In the United States, having guests is a common part of life. Friends drop by for dinner, family members stay over during the holidays, and neighbors stop in for a quick chat. Each visit can feel different—some are warm and welcome, while others may be unexpected or even awkward. Over time, Americans have created colorful phrases, called idioms, to talk about these moments. These sayings make conversations more lively and help people describe guest experiences in creative ways.
Idioms about guests can share feelings about hospitality, surprise visits, or even overstaying one’s welcome. They are used in everyday life, from casual chats to TV shows and movies. Learning them can make conversations more fun and help you understand the way people in the USA express themselves. In this article, we will look at common idioms about guests, their meanings, and how to use them naturally.
Idioms About Guests
1. Roll out the red carpet
Meaning: To give someone a very warm and special welcome.
Example Sentence:
• The hotel rolled out the red carpet for the celebrity guests.
• We rolled out the red carpet for Grandma when she came to visit.
Other ways to say: Give a grand welcome, treat like royalty
Fun Fact/Origin: This phrase comes from the tradition of using a red carpet to honor important visitors, which began in theaters and special events.
Usage: Used when someone is treated in an extra special way upon arrival.
2. Make yourself at home
Meaning: To tell guests they can relax and feel comfortable.
Example Sentence:
• As soon as my friend came in, I told her to make herself at home.
• The host smiled and said, “Make yourself at home!”
Other ways to say: Relax, feel comfortable
Fun Fact/Origin: Common in American homes, especially in the Midwest and South, as a sign of warm hospitality.
Usage: Used to make guests feel welcome.
3. Drop by unannounced
Meaning: To visit someone without telling them ahead of time.
Example Sentence:
• My cousin dropped by unannounced while we were eating dinner.
• She hates it when people drop by unannounced.
Other ways to say: Show up without notice, stop by unexpectedly
Fun Fact/Origin: In earlier times, neighbors often stopped in without warning because communities were small and close-knit.
Usage: Used when guests arrive without calling first.
4. Overstay your welcome
Meaning: To stay longer than the host wants you to.
Example Sentence:
• The party was fun, but some guests overstayed their welcome.
• I didn’t want to overstay my welcome, so I left early.
Other ways to say: Stay too long, linger too much
Fun Fact/Origin: First recorded in the 1600s, it warns guests not to take advantage of hospitality.
Usage: Used when someone stays past the polite limit.
5. House full of company
Meaning: To have many guests visiting at the same time.
Example Sentence:
• During Thanksgiving, we had a house full of company.
• Our house is full of company every summer weekend.
Other ways to say: Packed with guests, full house
Fun Fact/Origin: Common in American families during holidays and special gatherings.
Usage: Used when many guests are present at once.
6. Party crasher
Meaning: Someone who comes to a party without being invited.
Example Sentence:
• Two party crashers showed up at the wedding reception.
• He’s known as a party crasher in our neighborhood.
Other ways to say: Uninvited guest, gatecrasher
Fun Fact/Origin: Popularized by movies and TV, especially in comedies.
Usage: Used when someone attends an event without an invitation.
7. Guest of honor
Meaning: The most important person at an event.
Example Sentence:
• The bride was the guest of honor at the shower.
• The mayor was the guest of honor at the school opening.
Other ways to say: VIP, special guest
Fun Fact/Origin: The phrase is common in formal events across the USA.
Usage: Used when someone is celebrated at an event.
8. Host with the most
Meaning: A host who gives great care and attention to their guests.
Example Sentence:
• Aunt Linda is the host with the most at every holiday.
• Everyone says Jim is the host with the most after his BBQs.
Other ways to say: Great host, top-notch entertainer
Fun Fact/Origin: Became popular in the U.S. in the 20th century through TV and radio shows.
Usage: Used to praise someone’s hosting skills.
9. Stay for dinner
Meaning: To invite guests to eat with you.
Example Sentence:
• My neighbor stopped by, and I told her to stay for dinner.
• We asked the repairman to stay for dinner after he finished work.
Other ways to say: Join us for dinner, have a meal with us
Fun Fact/Origin: A hallmark of American hospitality, especially in rural areas.
Usage: Used when inviting guests to share a meal.
10. Warm welcome
Meaning: A friendly and kind greeting.
Example Sentence:
• We gave the new neighbors a warm welcome.
• The students gave the speaker a warm welcome.
Other ways to say: Friendly greeting, heartfelt hello
Fun Fact/Origin: “Warm” refers to kindness and friendliness rather than temperature.
Usage: Used when greeting someone in a kind way.
11. Open-door policy
Meaning: A home or place where visitors are always welcome.
Example Sentence:
• My grandparents had an open-door policy for family and friends.
• Our church has an open-door policy for anyone in need.
Other ways to say: Always welcome, come anytime
Fun Fact/Origin: In U.S. culture, it’s often used for both homes and businesses that welcome people without strict rules.
Usage: Used to show that guests are free to visit anytime.
12. Be my guest
Meaning: To give someone permission to do something.
Example Sentence:
• “Can I use your phone?” “Be my guest.”
• “May I take the last cookie?” “Be my guest.”
Other ways to say: Go ahead, feel free
Fun Fact/Origin: A polite phrase used in American English since the early 1900s.
Usage: Used when allowing someone to do something.
13. Come bearing gifts
Meaning: To bring presents when visiting.
Example Sentence:
• Guests came bearing gifts for the new baby.
• She always comes bearing gifts when visiting friends.
Other ways to say: Bring presents, arrive with something
Fun Fact/Origin: Tied to the tradition of bringing a host gift when visiting in the U.S.
Usage: Used when guests bring items as a sign of thoughtfulness.
14. Unwelcome guest
Meaning: Someone who is not wanted at a place or event.
Example Sentence:
• The noisy neighbor was an unwelcome guest at the meeting.
• Cold weather is an unwelcome guest at outdoor weddings.
Other ways to say: Uninvited presence, unwanted visitor
Fun Fact/Origin: Can refer to both people and things, like bad weather.
Usage: Used for visitors or situations that are not desired.
15. House guest
Meaning: Someone staying overnight in your home.
Example Sentence:
• We had three house guests for the weekend.
• The house guests helped with breakfast.
Other ways to say: Overnight visitor, guest staying over
Fun Fact/Origin: Common in the U.S. for friends and family visiting from out of town.
Usage: Used when talking about guests staying for more than a day.
16. Frequent visitor
Meaning: Someone who visits often.
Example Sentence:
• My uncle is a frequent visitor at our home.
• The bakery’s frequent visitors know all the staff by name.
Other ways to say: Regular guest, repeat visitor
Fun Fact/Origin: Often used in both homes and public places in the U.S.
Usage: Used to describe someone who comes by many times.
17. Overnight guest
Meaning: Someone who stays at your place for the night.
Example Sentence:
• The kids had overnight guests for the sleepover.
• We had two overnight guests during the snowstorm.
Other ways to say: House guest, staying over
Fun Fact/Origin: Very common in rural American communities when travel is difficult.
Usage: Used for guests who spend the night.
18. Come calling
Meaning: To visit someone, usually in a polite or formal way.
Example Sentence:
• Old friends came calling during the holidays.
• The neighbors came calling to welcome us to the street.
Other ways to say: Pay a visit, stop by
Fun Fact/Origin: In early America, visiting was often called “calling.”
Usage: Used when guests arrive, often bringing good wishes.
19. Social butterfly
Meaning: A person who enjoys socializing and visiting others.
Example Sentence:
• She’s a social butterfly at every party.
• My mom is a social butterfly—always visiting friends.
Other ways to say: Outgoing person, people person
Fun Fact/Origin: Popular in U.S. slang since the early 1900s.
Usage: Used to describe someone who loves being around people.
20. Pop in for a visit
Meaning: To stop by for a short time.
Example Sentence:
• I popped in for a visit during my lunch break.
• Our aunt popped in for a visit while traveling through town.
Other ways to say: Stop by, swing by
Fun Fact/Origin: “Pop in” is casual American English for a quick visit.
Usage: Used for short, casual visits.
21. Welcome mat is out
Meaning: Guests are invited and encouraged to visit.
Example Sentence:
• The welcome mat is out for all our friends this weekend.
• At Grandma’s, the welcome mat is always out.
Other ways to say: Always welcome, open invitation
Fun Fact/Origin: Refers to actual mats placed outside doors that say “Welcome.”
Usage: Used when guests are encouraged to come by.
22. A full house
Meaning: A place crowded with people.
Example Sentence:
• We had a full house for the family reunion.
• It was a full house at the graduation party.
Other ways to say: Packed place, crowded home
Fun Fact/Origin: Popular in U.S. poker, where “full house” means a strong hand, later adapted to describe crowds.
Usage: Used when many guests are present.
23. Stay awhile
Meaning: To remain for some time when visiting.
Example Sentence:
• Our friends came over and decided to stay awhile.
• She stayed awhile to catch up on family news.
Other ways to say: Stick around, linger
Fun Fact/Origin: Common in Southern U.S. hospitality traditions.
Usage: Used when inviting someone to spend more time.
24. Ring the doorbell
Meaning: To announce your arrival at someone’s home.
Example Sentence:
• Guests rang the doorbell right on time.
• Please ring the doorbell when you arrive.
Other ways to say: Knock, call at the door
Fun Fact/Origin: Doorbells became common in U.S. homes in the early 1900s.
Usage: Used when guests signal they’ve arrived.
25. Bring a plus-one
Meaning: To bring an extra guest to an event.
Example Sentence:
• She brought a plus-one to the wedding reception.
• Guests can bring a plus-one to the holiday dinner.
Other ways to say: Bring a guest, bring a date
Fun Fact/Origin: Common in U.S. party and wedding invitations.
Usage: Used when someone is allowed to bring another person.
Quiz: Idioms About Guests
Instructions: Choose the correct answer for each question. There is only one right answer for each.
Question Key
1. If someone says “Make yourself at home,” what do they mean?
A) Please help yourself and feel comfortable
B) Go clean the house
C) Leave as soon as possible
2. What does “Overstay your welcome” mean?
A) To leave too early
B) To stay longer than you should
C) To be the first to arrive
3. If a person is a “Party crasher,” what does it mean?
A) They help set up the party
B) They come without an invitation
C) They clean up after the party
4. What does “Guest of honor” mean?
A) The most important guest at an event
B) A person who arrives late
C) Someone who wasn’t invited
5. If someone has an “Open-door policy” for friends, what does it mean?
A) Friends can visit anytime
B) They never lock their door
C) They live in a house with no doors
6. What does it mean to “Pop in for a visit”?
A) To stay overnight
B) To visit quickly and casually
C) To host a big party
7. If the “Welcome mat is out,” what does that mean?
A) The home is being cleaned
B) Guests are invited and welcome
C) The house is closed for visitors
8. What does “Bring a plus-one” mean?
A) Arrive alone
B) Bring an extra guest with you
C) Invite more than ten people
9. If someone is the “Host with the most,” what are they known for?
A) Being a great and generous host
B) Leaving their guests alone
C) Hosting only once a year
10. What does “Be my guest” mean?
A) Please don’t do that
B) You have my permission to do something
C) I don’t want you here
Answer Key
- A) Please help yourself and feel comfortable
- B) To stay longer than you should
- B) They come without an invitation
- A) The most important guest at an event
- A) Friends can visit anytime
- B) To visit quickly and casually
- B) Guests are invited and welcome
- B) Bring an extra guest with you
- A) Being a great and generous host
- B) You have my permission to do something
Wrapping Up
Idioms about guests are part of everyday talk in the USA. They help describe the way we welcome people, invite them in, or talk about visits that are less than perfect. From “rolling out the red carpet” to “overstaying your welcome,” these phrases add color to conversations and show the American way of hosting.
Knowing these idioms can help you sound more natural and understand others better when they talk about guests. Whether you are visiting someone or having people over, these expressions will help you connect and share moments in a friendly way.
