Have you ever heard someone say, “He’s the crown jewel of the team,” or “She wears the crown now”? These are idioms—special phrases that don’t mean exactly what the words say. Idioms about crowns are used to describe people, achievements, or things that are the best or most important.
Crowns are symbols of royalty and power. Kings and queens wear them to show they are leaders. That’s why many crown idioms are about being number one, standing out, or leading others. In this article, we will learn some idioms about crowns, what they mean, and how we can use them in our everyday life.
Idioms About Crown
1. Crown jewel
Meaning: The best or most valuable thing in a group
Example Sentence:
– The science lab is the crown jewel of our school.
– That new roller coaster is the crown jewel of the amusement park.
Other ways to say: The best part, highlight
Fun Fact/Origin: This comes from royal treasures, where the most valuable jewel in a crown is called the “crown jewel.”
Usage: Used to show what is most prized in a group or collection.
2. Wear the crown
Meaning: To be in charge or have the most power
Example Sentence:
– After the coach retired, Mr. Ray now wears the crown.
– She wears the crown as class president.
Other ways to say: Be the leader, take the lead
Fun Fact/Origin: In old times, kings and queens wore crowns to show they ruled.
Usage: Used when someone becomes the new leader or top person.
3. Heavy is the head that wears the crown
Meaning: Being in charge comes with a lot of stress
Example Sentence:
– Jake became team captain and found out heavy is the head that wears the crown.
– She thought being the boss was fun, but heavy is the head that wears the crown.
Other ways to say: Leadership is tough, being the boss is hard
Fun Fact/Origin: This phrase comes from old plays about kings who felt pressure from their job.
Usage: Used when someone realizes that being the leader is not always easy.
4. Crowned with success
Meaning: To be very successful or win something big
Example Sentence:
– Her spelling bee win crowned her with success.
– The school play was crowned with success.
Other ways to say: Ended in victory, finished strong
Fun Fact/Origin: The crown is a sign of winning or achieving something great.
Usage: Used when something ends very well or gets praise.
5. Crown it all
Meaning: To complete something perfectly
Example Sentence:
– We had fun at the park, and ice cream crowned it all.
– The surprise party crowned it all after a great day.
Other ways to say: Top it off, make it perfect
Fun Fact/Origin: A crown is placed on top, so this idiom means the perfect ending.
Usage: Used when something already good ends with something even better.
6. To crown someone
Meaning: To make someone the winner or best at something
Example Sentence:
– The school crowned Emma the art contest winner.
– He was crowned the fastest runner in 5th grade.
Other ways to say: Declare the winner, name the best
Fun Fact/Origin: Crowns are used in ceremonies to show a new leader or winner.
Usage: Used when someone is officially made the winner or champion.
7. A crown of glory
Meaning: A great honor or reward for someone’s work
Example Sentence:
– His service to the school earned him a crown of glory.
– She wore her title as a crown of glory.
Other ways to say: Great honor, big reward
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from religious texts that use a crown to mean honor and reward.
Usage: Used when someone gets a great honor after doing something meaningful.
8. Put a crown on it
Meaning: Make something extra special or give it top treatment
Example Sentence:
– We decorated the cake and put a crown on it with sprinkles.
– He cleaned the car and put a crown on it with a new air freshener.
Other ways to say: Make it fancy, finish it off
Fun Fact/Origin: Crowns are fancy and special, so this idiom means to make something even better.
Usage: Used when someone adds a final nice touch to something.
9. Lose the crown
Meaning: To stop being the best at something
Example Sentence:
– She lost the crown when another student beat her record.
– The team lost the crown after losing the final game.
Other ways to say: Fall from the top, no longer the best
Fun Fact/Origin: Crowns show who’s in charge—if you lose it, you’re not the leader anymore.
Usage: Used when someone who used to be number one is not anymore.
10. Claim the crown
Meaning: To win first place or become the leader
Example Sentence:
– Tim claimed the crown by winning the race.
– Our team claimed the crown after the last match.
Other ways to say: Win, take first place
Fun Fact/Origin: The winner in many old stories claims the crown to show they are now the ruler.
Usage: Used when someone becomes the new winner or champion.
11. Chase the crown
Meaning: To work hard to become the best
Example Sentence:
– Our team is chasing the crown this season.
– She’s chasing the crown in the school science fair.
Other ways to say: Compete to win, aim for the top
Fun Fact/Origin: Crowns often stand for being number one, so chasing it means going after success.
Usage: Used when someone is trying hard to be the best at something.
12. Pass the crown
Meaning: To give up leadership or hand over a top role
Example Sentence:
– The class president passed the crown to the new student leader.
– Grandma passed the crown and let Mom host Thanksgiving.
Other ways to say: Step down, give up the top spot
Fun Fact/Origin: In royal families, crowns are passed down to the next ruler.
Usage: Used when someone gives their top role to someone else.
13. Crowned with honor
Meaning: Given great respect for a job well done
Example Sentence:
– The fire chief was crowned with honor at his retirement party.
– She was crowned with honor after helping organize the school play.
Other ways to say: Respected, honored
Fun Fact/Origin: Crowns can be symbols of respect and reward.
Usage: Used when someone is publicly praised for something good.
14. The crown slips
Meaning: Someone in power makes a mistake or loses control
Example Sentence:
– When he forgot his lines, the crown slipped.
– Her crown slipped when she yelled at her friends.
Other ways to say: Made a mistake, lost respect
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from the image of a crown not sitting properly, showing weakness.
Usage: Used when someone powerful shows they aren’t perfect.
15. Fight for the crown
Meaning: To compete to be the best or the leader
Example Sentence:
– Two students fought for the crown of best project.
– Teams are fighting for the crown this basketball season.
Other ways to say: Compete, challenge each other
Fun Fact/Origin: Kings and queens often had to fight to keep or win their crown.
Usage: Used when people compete to win something big.
16. Deserve the crown
Meaning: To earn the top spot by hard work
Example Sentence:
– She worked hard all year and deserves the crown.
– After scoring the most goals, he deserved the crown.
Other ways to say: Earn first place, truly win
Fun Fact/Origin: Crowns are often earned by bravery, skill, or effort.
Usage: Used when someone has worked for and earned a top role.
17. Crown moment
Meaning: A person’s best or most important moment
Example Sentence:
– Winning the spelling bee was his crown moment.
– Her crown moment was singing solo at the concert.
Other ways to say: Highlight, top experience
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from the idea of crowning a person at their best.
Usage: Used when talking about someone’s proudest achievement.
18. Snatch the crown
Meaning: To take the top spot quickly, often by surprise
Example Sentence:
– The new student snatched the crown by winning first place.
– They snatched the crown in the last round of the game.
Other ways to say: Take the lead, steal the win
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from stories where someone takes a crown from a ruler unexpectedly.
Usage: Used when someone wins suddenly or unexpectedly.
19. Guard the crown
Meaning: To protect your top spot or role
Example Sentence:
– The champ trained hard to guard the crown.
– She studied every day to guard the crown of top student.
Other ways to say: Keep your place, defend your title
Fun Fact/Origin: In old times, rulers had to protect their crowns from others who wanted to take over.
Usage: Used when someone works to keep their top position.
20. Rise to the crown
Meaning: To work your way up to become a leader
Example Sentence:
– She rose to the crown through hard work.
– After years of practice, he rose to the crown in his sport.
Other ways to say: Climb to the top, become the best
Fun Fact/Origin: A crown is worn by those who rise above others in rank.
Usage: Used when someone becomes a leader over time.
21. Crown of thorns
Meaning: A heavy burden or painful duty that comes with leadership
Example Sentence:
– Being team leader was a crown of thorns for him.
– The new job felt like a crown of thorns.
Other ways to say: Hard task, heavy duty
Fun Fact/Origin: This comes from religious stories where a painful crown was worn as a symbol of suffering.
Usage: Used when being in charge is more painful than fun.
22. Crown prince/princess
Meaning: Someone who is next in line to be the leader or winner
Example Sentence:
– Sam is the crown prince of the chess team—he’s next to lead.
– She’s the crown princess of the student council.
Other ways to say: Future leader, next in line
Fun Fact/Origin: A crown prince or princess is the child of a king or queen and next to rule.
Usage: Used when someone is seen as the future top person.
23. Take the crown
Meaning: To win or achieve the top place
Example Sentence:
– He took the crown at the talent show.
– Our class took the crown in the recycling challenge.
Other ways to say: Win, come out on top
Fun Fact/Origin: Crowns are given to winners in many games and stories.
Usage: Used when someone officially becomes the best.
24. Crown achievement
Meaning: Someone’s biggest or most important success
Example Sentence:
– Finishing the school mural was her crown achievement.
– His crown achievement was making it to the nationals.
Other ways to say: Biggest success, proudest moment
Fun Fact/Origin: The crown on a head shows the best status—so a crown achievement is the best thing someone has done.
Usage: Used when something is the top thing a person has done.
25. Reach for the crown
Meaning: To aim high and try to be the best
Example Sentence:
– She’s reaching for the crown by joining extra clubs.
– They reach for the crown every game.
Other ways to say: Aim high, go for the top
Fun Fact/Origin: The image of reaching for a crown shows someone trying to get to the top.
Usage: Used when people try to succeed or lead.
26. Hold the crown
Meaning: To be the current leader or champion
Example Sentence:
– He holds the crown in math competitions.
– Our team still holds the crown this season.
Other ways to say: Be number one, stay on top
Fun Fact/Origin: To hold a crown means to be in control or have the title.
Usage: Used when someone is the current best or in charge.
27. Drop the crown
Meaning: To fail or lose status suddenly
Example Sentence:
– She dropped the crown after missing too many practices.
– They dropped the crown with that big loss.
Other ways to say: Fall from the top, lose your place
Fun Fact/Origin: If a crown falls, it means someone may no longer be in charge.
Usage: Used when someone loses their top role or fails.
28. A crown in name only
Meaning: Someone has the title but not the power or respect
Example Sentence:
– He’s class leader, but he’s a crown in name only.
– They gave her the title, but she’s a crown in name only.
Other ways to say: Just for show, not a real leader
Fun Fact/Origin: Sometimes rulers have the crown but no real control—this idiom shows that.
Usage: Used when someone has a title but no real power or respect.
Quiz: Idioms About Crown
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 “crown jewel” mean?
A) A type of hat
B) The best or most special thing
C) A toy that shines
2. If someone “wears the crown,” what are they doing?
A) Dressing up for fun
B) Leading a group
C) Taking a nap
3. What does “heavy is the head that wears the crown” mean?
A) Hats are uncomfortable
B) Being the leader is hard work
C) Crowns are heavy to wear
4. When a student is “crowned with success,” what happened?
A) They got scolded
B) They won something or did really well
C) They wore a crown for a play
5. If a new student “snatched the crown,” what did they do?
A) Took someone’s lunch
B) Won first place quickly
C) Lost a game
6. What does it mean to “pass the crown”?
A) Give away a toy crown
B) Share your lunch
C) Let someone else take over as leader
7. When someone is “fighting for the crown,” what are they doing?
A) Competing to be the best
B) Playing a video game
C) Running around
8. What does “crown moment” describe?
A) The time when someone got a new crown
B) A person’s best or proudest moment
C) A birthday party
9. If you “drop the crown,” what does that mean?
A) You dropped your toy
B) You lose your top spot or fail
C) You bend over
10. What does it mean when someone is “a crown in name only”?
A) They wear a crown all the time
B) They have the title but no real power
C) They are playing king or queen
Answer Key
- B – The best or most special thing
- B – Leading a group
- B – Being the leader is hard work
- B – They won something or did really well
- B – Won first place quickly
- C – Let someone else take over as leader
- A – Competing to be the best
- B – A person’s best or proudest moment
- B – You lose your top spot or fail
- B – They have the title but no real power
Wrapping Up
Idioms about crowns help us talk about leadership, success, and even mistakes in a fun way. These phrases come from stories, old times, and even royalty, but we use them every day. Whether you’re trying to win a game or lead a team, crown idioms can help you describe what you’re feeling or doing.
Next time someone says “she claimed the crown” or “he passed the crown,” you’ll know just what they mean. Try using a few in class or at home and see how they make your language more colorful.
