In the United States, people enjoy many different hobbies. Some like sports, others enjoy reading, cooking, or crafting. No matter what the activity is, people often use special phrases to talk about what they love to do. These phrases are called idioms. Idioms make our language more fun and interesting. They help people describe their favorite activities in creative ways.
This article will explore idioms about hobbies and interests. You will learn funny idioms about hobbies, idioms for fun and enjoyment, and idioms for free time. These expressions are common in American English and are often used in daily talk. If you enjoy your hobbies, you will love these sayings. They are simple, easy to remember, and perfect for young learners too. Now let’s jump into these idioms and see what they mean.
Idioms About Hobbies
1. Blow off steam
Meaning: Do something fun to release stress
Example Sentence:
• After school, Jake played basketball to blow off steam.
• Mom goes for a jog to blow off steam after work.
Other ways to say: Relax, cool down
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from steam engines that let out pressure to stay safe.
Usage: Used when someone does a hobby to feel better.
2. Hit the books
Meaning: Spend time reading or studying
Example Sentence:
• Emma hit the books to learn about dinosaurs.
• I like to hit the books when I’m curious about animals.
Other ways to say: Study, read
Fun Fact/Origin: Began in the U.S. to mean serious study time.
Usage: Often used for reading as a fun or learning hobby.
3. Catch the bug
Meaning: Suddenly become very interested in something
Example Sentence:
• After trying painting once, he caught the bug.
• She caught the baking bug last summer.
Other ways to say: Get hooked, become excited
Fun Fact/Origin: The “bug” refers to an interest spreading like a little bug.
Usage: Used when someone becomes excited about a new hobby.
4. Get a kick out of
Meaning: Enjoy something a lot
Example Sentence:
• I get a kick out of building Lego sets.
• Grandpa gets a kick out of fishing.
Other ways to say: Enjoy, have fun
Fun Fact/Origin: “Kick” here means a burst of fun or joy.
Usage: Used when talking about hobbies people enjoy.
5. Right up your alley
Meaning: Something someone is very good at or enjoys
Example Sentence:
• Playing video games is right up Alex’s alley.
• That art class is right up my alley.
Other ways to say: Perfect fit, just your thing
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from old bowling lanes, or alleys, where you play best.
Usage: Used to describe hobbies someone really enjoys.
6. Go the extra mile
Meaning: Put in more effort because you enjoy it
Example Sentence:
• Sam goes the extra mile with his model trains.
• She went the extra mile to finish her scrapbook.
Other ways to say: Work harder, do more
Fun Fact/Origin: From American highway language, meaning going beyond what’s needed.
Usage: Often used when people give extra time to a hobby.
7. Throw oneself into
Meaning: Spend lots of time and energy on something
Example Sentence:
• She threw herself into dance class.
• He threw himself into learning guitar.
Other ways to say: Dive in, get involved
Fun Fact/Origin: This phrase shows deep focus and energy.
Usage: Used for starting a hobby with excitement.
8. Lost in the moment
Meaning: Enjoying something so much you forget time
Example Sentence:
• He was lost in the moment while drawing.
• She got lost in the moment while dancing in her room.
Other ways to say: Fully focused, really enjoying
Fun Fact/Origin: Often used to show deep joy or interest.
Usage: Common when someone enjoys a hobby and loses track of time.
9. In your element
Meaning: Feeling comfortable doing something you enjoy
Example Sentence:
• Tyler is in his element when he’s baking cookies.
• She’s in her element when painting.
Other ways to say: Feels at home, natural fit
Fun Fact/Origin: Refers to being in a perfect place or state.
Usage: Describes when a person is doing what they love.
10. Have a ball
Meaning: Have a great time
Example Sentence:
• We had a ball at the board game night.
• She had a ball making slime with her friends.
Other ways to say: Have fun, enjoy yourself
Fun Fact/Origin: “Ball” used to mean a big party.
Usage: Used when a hobby brings joy.
11. Like a kid in a candy store
Meaning: Very excited and happy
Example Sentence:
• He was like a kid in a candy store at the comic shop.
• She was like a kid in a candy store picking craft supplies.
Other ways to say: Super excited, thrilled
Fun Fact/Origin: Refers to how kids act in candy shops—overjoyed.
Usage: Used for hobbies that make people really happy.
12. Burn the midnight oil
Meaning: Stay up late doing something
Example Sentence:
• He burned the midnight oil building his robot.
• She burned the midnight oil finishing her puzzle.
Other ways to say: Stay up late, work into the night
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from using oil lamps to stay up working.
Usage: Common for hobbies that take time and focus.
13. Pass the time
Meaning: Do something to stay busy
Example Sentence:
• He played chess to pass the time on a rainy day.
• Reading helps her pass the time during long trips.
Other ways to say: Fill time, stay busy
Fun Fact/Origin: A basic way to say keeping busy during free time.
Usage: Used when talking about fun free-time hobbies.
14. Time flies
Meaning: Time goes quickly when having fun
Example Sentence:
• Time flies when I’m building puzzles.
• We were sewing and didn’t notice the time fly.
Other ways to say: Time goes fast, don’t notice time
Fun Fact/Origin: Common U.S. saying showing how fun makes time feel quick.
Usage: Describes how hobbies make time move fast.
15. On a roll
Meaning: Doing well again and again
Example Sentence:
• She’s on a roll with her knitting projects.
• He’s on a roll winning video games lately.
Other ways to say: In the zone, doing great
Fun Fact/Origin: From dice games where rolling well continues.
Usage: Used when hobbies are going really well.
16. Pick it up
Meaning: Start learning a new skill
Example Sentence:
• He picked up woodworking last month.
• She picked up skateboarding this summer.
Other ways to say: Try out, learn
Fun Fact/Origin: Popular way in the U.S. to talk about learning hobbies.
Usage: When starting a new hobby.
17. Tinker with
Meaning: Work on something small just for fun
Example Sentence:
• He likes to tinker with old computers.
• She tinkers with clay during her free time.
Other ways to say: Mess with, fix for fun
Fun Fact/Origin: Common among hobbyists who like gadgets.
Usage: Used for fun projects, especially hands-on.
18. Dabble in
Meaning: Try something without doing it all the time
Example Sentence:
• I dabble in painting on weekends.
• She dabbles in baking once in a while.
Other ways to say: Try out, experiment
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from lightly touching water with your fingers.
Usage: When someone tries different hobbies.
19. Kick back
Meaning: Relax and enjoy your time
Example Sentence:
• He kicks back with some music on Saturdays.
• She kicks back with a good book.
Other ways to say: Chill, relax
Fun Fact/Origin: “Kick back” means leaning back and relaxing.
Usage: Used when hobbies help people relax.
20. Let your hair down
Meaning: Relax and be yourself
Example Sentence:
• She lets her hair down when painting.
• He lets his hair down when playing guitar.
Other ways to say: Be free, enjoy yourself
Fun Fact/Origin: In history, women let their hair down when not in public.
Usage: Used when hobbies help someone unwind.
21. Do it for kicks
Meaning: Do it just for fun
Example Sentence:
• He races bikes for kicks.
• She bakes cupcakes for kicks.
Other ways to say: Just for fun, for joy
Fun Fact/Origin: “Kicks” means fun or laughter.
Usage: For hobbies done just for enjoyment.
22. Play around with
Meaning: Try different things just to see what happens
Example Sentence:
• He plays around with photography.
• She likes to play around with crafts.
Other ways to say: Try out, experiment
Fun Fact/Origin: U.S. slang for trying something in a light, fun way.
Usage: When someone enjoys being creative.
23. Get hooked on
Meaning: Really love something and want to do it often
Example Sentence:
• She got hooked on sewing.
• He got hooked on comic books.
Other ways to say: Obsessed with, really like
Fun Fact/Origin: Like fish caught on a hook—can’t stop.
Usage: When someone falls in love with a hobby.
24. Killing time
Meaning: Doing something while waiting
Example Sentence:
• He played cards to kill time at the airport.
• She doodled to kill time before dinner.
Other ways to say: Pass time, stay busy
Fun Fact/Origin: Meant to “get rid of” time that feels slow.
Usage: For hobbies that help with boredom.
25. In the groove
Meaning: Doing something well and feeling good about it
Example Sentence:
• She’s in the groove when she’s writing stories.
• He gets in the groove while drumming.
Other ways to say: On track, flowing
Fun Fact/Origin: From music records spinning in grooves.
Usage: For hobbies that feel natural and smooth.
26. Game for anything
Meaning: Ready to try fun things
Example Sentence:
• He’s game for anything, even pottery.
• She’s always game for a new board game.
Other ways to say: Open to try, excited to do
Fun Fact/Origin: Used in sports and games to show readiness.
Usage: For people who like fun new hobbies.
27. Let off steam
Meaning: Release energy or stress through a fun activity
Example Sentence:
• He lets off steam with his video games.
• She lets off steam by going to the skate park.
Other ways to say: Relax, cool off
Fun Fact/Origin: Similar to “blow off steam” — from steam engines.
Usage: Hobbies that help someone relax.
28. All in
Meaning: Fully involved or committed
Example Sentence:
• She’s all in on her new stamp collection.
• He’s all in with his Lego projects.
Other ways to say: Committed, fully focused
Fun Fact/Origin: Popularized by poker—putting all chips in.
Usage: Describes dedication to a hobby.
29. Go bananas over
Meaning: Get super excited about something
Example Sentence:
• He goes bananas over baseball cards.
• She goes bananas over slime-making videos.
Other ways to say: Go crazy for, love it
Fun Fact/Origin: Funny American slang from the 1960s
Usage: Used for hobbies kids get really excited about.
30. Head over heels
Meaning: Totally in love with something
Example Sentence:
• She’s head over heels for crafting.
• He’s head over heels for magic tricks.
Other ways to say: Really into, love doing
Fun Fact/Origin: From how people flip upside down in love.
Usage: When a person really loves their hobby.
31. Take a shine to
Meaning: Start liking something quickly
Example Sentence:
• He took a shine to painting.
• She took a shine to puzzles right away.
Other ways to say: Started liking, got interested in
Fun Fact/Origin: Old American saying from the 1800s
Usage: When someone quickly likes a new hobby.
32. Try your hand at
Meaning: Try something for the first time
Example Sentence:
• She tried her hand at knitting.
• He tried his hand at coding.
Other ways to say: Give it a shot, test it out
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from trying to do something with your hands.
Usage: Used for testing out a new hobby.
33. Take a break
Meaning: Pause from work to do something fun
Example Sentence:
• He took a break to build Legos.
• She took a break to draw cartoons.
Other ways to say: Pause, stop and play
Fun Fact/Origin: A common school-time saying in the U.S.
Usage: Used when people enjoy hobbies during rest time.
34. Get into the swing of things
Meaning: Become used to doing an activity
Example Sentence:
• He got into the swing of things with tennis.
• She got into the swing of things in art class.
Other ways to say: Get used to, start enjoying
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from golf or dance, where swing means flow.
Usage: For people who start enjoying a new hobby after a bit.
35. Light a fire under
Meaning: Feel excited or pushed to do something fun
Example Sentence:
• That comic book really lit a fire under him to start drawing.
• Her new roller skates lit a fire under her to get outside.
Other ways to say: Get moving, feel excited
Fun Fact/Origin: A funny saying used to show motivation
Usage: When someone gets excited to start a fun hobby.
Quiz: Idioms About Hobbies
Instructions: Choose the best answer for each question. These questions test your understanding of idioms related to hobbies, fun, and free time. Pick A, B, or C.
Question Key
1. What does “blow off steam” mean?
A) Make something hot
B) Release stress by doing something fun
C) Turn off the heater
2. If you “catch the bug,” what has happened?
A) You are sick
B) You become interested in something new
C) You catch a fly
3. What does “have a ball” mean?
A) Play with a toy
B) Be sad
C) Have lots of fun
4. What does it mean to be “in your element”?
A) You are in the rain
B) You are doing what you love
C) You are stuck inside
5. What does “pass the time” mean?
A) Waste time
B) Spend time doing something fun or simple
C) Set a timer
6. If someone is “lost in the moment,” what are they doing?
A) Sleeping
B) Not paying attention to anything around them
C) Fully enjoying what they are doing
7. What does it mean to “dabble in” something?
A) Do it every day
B) Try something just a little bit
C) Do it professionally
8. What does it mean to “kick back”?
A) Kick a ball
B) Lay down and relax
C) Walk backward
9. If someone is “on a roll,” what does it mean?
A) They are hungry
B) They are doing well again and again
C) They are on a skateboard
10. What does “pick it up” mean in hobbies?
A) Lift something heavy
B) Learn or try something new
C) Give up
11. What does “go bananas over something” mean?
A) Like bananas
B) Get very excited
C) Act sleepy
12. If someone is “all in” with their hobby, what does it mean?
A) They are giving their full effort
B) They are quitting
C) They are confused
13. What does it mean to “try your hand at something”?
A) Get your hand checked
B) Try something new to see if you like it
C) Lose a game
Answer Key
- B – Release stress by doing something fun
- B – You become interested in something new
- C – Have lots of fun
- B – You are doing what you love
- B – Spend time doing something fun or simple
- C – Fully enjoying what they are doing
- B – Try something just a little bit
- B – Lay down and relax
- B – They are doing well again and again
- B – Learn or try something new
- B – Get very excited
- A – They are giving their full effort
- B – Try something new to see if you like it
Wrapping Up
Idioms about hobbies and interests make talking about free time more colorful and fun. Whether you’re talking about something you enjoy or trying something new, these idioms help you express your thoughts in a simple way.
In the USA, people often use these idioms to talk about how they spend their time after school or on weekends. Learning them is a great way to make your English sound more natural and fun.
