways to say: An insult, an offense
Fun Fact/Origin: It compares words to the pain of being slapped.
Usage: When something is very hurtful or rude.
23. Cut to the bone
Meaning: To hurt someone deeply, especially with words
Example Sentence:
– Her comment cut me to the bone.
– His lie cut her to the bone.
Other ways to say: Deeply hurt, emotionally painful
Fun Fact/Origin: Imagine a cut going all the way to your bones—that’s very painful.
Usage: Used for strong emotional hurt.
24. Hurt like crazy
Meaning: Hurting a lot
Example Sentence:
– My ankle hurt like crazy after I fell.
– That bee sting hurt like crazy.
Other ways to say: Hurt badly, really painful
Fun Fact/Origin: Saying “like crazy” adds drama to the pain.
Usage: Used when the pain is very strong.
25. Cry over spilled milk
Meaning: To be upset about something that has already happened and can’t be changed
Example Sentence:
– Don’t cry over spilled milk. We can’t fix the vase now.
– I was sad about my test, but it’s no use crying over spilled milk.
Other ways to say: Let it go, move on
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from the idea that once milk is spilled, you can’t put it back.
Usage: Used to calm someone down after a mistake.
26. Hit like a ton of bricks
Meaning: To feel something very strongly or suddenly
Example Sentence:
– The news hit me like a ton of bricks.
– When I heard the truth, it hit like a ton of bricks.
Other ways to say: Felt suddenly, a hard hit
Fun Fact/Origin: A ton of bricks would fall heavy—this is a big emotional hit.
Usage: When a feeling or shock comes fast and hard.
27. Suffer in silence
Meaning: To feel pain but not show or tell anyone
Example Sentence:
– He was sad but suffered in silence.
– She didn’t tell anyone she was hurt and suffered in silence.
Other ways to say: Keep it inside, stay quiet in pain
Fun Fact/Origin: This idiom shows people sometimes don’t speak up about hurt.
Usage: For people who hide their pain.
28. Pain is written all over your face
Meaning: Someone looks like they are hurting
Example Sentence:
– She said she was okay, but pain was written all over her face.
– His face showed the pain, even if he didn’t speak.
Other ways to say: You can tell they’re hurting, it’s obvious
Fun Fact/Origin: Your face often shows feelings without words.
Usage: Used when someone’s pain is easy to see.
29. Heartache
Meaning: Emotional pain or sadness, usually from love
Example Sentence:
– Losing my friend caused heartache.
– That breakup gave her heartache for weeks.
Other ways to say: Sadness, emotional pain
Fun Fact/Origin: “Heartache” combines “heart” and “ache” to show deep sadness.
Usage: Often used for love-related pain.
30. Hurt feelings
Meaning: Feeling sad because of someone’s words or actions
Example Sentence:
– His teasing gave me hurt feelings.
– She had hurt feelings after being left out.
Other ways to say: Felt bad, upset inside
Fun Fact/Origin: Even small words can cause emotional pain.
Usage: Common in daily talk, especially with kids.
31. In a world of hurt
Meaning: In a lot of trouble or pain
Example Sentence:
– If you skip practice, you’ll be in a world of hurt.
– After the fall, he was in a world of hurt.
Other ways to say: In big trouble, hurting a lot
Fun Fact/Origin: This phrase shows that the pain is huge—like its own world.
Usage: Describes serious pain or consequences.
32. Eat your heart out
Meaning: To feel jealous or sad because of someone else’s success
Example Sentence:
– He got the trophy—eat your heart out!
– She sang so well, it made others eat their hearts out.
Other ways to say: Feel jealous, feel bad
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from an old saying about strong emotions in the heart.
Usage: Used in a joking way when showing off or talking about envy.
33. Pain is no stranger
Meaning: Someone has been through a lot of pain
Example Sentence:
– After losing her job and her pet, pain is no stranger to her.
– He’s had a tough year. Pain is no stranger.
Other ways to say: Used to it, knows pain
Fun Fact/Origin: Treating pain like a person we know makes it more real.
Usage: Used when someone has faced many hardships.
34. Grin and bear it
Meaning: To deal with pain without complaining
Example Sentence:
– I didn’t like the shot, but I had to grin and bear it.
– He grinned and bore it through the long meeting.
Other ways to say: Tough it out, deal with it
Fun Fact/Origin: This idiom is about smiling through discomfort.
Usage: Used when someone puts up with pain quietly.
35. Take it hard
Meaning: To be very upset by something
Example Sentence:
– He took it hard when he didn’t make the team.
– She took it hard when her fish died.
Other ways to say: Felt bad, was really sad
Fun Fact/Origin: Taking something “hard” means it hits your feelings strongly.
Usage: Used when someone is deeply affected.
36. Heart skips a beat
Meaning: To feel sudden fear or excitement
Example Sentence:
– My heart skipped a beat when I saw the snake.
– Her heart skipped a beat when she heard her name.
Other ways to say: Got scared, got surprised
Fun Fact/Origin: Your heartbeat can actually feel different when you’re nervous.
Usage: Used for fear or big emotions.
37. Hit rock bottom
Meaning: To feel the worst you’ve ever felt
Example Sentence:
– After he lost everything, he hit rock bottom.
– She hit rock bottom after failing the class.
Other ways to say: At the lowest point, really down
Fun Fact/Origin: It’s like falling to the bottom of a deep hole.
Usage: Describes life when it feels terrible.
38. Pick up the pieces
Meaning: To start feeling better after something painful
Example Sentence:
– After the breakup, she had to pick up the pieces.
– He’s trying to pick up the pieces after the fire.
Other ways to say: Move on, recover
Fun Fact/Origin: Like fixing a broken thing, it means healing after loss.
Usage: Used after emotional or life damage.
39. Hit below the belt
Meaning: To say or do something unfair or hurtful
Example Sentence:
– That comment was hitting below the belt.
– He hit below the belt by bringing up her past.
Other ways to say: Unfair, low blow
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from boxing, where hitting low is not allowed.
Usage: Used when someone is being mean.
40. Open old wounds
Meaning: To talk about something painful from the past
Example Sentence:
– Talking about it opened old wounds.
– That joke opened old wounds from last year.
Other ways to say: Bring up the past, make it hurt again
Fun Fact/Origin: Old cuts hurt when touched again—this idiom means emotional cuts.
Usage: Used when someone brings back old pain.
41. A thorn in your side
Meaning: Someone or something that keeps bothering you
Example Sentence:
– That noisy dog is a thorn in my side.
– He’s been a thorn in her side since day one.
Other ways to say: Constant trouble, ongoing problem
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from the Bible, where a thorn meant constant pain.
Usage: Used for things or people that keep causing problems.
42. Knock someone down a peg
Meaning: To humble someone who was too proud
Example Sentence:
– The loss knocked him down a peg.
– That comment knocked her down a peg.
Other ways to say: Humble someone, remind them they’re not perfect
Fun Fact/Origin: Pegs used to hold up flags or items—dropping one lowers it.
Usage: Used when someone gets a reality check.
43. Raw nerve
Meaning: A subject that causes pain or strong emotion
Example Sentence:
– That question hit a raw nerve.
– He touched a raw nerve when he mentioned her dad.
Other ways to say: Sensitive spot, touchy subject
Fun Fact/Origin: A raw nerve hurts badly if touched.
Usage: Used when someone reacts strongly to a topic.
44. Pour your heart out
Meaning: To share your deep feelings or pain
Example Sentence:
– She poured her heart out to her friend.
– He poured his heart out in the letter.
Other ways to say: Tell all your feelings, speak from the heart
Fun Fact/Origin: It’s like emptying all the emotions from your heart.
Usage: Used during deep talks or emotional moments.
45. Burned out
Meaning: Feeling tired and worn out from stress
Example Sentence:
– I felt burned out after the long week.
– He was burned out from too much work.
Other ways to say: Exhausted, drained
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from fire being used up until it’s gone.
Usage: Often used for mental and emotional tiredness.
46. Bring someone to tears
Meaning: To make someone cry
Example Sentence:
– That speech brought her to tears.
– The movie brought me to tears.
Other ways to say: Made them cry, touched them deeply
Fun Fact/Origin: It can happen from sadness or joy.
Usage: Used when something moves someone emotionally.
47. Cut deep
Meaning: To hurt someone’s feelings a lot
Example Sentence:
– His words cut deep.
– That insult really cut deep.
Other ways to say: Deep hurt, painful comment
Fun Fact/Origin: It compares emotional pain to being cut with a knife.
Usage: Used when words or actions hurt badly.
48. Bawl your eyes out
Meaning: To cry very loudly and hard
Example Sentence:
– She bawled her eyes out after losing the game.
– He bawled his eyes out when his toy broke.
Other ways to say: Sob loudly, cry a lot
Fun Fact/Origin: “Bawl” means to shout or cry with noise.
Usage: Often used when kids are upset.
49. Heart-wrenching
Meaning: Very sad and emotional
Example Sentence:
– The story was heart-wrenching.
– Seeing the puppy alone was heart-wrenching.
Other ways to say: Sad, touching
Fun Fact/Origin: “Wrench” means twist—this means the heart feels twisted in pain.
Usage: Used to describe sad scenes or news.
50. Take the fall
Meaning: To accept blame or punishment
Example Sentence:
– He took the fall for the broken window.
– I didn’t do it, but I took the fall.
Other ways to say: Get blamed, take responsibility
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from crime stories and sports.
Usage: Used when someone accepts guilt even if it’s not theirs.
51. Feel crushed
Meaning: To feel very disappointed or sad
Example Sentence:
– I felt crushed when I didn’t win.
– She was crushed after losing her pet.
Other ways to say: Heartbroken, really upset
Fun Fact/Origin: It means the sadness feels heavy, like being squished.
Usage: Common with sad or disappointing news.
52. Tear at your heart
Meaning: To cause strong emotional pain
Example Sentence:
– The goodbye letter tore at my heart.
– Watching him leave tore at her heart.
Other ways to say: Hurt deeply, emotional
Fun Fact/Origin: It’s like someone pulling your heart with sadness.
Usage: Used for painful goodbyes or stories.
53. Face the music
Meaning: To deal with the result of your actions
Example Sentence:
– He lied and had to face the music.
– I forgot the homework, and now I’ll face the music.
Other ways to say: Accept the blame, deal with it
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from theater, where actors face the orchestra.
Usage: Used when someone is about to be punished.
54. Feel like you’ve been hit by a truck
Meaning: To feel very sore or exhausted
Example Sentence:
– After the hike, I felt like I’d been hit by a truck.
– He felt like a truck hit him after that flu.
Other ways to say: Very sore, totally worn out
Fun Fact/Origin: It means your body feels bruised or beaten, though no truck is involved.
Usage: Often used after illness or hard work.
55. Dig up old pain
Meaning: To remember something that still hurts
Example Sentence:
– Talking about it just digs up old pain.
– She didn’t want to dig up old pain from the past.
Other ways to say: Reopen wounds, remember bad things
Fun Fact/Origin: It’s like digging into the ground and finding something you wish you hadn’t.
Usage: Used when bringing up sad memories.
56. At breaking point
Meaning: So stressed or upset that you can’t take any more
Example Sentence:
– After all the problems, he was at his breaking point.
– She reached her breaking point after the third test.
Other ways to say: Overwhelmed, can’t take more
Fun Fact/Origin: Like a rope ready to snap from too much weight.
Usage: Used in times of big emotional stress.
57. Pain runs deep
Meaning: The sadness or hurt is very strong and long-lasting
Example Sentence:
– Her pain runs deep after the loss.
– You can tell his pain runs deep.
Other ways to say: Deep sadness, lasting hurt
Fun Fact/Origin: This shows the pain is not just on the surface—it goes far inside.
Usage: Often said about grief or strong emotion.
58. Beaten down
Meaning: Worn out or hopeless from stress or sadness
Example Sentence:
– He looked beaten down after the long week.
– She felt beaten down after all the bad news.
Other ways to say: Tired, defeated
Fun Fact/Origin: Like something being hit so many times it can’t get up again.
Usage: Used when someone feels very low or discouraged.
Quiz: Idioms About Pain
Instructions: Choose the best meaning or example for each idiom. Pick only one answer for each.
Question Key
1. What does “a pain in the neck” mean?
a) Something easy to do
b) Someone or something very annoying
c) Someone who helps you
2. If someone says “rub salt in the wound,” what are they doing?
a) Making a hurt person feel worse
b) Helping someone feel better
c) Putting on medicine
3. What does it mean if you “feel the burn”?
a) You are angry
b) You are exercising hard and feel it
c) You are standing near a fire
4. What is “a splitting headache”?
a) A tiny headache
b) A headache that feels very strong
c) A happy feeling
5. If your heart is “heavy,” how do you feel?
a) Excited
b) Sad
c) Sleepy
6. What does “twist the knife” mean?
a) Make someone laugh
b) Make someone feel worse on purpose
c) Help someone
7. “Like pulling teeth” means:
a) Something is very fun
b) Something is very painful or hard
c) You’re going to the dentist
8. “A kick in the teeth” is:
a) A nice surprise
b) A funny joke
c) A big disappointment
9. What does “cry your eyes out” mean?
a) Cry a little
b) Cry a lot
c) Wipe your face
10. If someone is “on pins and needles,” how do they feel?
a) Excited or nervous
b) Hungry
c) Sleepy
11. “Cut to the bone” means:
a) Someone is very hurt emotionally
b) A doctor is doing surgery
c) You broke a bone
12. What does “a slap in the face” mean?
a) You got hit
b) A kind gift
c) An action that feels insulting
13. If someone says “my heart skipped a beat,” they are:
a) Dancing
b) Feeling a strong emotion
c) Jumping rope
14. “Carry the weight of the world” means:
a) Lifting heavy things
b) Feeling like you have too many problems
c) Traveling a lot
15. “Suffer in silence” means:
a) You yell when you get hurt
b) You cry loudly
c) You don’t show pain
16. “Hit below the belt” means:
a) Being fair
b) Being mean and unfair
c) Playing sports
17. If something “hits like a ton of bricks,” how does it feel?
a) Small and soft
b) Strong and sudden
c) Funny
18. “Pick up the pieces” means:
a) Clean your room
b) Play a game
c) Start healing after something bad
19. What does “burned out” mean?
a) Full of energy
b) Very tired and stressed
c) Feeling cold
20. “Bawl your eyes out” means:
a) Laugh hard
b) Run fast
c) Cry loudly
21. What does “face the music” mean?
a) Go to a concert
b) Accept the results of your actions
c) Play an instrument
22. “Pain is written all over your face” means:
a) You are hiding your feelings
b) You look happy
c) It’s easy to tell you’re hurting
23. “Feel crushed” means:
a) You feel very sad
b) You are excited
c) You feel hungry
24. If someone is “at breaking point,” they are:
a) About to laugh
b) About to give up from stress
c) About to eat
25. “Open old wounds” means:
a) Talk about something painful from the past
b) Go to the doctor
c) Fall down again
Answer Key
- b) Someone or something very annoying
- a) Making a hurt person feel worse
- b) You are exercising hard and feel it
- b) A headache that feels very strong
- b) Sad
- b) Make someone feel worse on purpose
- b) Something is very painful or hard
- c) A big disappointment
- b) Cry a lot
- a) Excited or nervous
- a) Someone is very hurt emotionally
- c) An action that feels insulting
- b) Feeling a strong emotion
- b) Feeling like you have too many problems
- c) You don’t show pain
- b) Being mean and unfair
- b) Strong and sudden
- c) Start healing after something bad
- b) Very tired and stressed
- c) Cry loudly
- b) Accept the results of your actions
- c) It’s easy to tell you’re hurting
- a) You feel very sad
- b) About to give up from stress
- a) Talk about something painful from the past
Wrapping Up
Idioms about pain are used every day in American conversations. They help people share their feelings in a simple way. Whether it’s a hurt body or a sad heart, these phrases say a lot with just a few words.
When kids and adults in the USA talk, you’ll hear these idioms often. Learning them helps you understand others better and express yourself clearly. Now that you’ve learned 58 idioms and tested your skills, you can spot these phrases in books, shows, or even at school.
