Idioms are special phrases that don’t always mean what they say. Adults use them all the time, at work, at home, or when talking with friends. These phrases help people share ideas quickly and make conversations more fun. You might hear them in the office, on the news, or even in a chat at the store. They often come from old stories, history, or just how people lived in the past.
In this article, we’ll look at some idioms that grown-ups often say. These idioms can describe feelings, actions, or problems. Knowing them can help you understand what people really mean, even if the words sound a bit strange at first. Let’s explore these idioms and see how they are used in everyday life.
Idioms for Adults
1. Bite the bullet
Meaning: To do something hard or unpleasant that you have been avoiding
Example Sentence:
– I didn’t want to go to the dentist, but I bit the bullet.
– She bit the bullet and cleaned out the messy garage.
Other ways to say: Face it, tough it out
Fun Fact/Origin: Long ago, soldiers bit on bullets during surgery to deal with the pain.
Usage: When someone finally does something they were afraid of.
2. Break the ice
Meaning: To start a conversation in a friendly way
Example Sentence:
– He told a funny joke to break the ice at the meeting.
– She asked where I was from to break the ice.
Other ways to say: Start talking, warm up
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from ships breaking ice to clear a path.
Usage: Used when people are meeting for the first time.
3. Hit the sack
Meaning: To go to bed
Example Sentence:
– I’m so tired, I’m going to hit the sack.
– She hit the sack early after a long day.
Other ways to say: Go to sleep, turn in
Fun Fact/Origin: Old beds were stuffed with sacks of hay.
Usage: Used when someone is going to sleep.
4. Let the cat out of the bag
Meaning: To share a secret by mistake
Example Sentence:
– He let the cat out of the bag about the surprise party.
– Oops, I let the cat out of the bag!
Other ways to say: Spill the beans, tell the secret
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from old markets where people sold pigs in bags, but sometimes tricked buyers with a cat.
Usage: Used when someone tells a secret.
5. Burn the midnight oil
Meaning: To stay up late working
Example Sentence:
– She burned the midnight oil to finish her report.
– He stayed up all night burning the midnight oil.
Other ways to say: Work late, stay up working
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from when people used oil lamps to work at night.
Usage: Used when someone works late hours.
6. Hit the nail on the head
Meaning: To say something exactly right
Example Sentence:
– You hit the nail on the head with that answer.
– She hit the nail on the head when she said we needed more time.
Other ways to say: Got it right, said it perfectly
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from carpentry—hitting the nail right is important.
Usage: Used when someone gives a perfect response or idea.
7. Under the weather
Meaning: To feel sick
Example Sentence:
– I didn’t go to work because I was under the weather.
– He stayed home because he felt under the weather.
Other ways to say: Not feeling well, sick
Fun Fact/Origin: Old sailors used this phrase when they were seasick.
Usage: Used when someone is feeling ill.
8. The ball is in your court
Meaning: It’s your turn to take action
Example Sentence:
– I’ve said what I needed to. Now the ball is in your court.
– She gave him a chance. The ball is in his court.
Other ways to say: Your move, your choice
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from tennis, where each player takes turns.
Usage: Used when someone else needs to decide what to do next.
9. Cost an arm and a leg
Meaning: Very expensive
Example Sentence:
– That car cost an arm and a leg.
– The tickets to the concert cost me an arm and a leg.
Other ways to say: Too pricey, really expensive
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from old times when losing limbs in war was seen as a huge cost.
Usage: Used when talking about high prices.
10. Cut to the chase
Meaning: Get to the point
Example Sentence:
– Let’s cut to the chase and talk about the plan.
– He cut to the chase and asked what she wanted.
Other ways to say: Get to the point, skip the details
Fun Fact/Origin: Used in old movies when slow scenes were skipped for action scenes.
Usage: Used when people want direct talk.
11. Throw in the towel
Meaning: To give up
Example Sentence:
– After trying many times, she threw in the towel.
– He threw in the towel and stopped playing.
Other ways to say: Quit, give up
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from boxing—when a fighter quits, their team throws in a towel.
Usage: Used when someone stops trying.
12. In hot water
Meaning: In trouble
Example Sentence:
– He’s in hot water for breaking the rule.
– I got in hot water for coming home late.
Other ways to say: In trouble, in a mess
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from the idea of hot water being uncomfortable or painful.
Usage: Used when someone is in trouble.
13. A blessing in disguise
Meaning: Something that seems bad but turns out good
Example Sentence:
– Losing that job was a blessing in disguise.
– The delay was a blessing in disguise because we missed the storm.
Other ways to say: Hidden good, secret gift
Fun Fact/Origin: Suggests that some bad things are really helpful.
Usage: Used when bad things turn out well later.
14. Go the extra mile
Meaning: To do more than expected
Example Sentence:
– She went the extra mile to help her friend.
– He always goes the extra mile at work.
Other ways to say: Try harder, do more
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from the Bible about walking farther to help others.
Usage: Used when someone works extra hard.
15. Bend over backward
Meaning: Try very hard to help someone
Example Sentence:
– He bent over backward to make her happy.
– She bent over backward to fix the mistake.
Other ways to say: Try hard, make big effort
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from gymnastics and showing great effort.
Usage: Used when someone tries a lot to help.
16. Put all your eggs in one basket
Meaning: To risk everything in one plan
Example Sentence:
– Don’t put all your eggs in one basket—try different ideas.
– She put all her eggs in one basket and lost everything.
Other ways to say: Take one big risk, rely on one plan
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from carrying eggs—if one basket drops, all break.
Usage: Used to warn against risking everything on one thing.
17. Back to the drawing board
Meaning: Start over
Example Sentence:
– The plan failed, so it’s back to the drawing board.
– We’ll go back to the drawing board and try again.
Other ways to say: Start again, try a new way
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from planning on a drawing board when things don’t work.
Usage: Used when a plan fails.
18. The tip of the iceberg
Meaning: A small part of a bigger problem
Example Sentence:
– The bad grade was just the tip of the iceberg.
– His anger is the tip of the iceberg—something else is going on.
Other ways to say: Just the start, small part of something big
Fun Fact/Origin: Icebergs have most of their size underwater.
Usage: Used when more problems are hidden.
19. Call it a day
Meaning: To stop working
Example Sentence:
– I’m tired—let’s call it a day.
– She called it a day after finishing her tasks.
Other ways to say: Stop working, wrap up
Fun Fact/Origin: Common at jobs when workers finish early.
Usage: Used to say work is done.
20. A penny for your thoughts
Meaning: Tell me what you’re thinking
Example Sentence:
– You’re quiet—a penny for your thoughts?
– He looked serious, so I asked, “A penny for your thoughts?”
Other ways to say: What’s on your mind?, Tell me what you think
Fun Fact/Origin: A way to politely ask someone to share their ideas.
Usage: Used when someone is silent or thoughtful.
21. Keep your chin up
Meaning: Stay positive
Example Sentence:
– Things will get better—keep your chin up.
– He told her to keep her chin up after the test.
Other ways to say: Be brave, stay strong
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from the way people stand tall when proud or hopeful.
Usage: Used to give support in tough times.
22. Jump the gun
Meaning: Start too early
Example Sentence:
– Don’t jump the gun and open the gift yet.
– He jumped the gun and answered before hearing the full question.
Other ways to say: Start too soon, act too fast
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from races where people start before the gun fires.
Usage: Used when someone acts before the right time.
23. On the fence
Meaning: Undecided about something
Example Sentence:
– I’m on the fence about going to the party.
– He was on the fence about which job to choose.
Other ways to say: Not sure, can’t decide
Fun Fact/Origin: Imagine someone sitting on a fence, not picking a side.
Usage: Used when someone hasn’t made a choice.
24. Put your foot down
Meaning: Say no or take a firm stand
Example Sentence:
– She put her foot down and said no more candy.
– Dad put his foot down about bedtime.
Other ways to say: Stand firm, say no
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from stamping your foot to show power.
Usage: Used when someone makes a strong decision.
25. By the book
Meaning: Follow rules exactly
Example Sentence:
– He did everything by the book at work.
– She wants to do it by the book, no shortcuts.
Other ways to say: Follow the rules, stick to the plan
Fun Fact/Origin: Refers to rule books or official guides.
Usage: Used when someone follows rules closely.
26. Beat around the bush
Meaning: Avoid saying something directly
Example Sentence:
– Stop beating around the bush and tell me the truth.
– He beat around the bush instead of saying he was late.
Other ways to say: Avoid the point, talk in circles
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from hunting, where people avoided bushes where animals hid.
Usage: Used when someone won’t speak clearly.
27. Get cold feet
Meaning: To become nervous and back out
Example Sentence:
– He got cold feet before the big speech.
– She had cold feet about the trip and canceled.
Other ways to say: Chicken out, get scared
Fun Fact/Origin: Linked to soldiers who said their feet felt cold before battle.
Usage: Used when someone hesitates or quits suddenly.
28. Add fuel to the fire
Meaning: Make a bad situation worse
Example Sentence:
– Yelling at him just added fuel to the fire.
– Her comment added fuel to the fire during the argument.
Other ways to say: Make things worse, stir things up
Fun Fact/Origin: Fire burns more with more fuel—just like arguments.
Usage: Used when someone worsens a tense moment.
29. Let sleeping dogs lie
Meaning: Don’t bring up old problems
Example Sentence:
– Let’s not talk about that—let sleeping dogs lie.
– He didn’t ask about the mistake to let sleeping dogs lie.
Other ways to say: Leave it alone, don’t stir trouble
Fun Fact/Origin: Waking a dog could cause trouble—so don’t.
Usage: Used to avoid restarting a past conflict.
30. Break even
Meaning: Not gain or lose money
Example Sentence:
– We didn’t make a profit, but at least we broke even.
– She sold the items and broke even.
Other ways to say: No profit, no loss
Fun Fact/Origin: Common in business to mean zero gain.
Usage: Used in money talks when the outcome is neutral.
31. In the same boat
Meaning: In the same situation as others
Example Sentence:
– We’re all in the same boat with these long days.
– She said they were in the same boat, both struggling.
Other ways to say: Same spot, facing the same issue
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from sailors sharing the same boat during storms.
Usage: Used to show shared problems.
32. Throw someone under the bus
Meaning: Blame someone else to save yourself
Example Sentence:
– He threw his friend under the bus to avoid trouble.
– She threw me under the bus in the meeting.
Other ways to say: Blame others, save yourself
Fun Fact/Origin: A modern phrase meaning betrayal.
Usage: Used when someone shifts blame.
33. Face the music
Meaning: Accept the result of your actions
Example Sentence:
– He had to face the music after skipping school.
– She faced the music and told the truth.
Other ways to say: Take the blame, accept the outcome
Fun Fact/Origin: Linked to soldiers facing drumbeats during punishment.
Usage: Used when someone takes responsibility.
34. Go down in flames
Meaning: To fail completely
Example Sentence:
– The project went down in flames after the mistake.
– His idea went down in flames at the meeting.
Other ways to say: Fail badly, crash and burn
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from warplanes crashing in fire.
Usage: Used to describe big failure.
35. Kick the bucket
Meaning: To die
Example Sentence:
– The old man kicked the bucket peacefully.
– He joked about kicking the bucket after his birthday.
Other ways to say: Pass away, die
Fun Fact/Origin: Possibly from old farming terms or hanging posts.
Usage: A light way to talk about death.
36. Hit rock bottom
Meaning: To reach the lowest point
Example Sentence:
– After losing his job, he hit rock bottom.
– She hit rock bottom before turning things around.
Other ways to say: Worst point, lowest moment
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from mining—no deeper place than rock.
Usage: Used when someone is at their worst point.
37. Speak of the devil
Meaning: Talk about someone, and they appear
Example Sentence:
– Speak of the devil! We were just talking about you.
– She walked in right after we said her name—speak of the devil!
Other ways to say: Just in time, here they are
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from old sayings about evil showing up when named.
Usage: Used when someone shows up just as you mention them.
38. Take it with a grain of salt
Meaning: Don’t fully believe something
Example Sentence:
– He lies a lot, so I take what he says with a grain of salt.
– You should take that story with a grain of salt.
Other ways to say: Be careful what you believe, don’t trust it fully
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from old times when salt was used to make poison less harmful.
Usage: Used when warning not to believe everything.
Quiz: Idioms for Adults
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 “bite the bullet” mean?
A) Eat something spicy
B) Do something hard you’ve been avoiding
C) Get into trouble
2. If someone says “break the ice,” what are they trying to do?
A) Go skating
B) Start a conversation
C) Avoid people
3. What does “under the weather” mean?
A) It’s raining
B) Someone feels sick
C) They are playing outside
4. What happens when you “spill the beans”?
A) You cook dinner
B) You drop food
C) You tell a secret
5. If a job “costs an arm and a leg,” it means:
A) You lost something
B) It was very expensive
C) It was easy
6. What does “throw in the towel” mean?
A) Start cleaning
B) Give up
C) Play a sport
7. If someone says “cut to the chase,” they want to:
A) Tell a story
B) Be direct and skip the extra details
C) Go for a run
8. What does “the ball is in your court” mean?
A) You’re playing a game
B) It’s your turn to act
C) You lost the ball
9. If someone “adds fuel to the fire,” they are:
A) Cooking
B) Making a problem worse
C) Warming up
10. “On the fence” means:
A) Sitting outside
B) Not sure what to decide
C) Fixing something
11. What does “face the music” mean?
A) Dance to a song
B) Take a music class
C) Accept the results of what you did
12. If someone “kicks the bucket,” what happened?
A) They spilled water
B) They tripped
C) They died
13. What does “go the extra mile” mean?
A) Drive more
B) Try harder and do more
C) Get lost
Answer Key
- B) Do something hard you’ve been avoiding
- B) Start a conversation
- B) Someone feels sick
- C) You tell a secret
- B) It was very expensive
- B) Give up
- B) Be direct and skip the extra details
- B) It’s your turn to act
- B) Making a problem worse
- B) Not sure what to decide
- C) Accept the results of what you did
- C) They died
- B) Try harder and do more
Wrapping Up
Idioms are phrases that don’t always mean what they say, but they make speaking more fun and interesting. Adults use these expressions all the time—at work, at home, or when they’re with friends. Learning them can help you understand what others really mean, even when the words sound confusing.
In this article, you’ve seen 38 idioms that adults often use. Each one tells a small story. By learning what they mean and how to use them, you can understand people better and even try using some yourself. It’s a simple way to sound more natural in conversations.
