Darkness can be scary, confusing, or even calm. In the USA, people often use idioms about darkness to describe feelings or situations. These idioms can help explain fear, sadness, or being unsure about something. They are also used when talking about secrets or things people don’t want to show.
Many of these phrases are part of everyday life in America. You might hear them in movies, books, or at school. In this article, we’ll look at some idioms about darkness and what they really mean. You’ll also see how they are used in sentences that make sense for kids your age. Let’s learn some new expressions that people in the USA often say when things feel a little dark.
Idioms About Darkness
1. In the dark
Meaning: Not knowing something
Example Sentence:
• I was in the dark about the surprise party.
• He was in the dark when the teacher changed the homework.
Other ways to say: Unaware, not informed
Fun Fact/Origin: This idiom comes from the idea that when it’s dark, you can’t see clearly—just like not knowing what’s going on.
Usage: Used when someone doesn’t have information about a situation.
2. A shot in the dark
Meaning: A wild guess without knowing the facts
Example Sentence:
• I didn’t study, so my answer was a shot in the dark.
• She took a shot in the dark and guessed the right number.
Other ways to say: Guess, random try
Fun Fact/Origin: It refers to trying something when you can’t see the target, like guessing in the dark.
Usage: Used when someone makes a guess without enough information.
3. Dark horse
Meaning: A person who surprises others by doing well
Example Sentence:
• No one thought he’d win, but he was the dark horse of the race.
• She was a dark horse in the spelling bee.
Other ways to say: Surprise winner, hidden talent
Fun Fact/Origin: This comes from horse racing, where a little-known horse sometimes wins the race.
Usage: Used when someone does better than expected.
4. Face like thunder
Meaning: Looking very angry
Example Sentence:
• Dad had a face like thunder when he saw the mess.
• After losing the game, he had a face like thunder.
Other ways to say: Angry face, mad look
Fun Fact/Origin: It comes from the dark and stormy look of thunderclouds.
Usage: Used to describe someone’s angry expression.
5. Pitch dark
Meaning: Very dark with no light
Example Sentence:
• The basement was pitch dark.
• We got lost because the woods were pitch dark.
Other ways to say: Total darkness, black as night
Fun Fact/Origin: “Pitch” is a sticky, black substance once used for sealing things—very dark in color.
Usage: Used when there is no light at all.
6. Go dark
Meaning: To stop all communication
Example Sentence:
• The team went dark after the project ended.
• My friend went dark and didn’t text back for a week.
Other ways to say: Disappear, stop talking
Fun Fact/Origin: It comes from military or spy terms where groups stop sending signals.
Usage: Used when someone or something becomes silent or unreachable.
7. Shadow of a doubt
Meaning: Any small amount of doubt
Example Sentence:
• There wasn’t a shadow of a doubt he would win.
• I know she’s telling the truth without a shadow of a doubt.
Other ways to say: No question, completely sure
Fun Fact/Origin: A “shadow” here means something small that can hide the truth.
Usage: Used when someone is very sure about something.
8. Dark times
Meaning: A hard or sad period
Example Sentence:
• Losing our dog was a dark time for us.
• The town went through dark times after the storm.
Other ways to say: Sad days, hard times
Fun Fact/Origin: Darkness is often used to show sadness or trouble in stories and history.
Usage: Used to describe difficult or sad moments.
9. Come out of the shadows
Meaning: To stop hiding or keeping something secret
Example Sentence:
• He came out of the shadows and told the truth.
• The new artist came out of the shadows with her music.
Other ways to say: Step forward, be open
Fun Fact/Origin: Shadows hide things, so coming out means being seen.
Usage: Used when someone stops hiding or speaks up.
10. Lights out
Meaning: Time to go to sleep or end something
Example Sentence:
• It’s lights out at 9 p.m. at camp.
• After the game, it was lights out for the team.
Other ways to say: Bedtime, game over
Fun Fact/Origin: Used in the army or camps to tell people it’s time to sleep.
Usage: Used to signal bedtime or the end of an activity.
11. Dark side
Meaning: The bad or hidden part of something or someone
Example Sentence:
• Every hero has a dark side.
• The story shows the dark side of fame.
Other ways to say: Hidden trouble, bad side
Fun Fact/Origin: This phrase became more popular in the USA after Star Wars used it.
Usage: Used to describe the secret or negative part of something.
12. Whistle in the dark
Meaning: To pretend everything is okay when it’s not
Example Sentence:
• He was whistling in the dark after the scary news.
• I tried to whistle in the dark, but I was nervous.
Other ways to say: Act brave, pretend
Fun Fact/Origin: People used to whistle to calm themselves when walking alone at night.
Usage: Used when someone is acting brave even if they’re scared.
13. Left in the dark
Meaning: Not told what is going on
Example Sentence:
• I was left in the dark about the schedule change.
• She felt left in the dark about the family trip.
Other ways to say: Uninformed, clueless
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from the idea that without light, you can’t see or know.
Usage: Used when someone is not told something important.
14. Dark mood
Meaning: Feeling sad or angry
Example Sentence:
• He was in a dark mood after the fight.
• A dark mood filled the room when the news came.
Other ways to say: Bad mood, upset
Fun Fact/Origin: Darkness is often linked to sadness in books and movies.
Usage: Used when someone feels upset or down.
15. In someone’s shadow
Meaning: Not getting attention because someone else is more noticed
Example Sentence:
• He lived in his brother’s shadow at school.
• She felt like she was always in her friend’s shadow.
Other ways to say: Hidden by someone, unnoticed
Fun Fact/Origin: Shadows block light, just like someone can block attention.
Usage: Used when someone is ignored because someone else stands out more.
16. Darker path
Meaning: Choosing a wrong or harmful way
Example Sentence:
• The character took a darker path in the story.
• He chose a darker path and stopped going to school.
Other ways to say: Bad choice, wrong direction
Fun Fact/Origin: Darkness often shows danger or mystery in American culture.
Usage: Used when someone chooses a bad or dangerous way.
17. Black out
Meaning: To lose memory or faint
Example Sentence:
• He blacked out after running too fast.
• I blacked out during the spelling test from nerves.
Other ways to say: Faint, lose memory
Fun Fact/Origin: Used in the military and sports when someone can’t see or remember.
Usage: Used when someone loses consciousness or memory.
18. Cast a shadow
Meaning: To cause worry or sadness
Example Sentence:
• The news cast a shadow over the fun day.
• Her absence cast a shadow on the team’s mood.
Other ways to say: Cause sadness, bring gloom
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from the way a shadow can darken things.
Usage: Used when something sad or bad affects a good time.
19. Into the abyss
Meaning: Into a deep unknown or scary place
Example Sentence:
• He felt like he was falling into the abyss.
• The town fell into an abyss after the storm.
Other ways to say: Deep trouble, unknown space
Fun Fact/Origin: “Abyss” means a deep hole or space with no bottom.
Usage: Used when someone faces something big and scary.
20. Black mood
Meaning: A very bad or angry mood
Example Sentence:
• He was in a black mood after the test.
• She had a black mood all morning.
Other ways to say: Angry, upset
Fun Fact/Origin: The color black is often used to show anger or sadness.
Usage: Used when someone is very mad or upset.
21. Shadowy figure
Meaning: A person who seems secretive or scary
Example Sentence:
• A shadowy figure stood at the end of the hall.
• The story talked about a shadowy figure in the woods.
Other ways to say: Mysterious person, hidden person
Fun Fact/Origin: Stories often use shadowy people to build suspense.
Usage: Used when someone or something looks secret or unclear.
22. Dark as night
Meaning: Very dark
Example Sentence:
• The power went out and the room was dark as night.
• The sky was dark as night before the storm.
Other ways to say: Very black, no light
Fun Fact/Origin: People use the night as a clear way to show total darkness.
Usage: Used to show how dark a place or thing is.
23. Dark humor
Meaning: Jokes about serious or sad things
Example Sentence:
• His dark humor made some people laugh and others uncomfortable.
• The movie had a lot of dark humor.
Other ways to say: Grim jokes, sad humor
Fun Fact/Origin: Popular in TV shows and movies for adults in the USA.
Usage: Used when joking about things that are usually not funny.
24. Black sheep
Meaning: A person who is different or not accepted by others
Example Sentence:
• He was the black sheep of the family.
• She felt like the black sheep at school.
Other ways to say: Outcast, different one
Fun Fact/Origin: In sheep herds, black ones are rare and seen as odd.
Usage: Used when someone stands out in a group in a bad or unique way.
25. Go down a dark road
Meaning: Make bad choices that lead to trouble
Example Sentence:
• He went down a dark road when he started lying.
• The story shows a girl going down a dark road.
Other ways to say: Bad path, wrong choices
Fun Fact/Origin: Roads and paths are often used in stories to show life choices.
Usage: Used when someone starts doing harmful things.
26. Under the cover of darkness
Meaning: Doing something secretly at night
Example Sentence:
• They left the camp under the cover of darkness.
• The animals came out under the cover of darkness.
Other ways to say: In secret, at night
Fun Fact/Origin: This comes from how darkness hides movement or actions.
Usage: Used when something is done secretly, often at night.
27. In a dark place
Meaning: Feeling very sad or hopeless
Example Sentence:
• He was in a dark place after his grandma passed away.
• She went through a dark place last winter.
Other ways to say: Feeling low, very sad
Fun Fact/Origin: Often used in mental health talk in the USA.
Usage: Used to describe deep emotional sadness.
28. Come to light
Meaning: To be discovered or known
Example Sentence:
• The truth came to light after the meeting.
• New facts came to light about the case.
Other ways to say: Found out, revealed
Fun Fact/Origin: Opposite of being in the dark—light helps us see.
Usage: Used when hidden things are found out.
29. Throw shade
Meaning: To speak badly about someone
Example Sentence:
• She threw shade at him during lunch.
• That comment sounded like she was throwing shade.
Other ways to say: Insult, criticize
Fun Fact/Origin: Popular slang from American music and pop culture.
Usage: Used when someone says something rude or mean without being direct.
30. Dark cloud hanging over
Meaning: A feeling of worry or trouble that won’t go away
Example Sentence:
• There was a dark cloud hanging over the party.
• She had a dark cloud over her all day.
Other ways to say: Bad feeling, heavy mood
Fun Fact/Origin: Like real clouds before a storm, this idiom shows something wrong is coming.
Usage: Used when something feels wrong or sad even if it’s not clear why.
31. Fade into the shadows
Meaning: To disappear quietly or be unnoticed
Example Sentence:
• He faded into the shadows after the play.
• She faded into the shadows during the group work.
Other ways to say: Disappear, blend in
Fun Fact/Origin: Shadows help things hide or go unseen.
Usage: Used when someone goes away without being noticed.
32. Behind closed doors
Meaning: In private or secretly
Example Sentence:
• The talks happened behind closed doors.
• They made that choice behind closed doors.
Other ways to say: In secret, privately
Fun Fact/Origin: People close doors when they don’t want others to hear or see.
Usage: Used when something is done in private.
33. Black curtain
Meaning: A stop or end, especially in theater
Example Sentence:
• The black curtain came down at the end of the play.
• The show ended with a black curtain.
Other ways to say: End, final scene
Fun Fact/Origin: Black curtains are often used in theaters during serious or final moments.
Usage: Used to show an end or final moment.
34. Dark as a dungeon
Meaning: Very dark, hard to see anything
Example Sentence:
• The attic was dark as a dungeon.
• We walked through a hall dark as a dungeon.
Other ways to say: Pitch dark, very dim
Fun Fact/Origin: Dungeons are old stone rooms with little light.
Usage: Used to describe places with no or little light.
35. Black and blue
Meaning: Covered in bruises or hurt
Example Sentence:
• He was black and blue after falling off his bike.
• My knee was black and blue after the game.
Other ways to say: Bruised, sore
Fun Fact/Origin: Bruises often turn black or blue.
Usage: Used when someone has visible bruises or feels beaten up.
36. Step into the light
Meaning: To stop hiding and be honest
Example Sentence:
• He stepped into the light and told the truth.
• She finally stepped into the light about her fears.
Other ways to say: Be honest, show yourself
Fun Fact/Origin: Light is often used to show truth and honesty.
Usage: Used when someone is ready to tell the truth or be seen.
37. A dark secret
Meaning: A bad or scary secret
Example Sentence:
• He was hiding a dark secret about his past.
• The book revealed a dark secret.
Other ways to say: Big secret, hidden truth
Fun Fact/Origin: Darkness is often used for hidden or bad things.
Usage: Used when talking about serious or scary secrets.
38. Dark alley
Meaning: A place that feels unsafe or creepy
Example Sentence:
• I don’t like walking down dark alleys at night.
• The story began in a dark alley.
Other ways to say: Scary place, unsafe street
Fun Fact/Origin: Many crime stories and shows use dark alleys for mystery.
Usage: Used to describe unsafe or spooky places.
39. Black comedy
Meaning: A funny story about serious or dark topics
Example Sentence:
• The play was a black comedy.
• Some people laugh at black comedy, others don’t.
Other ways to say: Dark humor, serious jokes
Fun Fact/Origin: This type of comedy became common in American movies in the 1960s.
Usage: Used when funny things are said about sad or serious topics.
40. Dark turn
Meaning: Something becomes scary or sad suddenly
Example Sentence:
• The story took a dark turn after the accident.
• The joke took a dark turn quickly.
Other ways to say: Changed badly, got serious
Fun Fact/Origin: “Dark” often means trouble or sadness is coming.
Usage: Used when things suddenly become serious or sad.
41. Black list
Meaning: A list of people who are not allowed to do something
Example Sentence:
• He was put on the black list after breaking the rules.
• That store keeps a black list for banned customers.
Other ways to say: Banned list, blocked
Fun Fact/Origin: Used in American history to block workers or actors.
Usage: Used when someone is not allowed to return or take part.
42. Out of the shadows
Meaning: To stop hiding and be seen
Example Sentence:
• The new artist came out of the shadows.
• He stepped out of the shadows with his story.
Other ways to say: Show up, be known
Fun Fact/Origin: Light reveals, shadows hide—used in American news and movies.
Usage: Used when someone wants to be seen or speak out.
43. Darken someone’s door
Meaning: To visit someone unwanted
Example Sentence:
• Don’t ever darken my door again.
• He said she better not darken his door.
Other ways to say: Stay away, don’t come back
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from the shadow cast by someone standing at the door.
Usage: Used when telling someone to stay away.
44. Light at the end of the tunnel
Meaning: Hope after a hard time
Example Sentence:
• After weeks of being sick, I finally see the light at the end of the tunnel.
• There’s a light at the end of the tunnel after all our hard work.
Other ways to say: Hope, things will get better
Fun Fact/Origin: Used often in American speeches and TV shows.
Usage: Used when things are starting to improve.
45. As blind as a bat
Meaning: Can’t see well or doesn’t notice things
Example Sentence:
• Without glasses, I’m as blind as a bat.
• He walked past it like he’s as blind as a bat.
Other ways to say: Can’t see, unaware
Fun Fact/Origin: Bats are believed to not see well, but some can use sound to “see.”
Usage: Used when someone can’t see or isn’t paying attention.
Quiz: Idioms About Darkness
Instructions: Choose the best answer for each question. Only one choice is correct. These questions help you see if you understand the idioms about darkness. Each example is based on everyday American life.
Question Key
1. What does “in the dark” mean?
A) Playing outside at night
B) Not knowing something
C) Reading with no light
2. If someone “takes a shot in the dark,” what are they doing?
A) Turning off the lights
B) Guessing without knowing
C) Watching a scary movie
3. What does it mean if a person is a “dark horse”?
A) They own a black horse
B) They are scary
C) They surprise others by doing well
4. What does “face like thunder” mean?
A) Smiling happily
B) Looking very angry
C) Being scared of noise
5. If a room is “pitch dark,” what does that mean?
A) It has lots of candles
B) It is full of toys
C) It is very dark
6. What does “throw shade” mean?
A) Make something cooler
B) Say something mean in a sneaky way
C) Block the sunlight
7. What does “black and blue” describe?
A) A favorite color
B) Someone covered in bruises
C) A kind of uniform
8. What does it mean to “come to light”?
A) The sun rises
B) Something is found or known
C) Turn on a flashlight
9. What does “under the cover of darkness” mean?
A) Sleeping in a dark room
B) Doing something secretly at night
C) Reading with a blanket over your head
10. What does “light at the end of the tunnel” mean?
A) A flashlight is near
B) You are almost done with a hard time
C) You are entering a cave
Answer Key
- B) Not knowing something
- B) Guessing without knowing
- C) They surprise others by doing well
- B) Looking very angry
- C) It is very dark
- B) Say something mean in a sneaky way
- B) Someone covered in bruises
- B) Something is found or known
- B) Doing something secretly at night
- B) You are almost done with a hard time
Wrapping Up
Idioms about darkness help people in the USA describe feelings, actions, and moods in a simple way. These phrases are often heard in conversations, movies, and books. They make language more fun and easier to understand.
Now that you know 45 idioms, you can use them in your writing or when talking with others. They are useful when explaining feelings, secrets, or even mystery. Keep an ear out—you’ll notice these phrases all around you.
