When someone wins something or gets praised for doing well, we often use special phrases to talk about it. These phrases are called idioms. Idioms help us describe how people feel when they earn prizes, honors, or praise. They also make the way we speak and write more interesting. You might hear them in movies, books, or everyday talk.
In this article, we will learn about idioms related to awards. These idioms are fun to know and use. They can help you talk about success, hard work, and being recognized. Let’s explore what they mean and how you can use them.
Idioms About Awards
1. Bring home the bacon
Meaning: To win a prize or earn success
Example Sentence:
• Emma brought home the bacon by winning the science fair.
• Our soccer team brought home the bacon in the final match.
Other ways to say: Win, succeed
Fun Fact/Origin: This idiom started in England when people won bacon as a prize.
Usage: Used when someone wins or achieves something important.
2. Win by a landslide
Meaning: To win easily with a big lead
Example Sentence:
• He won by a landslide in the school election.
• The movie won by a landslide at the awards show.
Other ways to say: Win big, dominate
Fun Fact/Origin: A “landslide” shows how fast and big the win was, like a landslide of dirt.
Usage: Used when someone wins with a huge difference.
3. Take the cake
Meaning: To be the best or most impressive
Example Sentence:
• Her drawing really takes the cake in the art contest.
• That magic trick takes the cake for the coolest one.
Other ways to say: Stand out, win
Fun Fact/Origin: It comes from a dance competition prize where the best dancer won a cake.
Usage: Used when someone or something is the best.
4. Sweep the board
Meaning: To win all the prizes
Example Sentence:
• Our school swept the board at the spelling bee.
• That team swept the board at the state finals.
Other ways to say: Win everything, take all prizes
Fun Fact/Origin: It came from board games where a player wins all.
Usage: Used when someone wins every category.
5. Hit the jackpot
Meaning: To have a big success or win
Example Sentence:
• She hit the jackpot with her invention and won an award.
• His book hit the jackpot with readers and won a prize.
Other ways to say: Win big, strike gold
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from gambling, where “jackpot” means a big win.
Usage: Used when someone has a big win or lucky success.
6. Come out on top
Meaning: To win or be the best
Example Sentence:
• He came out on top in the chess tournament.
• After all the hard work, she came out on top.
Other ways to say: Win, be the winner
Fun Fact/Origin: It means being the best in the end, like standing on top.
Usage: Used when someone wins or finishes first.
7. Take a bow
Meaning: To accept praise after success
Example Sentence:
• After her speech, she took a bow as the crowd clapped.
• He took a bow after getting the award.
Other ways to say: Be praised, enjoy applause
Fun Fact/Origin: From theater, where performers bow after a show.
Usage: Used when someone is being praised or honored.
8. Bask in the glory
Meaning: To enjoy the praise and honor of success
Example Sentence:
• The team basked in the glory of their big win.
• She basked in the glory after winning first place.
Other ways to say: Enjoy fame, feel proud
Fun Fact/Origin: “Bask” means to enjoy warmth—like enjoying the warm feeling of praise.
Usage: Used when someone is enjoying their success.
9. Make the grade
Meaning: To reach the level needed to succeed
Example Sentence:
• She made the grade and got into the honor roll.
• You have to work hard to make the grade.
Other ways to say: Succeed, do well
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from school grades—doing well means you “make the grade.”
Usage: Used when someone meets the level to win or be accepted.
10. Come up trumps
Meaning: To do better than expected
Example Sentence:
• He came up trumps and won the prize.
• Her plan came up trumps in the science contest.
Other ways to say: Do great, surprise with success
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from card games, where a “trump” card is stronger.
Usage: Used when someone wins in a surprising or strong way.
11. Earn your stripes
Meaning: To gain respect or success through hard work
Example Sentence:
• He earned his stripes by winning the math contest.
• She earned her stripes with years of effort.
Other ways to say: Prove yourself, gain respect
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from the military, where “stripes” show rank.
Usage: Used when someone wins or succeeds through effort.
12. Steal the show
Meaning: To be the most outstanding part of an event
Example Sentence:
• Her dance routine stole the show.
• The young actor stole the show at the school play.
Other ways to say: Stand out, be the star
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from theater when someone outshines the lead.
Usage: Used when someone impresses everyone the most.
13. Win hands down
Meaning: To win easily without a struggle
Example Sentence:
• He won hands down in the spelling contest.
• The singer won hands down at the talent show.
Other ways to say: Win easily, no contest
Fun Fact/Origin: From horse racing, where jockeys relax their hands near the finish.
Usage: Used when someone clearly wins with little effort.
14. Crown jewel
Meaning: The best or most valuable part
Example Sentence:
• Her project was the crown jewel of the science fair.
• That trophy is the crown jewel of the collection.
Other ways to say: Best part, highlight
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from royal crowns, where the biggest gem is most special.
Usage: Used when something is the best part of a group.
15. Rise to the occasion
Meaning: To succeed in a challenge
Example Sentence:
• He rose to the occasion and gave a great speech.
• She rose to the occasion in the final round.
Other ways to say: Do well, step up
Fun Fact/Origin: This idiom means showing your best when needed.
Usage: Used when someone succeeds during a tough moment.
16. Win fair and square
Meaning: To win honestly without cheating
Example Sentence:
• He won fair and square in the contest.
• She won fair and square with her own talent.
Other ways to say: Win honestly, true victory
Fun Fact/Origin: “Square” once meant honest or true in old English.
Usage: Used when someone wins in a fair way.
17. Take top honors
Meaning: To win the highest award
Example Sentence:
• She took top honors in the writing competition.
• The school took top honors at the science event.
Other ways to say: Get first place, win big
Fun Fact/Origin: “Top honors” means the most respected prize.
Usage: Used when someone wins the best award.
18. Be a tough act to follow
Meaning: To be so good that others have a hard time doing better
Example Sentence:
• Her speech was a tough act to follow.
• The champion was a tough act to follow.
Other ways to say: Hard to beat, very impressive
Fun Fact/Origin: From stage acts that were hard to top by the next performer.
Usage: Used when someone does something very well.
19. Ace it
Meaning: To do something perfectly
Example Sentence:
• He aced the test and got a medal.
• She aced her presentation at the fair.
Other ways to say: Do great, nail it
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from “ace” in sports and school meaning top score.
Usage: Used when someone performs very well.
20. Be in the spotlight
Meaning: To be the center of attention
Example Sentence:
• The winner was in the spotlight during the awards.
• She loved being in the spotlight after her big win.
Other ways to say: Be noticed, be famous
Fun Fact/Origin: From stage lights shining on the star of the show.
Usage: Used when someone is the focus of attention.
21. Hit it out of the park
Meaning: To do something very well
Example Sentence:
• He hit it out of the park with his speech.
• She hit it out of the park in the talent show.
Other ways to say: Succeed, do amazing
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from baseball—hitting the ball out of the park is a home run.
Usage: Used when someone does something excellently.
22. Have your moment
Meaning: To get a short time of praise or success
Example Sentence:
• She had her moment when she got the medal.
• He had his moment after the big win.
Other ways to say: Shine, get noticed
Fun Fact/Origin: This idiom means enjoying a short time of fame.
Usage: Used when someone is briefly praised.
23. Nail it
Meaning: To do something exactly right
Example Sentence:
• He nailed the final round of the contest.
• She nailed it in the interview and got the prize.
Other ways to say: Get it right, succeed
Fun Fact/Origin: From construction, where a nail is hit perfectly.
Usage: Used when someone does something just right.
24. Be on the podium
Meaning: To place in the top three of a contest
Example Sentence:
• She was on the podium at the swim meet.
• He made it to the podium after the race.
Other ways to say: Win a top spot, place in top three
Fun Fact/Origin: From sports, where winners stand on a podium.
Usage: Used when someone finishes in top places.
25. Get a gold star
Meaning: To be rewarded for doing well
Example Sentence:
• He got a gold star for his neat homework.
• She got a gold star for helping the team win.
Other ways to say: Get rewarded, be praised
Fun Fact/Origin: Teachers often give gold stars for good work.
Usage: Used when someone is praised for doing something good.
26. Come away with flying colors
Meaning: To succeed and be proud
Example Sentence:
• He came away with flying colors at the contest.
• She came away with flying colors from the test.
Other ways to say: Succeed proudly, win well
Fun Fact/Origin: From ships returning with flags high after winning battles.
Usage: Used when someone does something very successfully.
27. Be the toast of the town
Meaning: To be very popular for a win
Example Sentence:
• She was the toast of the town after winning.
• He became the toast of the town with his award.
Other ways to say: Be celebrated, be honored
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from toasting someone’s success at parties.
Usage: Used when someone is widely praised.
28. Strike gold
Meaning: To find great success
Example Sentence:
• His idea struck gold and won first place.
• She struck gold with her science project.
Other ways to say: Succeed big, hit it big
Fun Fact/Origin: From finding real gold in mines—very lucky!
Usage: Used when someone gets a big win.
29. Be showered with praise
Meaning: To get lots of compliments for success
Example Sentence:
• She was showered with praise after winning the contest.
• He was showered with praise at the award show.
Other ways to say: Get compliments, be praised
Fun Fact/Origin: The word “showered” shows how much praise is given.
Usage: Used when someone is highly praised.
30. Stand tall
Meaning: To feel proud after doing something well
Example Sentence:
• He stood tall after winning the spelling bee.
• She stood tall when she got the award.
Other ways to say: Feel proud, be confident
Fun Fact/Origin: Standing tall shows confidence and pride.
Usage: Used when someone feels proud of their achievement.
Quiz: Idioms About Awards
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 “bring home the bacon” mean?
A) To go grocery shopping
B) To win something or succeed
C) To cook a good meal
2. If someone “steals the show,” what does it mean?
A) They leave early
B) They mess up their part
C) They impress everyone the most
3. What does it mean to “hit the jackpot”?
A) To lose everything
B) To have a big success
C) To break a machine
4. If a student “makes the grade,” what does that mean?
A) They fail a test
B) They don’t try hard
C) They reach the level needed to succeed
5. What does it mean to “win hands down”?
A) To win with effort
B) To win easily
C) To give up
6. When someone “rises to the occasion,” what are they doing?
A) Taking a break
B) Running away from a task
C) Doing well during a challenge
7. If a team “sweeps the board,” what have they done?
A) Cleaned everything
B) Lost all their games
C) Won every prize
8. What does “take a bow” mean after winning?
A) To leave the stage quickly
B) To accept praise and honor
C) To sit down quietly
9. If someone “strikes gold” with an idea, what does it mean?
A) Their idea was very successful
B) Their idea was about mining
C) Their idea was forgotten
10. What does it mean to be “showered with praise”?
A) To get water poured on you
B) To be given many compliments
C) To win a trip
11. What does “stand tall” mean after getting an award?
A) To physically grow taller
B) To feel proud and confident
C) To stand on a box
12. If someone is “the toast of the town,” what does that mean?
A) Everyone ignores them
B) They are popular and praised
C) They eat a lot of toast
Answer Key
- B) To win something or succeed
- C) They impress everyone the most
- B) To have a big success
- C) They reach the level needed to succeed
- B) To win easily
- C) Doing well during a challenge
- C) Won every prize
- B) To accept praise and honor
- A) Their idea was very successful
- B) To be given many compliments
- B) To feel proud and confident
- B) They are popular and praised
Wrapping Up
Idioms make talking about awards more fun and clear. They help us say things in an exciting way. When someone wins or does something great, idioms can show how proud and happy we are. Now that you know these phrases, try using them when you talk about someone’s success. They’ll help you sound more natural and confident.
Learning idioms about awards can also help you understand books, shows, and real-life moments better. So keep listening to them and use them when the time is right. Great job reading through this lesson!
