Aliens have always been a part of fun stories and ideas. People love to talk about them in books, movies, and even everyday conversation. You’ve probably heard some strange phrases about aliens, and many of them are idioms. These idioms help people express ideas in a fun way, using aliens as examples.
In this article, we will look at a few common idioms related to aliens. You will learn what they mean and how they are used. Idioms are an interesting part of language that can make talking and writing more exciting. So, let’s dive into some fun alien phrases and see how they add color to the language!
Idioms About Aliens
1. Close encounters
Meaning: A meeting or experience with something unusual or unexpected.
Example Sentence:
- “I had a close encounter with a strange idea during class today.”
- “The scientist had a close encounter with a new species of fish.”
Other ways to say: Unusual experience, strange meeting
Fun Fact/Origin: This idiom comes from the movie Close Encounters of the Third Kind, which made aliens seem more approachable.
Usage: Used when something strange or unexpected happens.
2. Take me to your leader
Meaning: A phrase used humorously when meeting someone new, often a person in charge.
Example Sentence:
- “When I asked the teacher for help, I said, ‘Take me to your leader!'”
- “When we met the new boss, we joked, ‘Take me to your leader!'”
Other ways to say: Who’s in charge here?
Fun Fact/Origin: This phrase is from the movie The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951), where aliens say it when they meet humans.
Usage: Used to refer to a situation where someone is looking for the person in charge.
3. Out of this world
Meaning: Something amazing or extraordinary.
Example Sentence:
- “That movie was out of this world!”
- “The cake at the party was out of this world!”
Other ways to say: Incredible, amazing
Fun Fact/Origin: This phrase is often used in science fiction to describe something from outer space, which is seen as fantastic or unusual.
Usage: Used to describe something amazing or unbelievable.
4. Beam me up
Meaning: A phrase used when someone wants to escape a situation.
Example Sentence:
- “This class is so boring, I wish someone would beam me up!”
- “When the meeting went on forever, I felt like shouting, ‘Beam me up!'”
Other ways to say: Get me out of here, Escape now
Fun Fact/Origin: This phrase comes from Star Trek, where characters are transported by a “beam” from one place to another.
Usage: Used to express the desire to leave or escape a situation quickly.
5. Alien to the idea
Meaning: Something completely unfamiliar or strange.
Example Sentence:
- “The concept of time travel was alien to him.”
- “At first, the idea of working online was alien to me.”
Other ways to say: Unfamiliar, strange
Fun Fact/Origin: The idea of being alien to something means it’s as foreign as an alien, coming from space.
Usage: Used to describe something you are not familiar with.
6. Out of this galaxy
Meaning: Something amazing, beyond what you would expect.
Example Sentence:
- “Her singing was out of this galaxy!”
- “The view from the mountain top was out of this galaxy.”
Other ways to say: Amazing, mind-blowing
Fun Fact/Origin: This phrase plays off the idea that space is vast and full of surprises.
Usage: Used to describe something extremely impressive or surprising.
7. Green with envy
Meaning: To feel jealous or envious.
Example Sentence:
- “I was green with envy when I saw her new phone.”
- “He was green with envy when his friend won the contest.”
Other ways to say: Jealous, envious
Fun Fact/Origin: While often linked to aliens, this phrase refers to the color green, traditionally linked to jealousy.
Usage: Used when someone is feeling jealous or envious of others.
8. An alien concept
Meaning: An idea that is difficult to understand or foreign.
Example Sentence:
- “The idea of artificial intelligence was an alien concept to the team at first.”
- “Living in space seemed like an alien concept to the astronauts.”
Other ways to say: Strange idea, difficult to understand
Fun Fact/Origin: This idiom is based on the idea that aliens come from somewhere completely different, making their ideas hard to grasp.
Usage: Used when something is hard to understand or unfamiliar.
9. Alien to us
Meaning: Completely unfamiliar or different from what you know.
Example Sentence:
- “The culture in the new country was alien to us.”
- “The way the team worked together was alien to him.”
Other ways to say: Foreign to us, strange
Fun Fact/Origin: This phrase is similar to the idea of an alien coming from another planet, bringing with it things you don’t understand.
Usage: Used to describe something that is very unfamiliar or different.
10. Space out
Meaning: To lose focus or daydream.
Example Sentence:
- “I started to space out during the long lecture.”
- “He spaced out during the meeting and forgot what was being discussed.”
Other ways to say: Zone out, daydream
Fun Fact/Origin: This phrase might relate to the idea of astronauts being in space, far from Earth, where they might lose focus.
Usage: Used when someone stops paying attention or becomes distracted.
11. To boldly go
Meaning: To do something brave or adventurous, usually into the unknown.
Example Sentence:
- “She decided to boldly go into the unknown and start her own business.”
- “They boldly went where no one had gone before on their hiking trip.”
Other ways to say: Venture out, take a chance
Fun Fact/Origin: This is a famous line from Star Trek, where characters boldly go to explore new worlds.
Usage: Used when someone is about to do something brave or new.
12. Like a UFO
Meaning: Something that is very strange or unusual.
Example Sentence:
- “The way he dressed was like a UFO at the party.”
- “The new software felt like a UFO, I couldn’t figure it out.”
Other ways to say: Out of place, very unusual
Fun Fact/Origin: UFO stands for Unidentified Flying Object, often used to describe strange and unexplained things.
Usage: Used to describe something that seems out of place or very odd.
13. Taking off like a rocket
Meaning: To become very successful or move very quickly.
Example Sentence:
- “Her career took off like a rocket after the big promotion.”
- “The new game took off like a rocket and became very popular.”
Other ways to say: Skyrocketing, shooting up
Fun Fact/Origin: This idiom is based on how fast a rocket launches into the sky.
Usage: Used when something is happening very quickly or becoming successful.
14. Lost in space
Meaning: To be confused or unsure of what’s happening.
Example Sentence:
- “I was lost in space during the long meeting.”
- “He felt lost in space when he couldn’t follow the directions.”
Other ways to say: Confused, out of touch
Fun Fact/Origin: This phrase is inspired by the feeling of being lost in outer space, far from everything you know.
Usage: Used when someone feels lost or unsure of what is happening.
15. A different planet
Meaning: Something that is completely different from what you are used to.
Example Sentence:
- “His thoughts about the project were from a different planet.”
- “The food at the new restaurant was from a different planet—it was so unique!”
Other ways to say: Completely different, strange
Fun Fact/Origin: The phrase refers to the idea of a person or thing being so different it might as well be from another planet.
Usage: Used when something is extremely different or surprising.
16. E.T. phone home
Meaning: A phrase used when you want to call or get in touch with someone, often humorously.
Example Sentence:
- “I forgot to text my mom, so I said, ‘E.T. phone home!’ when I finally did.”
- “He was lost, so he kept saying, ‘E.T. phone home!’ trying to find his way.”
Other ways to say: Call home, get in touch
Fun Fact/Origin: This is a famous line from the movie E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, where E.T. wants to call his spaceship to go home.
Usage: Used when someone is trying to contact someone else, especially when they’ve been away for a while.
17. Alien in my own skin
Meaning: Feeling uncomfortable or out of place in your own body or situation.
Example Sentence:
- “After the move, I felt like an alien in my own skin in the new town.”
- “He felt like an alien in his own skin at the new school.”
Other ways to say: Out of place, uncomfortable
Fun Fact/Origin: This idiom compares feeling uncomfortable to being an alien in a world you don’t belong to.
Usage: Used when someone feels out of place or awkward.
18. Blown away by aliens
Meaning: To be surprised or amazed by something unexpected.
Example Sentence:
- “I was blown away by aliens when I saw how fast the new car went!”
- “She was blown away by aliens when she heard the news of the promotion.”
Other ways to say: Surprised, amazed
Fun Fact/Origin: This is a playful mix of two ideas—being surprised and thinking something is so out there, like aliens.
Usage: Used to describe a feeling of being shocked or impressed.
19. Strange as an alien
Meaning: Very odd or unusual.
Example Sentence:
- “His idea was as strange as an alien!”
- “The new machine looked as strange as an alien.”
Other ways to say: Weird, bizarre
Fun Fact/Origin: The image of an alien, unfamiliar and strange, is used to describe anything out of the ordinary.
Usage: Used to describe something or someone very strange.
20. Beam me up, Scotty
Meaning: A way of saying you want to leave or escape a situation.
Example Sentence:
- “I was so tired of the meeting, I wanted to say, ‘Beam me up, Scotty!'”
- “When the party got boring, I felt like saying, ‘Beam me up, Scotty!'”
Other ways to say: Get me out of here, I need to leave
Fun Fact/Origin: This phrase is from Star Trek, where the captain asks to be “beamed up” to escape a bad situation.
Usage: Used when you want to leave or escape something.
21. Aliens among us
Meaning: To refer to something or someone that seems out of place or different.
Example Sentence:
- “I felt like an alien among us when I first joined the group.”
- “The new student seemed like an alien among us.”
Other ways to say: Out of place, different
Fun Fact/Origin: This phrase is often used to describe someone or something that feels unfamiliar or unusual.
Usage: Used when someone or something seems out of place.
22. Alien takeover
Meaning: When something or someone new takes over or changes everything.
Example Sentence:
- “The new manager did an alien takeover of the office.”
- “The new technology led to an alien takeover of our daily tasks.”
Other ways to say: Changeover, takeover
Fun Fact/Origin: Often used humorously to describe a sudden change, like an alien invading.
Usage: Used to describe a major change or takeover by something new.
23. To the moon and back
Meaning: To go very far or do something huge, usually for someone you love.
Example Sentence:
- “I’ll love you to the moon and back!”
- “She would do anything for her family, even go to the moon and back.”
Other ways to say: Beyond measure, with all my heart
Fun Fact/Origin: Refers to the idea of going so far, it’s like traveling to the moon and back.
Usage: Used to express deep love or affection.
24. Aliens in disguise
Meaning: Something that looks normal but is actually very different.
Example Sentence:
- “His plans for the project seemed like aliens in disguise.”
- “The quiet new kid was an alien in disguise—he was super talented.”
Other ways to say: Hidden talent, secretive
Fun Fact/Origin: Refers to the idea that things that seem normal could hide something unexpected.
Usage: Used when something or someone appears normal but is actually unusual or different.
25. Taking it to another planet
Meaning: To do something in an extraordinary or extreme way.
Example Sentence:
- “Her performance in the play was taking it to another planet!”
- “The team’s skills in the game were taking it to another planet.”
Other ways to say: Going all out, doing it big
Fun Fact/Origin: This phrase suggests going so far that it’s like leaving Earth and going to another planet.
Usage: Used to describe doing something in an extreme or impressive way.
26. Blast off
Meaning: To start something quickly or with a lot of energy.
Example Sentence:
- “The race will blast off at noon.”
- “Her career blasted off after she made that big decision.”
Other ways to say: Take off, start quickly
Fun Fact/Origin: Refers to a rocket launching into space, symbolizing starting something fast.
Usage: Used when something begins quickly or energetically.
27. The sky’s the limit
Meaning: There is no limit to what can be achieved.
Example Sentence:
- “With your talent, the sky’s the limit!”
- “Their goals are high—the sky’s the limit for this team.”
Other ways to say: No boundaries, endless possibilities
Fun Fact/Origin: This phrase uses the sky as a metaphor for limitless potential, similar to outer space.
Usage: Used to show that anything is possible.
28. Alien technology
Meaning: New or advanced technology that seems strange or futuristic.
Example Sentence:
- “This new phone is like alien technology, it does things I never thought possible.”
- “The scientists were amazed by the alien technology they found in the lab.”
Other ways to say: Futuristic technology, cutting-edge technology
Fun Fact/Origin: Refers to the idea that advanced technology might be so complex, it seems as if it came from aliens.
Usage: Used to describe technology that is very advanced or hard to understand.
Quiz: Idioms About Aliens
Test your knowledge of idioms related to aliens! Choose the best answer for each question.
Question Key
1. What does the idiom “Out of this world” mean?
A) Something that is extremely ordinary.
B) Something amazing or extraordinary.
C) Something from outer space.
2. When someone says, “Take me to your leader,” what are they likely asking for?
A) To meet someone in charge.
B) To find a restaurant.
C) To go on a vacation.
3. What does “Beam me up” mean?
A) To transport yourself to a new place.
B) To make a phone call.
C) To ask to leave a situation.
4. If something is “alien to the idea,” what does it mean?
A) It is easy to understand.
B) It is completely unfamiliar or strange.
C) It is the best idea.
5. “Taking it to another planet” means:
A) Doing something extremely well or in an extraordinary way.
B) Going on a space trip.
C) Doing something average.
6. What does it mean when you say, “Like a UFO”?
A) Something very strange or unusual.
B) Something very common.
C) Something very large.
7. If someone says, “I’m lost in space,” what do they mean?
A) They are exploring new planets.
B) They are confused or unsure of what’s happening.
C) They are in a hurry.
8. What does “Strange as an alien” mean?
A) Very normal.
B) Very strange or odd.
C) Very friendly.
9. If someone is “Blown away by aliens,” what does it mean?
A) They are amazed or surprised.
B) They are angry.
C) They are bored.
10. What does “E.T. phone home” mean?
A) To leave a place quickly.
B) To contact someone, especially when you’ve been away for a while.
C) To travel to outer space.
Answers Key
- B) Something amazing or extraordinary.
- A) To meet someone in charge.
- C) To ask to leave a situation.
- B) It is completely unfamiliar or strange.
- A) Doing something extremely well or in an extraordinary way.
- A) Something very strange or unusual.
- B) They are confused or unsure of what’s happening.
- B) Very strange or odd.
- A) They are amazed or surprised.
- B) To contact someone, especially when you’ve been away for a while.
Wrapping Up
Idioms about aliens are fun ways to describe things that seem strange, out of this world, or amazing. These expressions help us talk about unusual experiences or surprising events. By using these idioms, we can make our conversations more interesting and colorful.
Now you know some popular alien-related idioms and their meanings. Next time you hear one, you’ll understand it better! Keep practicing, and soon you’ll be using these idioms in your daily talks.
