In the United States, people often use creative phrases to talk about feelings. Some of these phrases are called idioms. They help describe thoughts or emotions in a fun and clear way. One feeling that people often talk about is lust. Lust is a strong desire, often connected to attraction. It’s not the same as love. It’s more about physical interest or wanting something badly.
Idioms about lust can be found in music, movies, and everyday talk. These expressions give more color to conversations and help show how someone feels without saying it directly. In this article, we’ll look at some idioms used by Americans to describe feelings of lust or strong desire. We’ll also learn what they mean and how to use them in daily life.
Idioms About Lust
1. Burning desire
Meaning: A strong feeling of wanting someone or something
Example Sentence:
– He had a burning desire to kiss her.
– She felt a burning desire when she saw the movie star.
Other ways to say: Strong want, deep craving
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from the idea that strong feelings can feel like heat inside your body.
Usage: Used when someone really wants another person or thing.
2. Head over heels
Meaning: Deeply attracted or in love
Example Sentence:
– He fell head over heels for her the moment they met.
– She’s head over heels for her new crush.
Other ways to say: Crazy about, totally into
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from flipping upside down, like love turning your world around.
Usage: Used when someone is very attracted to someone else.
3. Red-blooded
Meaning: Full of passion and strong desires
Example Sentence:
– He’s a red-blooded teen who talks about girls a lot.
– That movie was made for red-blooded adults.
Other ways to say: Passionate, full of feelings
Fun Fact/Origin: Refers to humans having warm, red blood as a sign of life and passion.
Usage: Often used to describe someone with strong romantic or physical feelings.
4. Hot under the collar
Meaning: Feeling excited, often because of attraction
Example Sentence:
– He got hot under the collar when she smiled at him.
– That scene made the actor look hot under the collar.
Other ways to say: Blushing, feeling heat
Fun Fact/Origin: Think of steam rising from your collar like in cartoons.
Usage: Used when someone feels flustered due to desire or attraction.
5. Love-struck
Meaning: Acting dreamy or silly because of strong feelings
Example Sentence:
– He’s been love-struck since he met her.
– She looked love-struck watching her crush walk by.
Other ways to say: Smitten, dazed by love
Fun Fact/Origin: “Struck” means hit—like love hit you hard!
Usage: Used to show how someone feels when they have a big crush.
6. Lust at first sight
Meaning: Instant strong attraction
Example Sentence:
– It wasn’t love, it was lust at first sight.
– He said it was lust at first sight when he saw her.
Other ways to say: Instant attraction, eyes popping
Fun Fact/Origin: Based on “love at first sight” but focused more on physical desire.
Usage: Used when someone feels instant desire for someone else.
7. Make eyes at
Meaning: To look at someone in a flirty way
Example Sentence:
– He kept making eyes at the girl across the lunch table.
– She was making eyes at the new kid in class.
Other ways to say: Flirt, give a look
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from old-timey flirty looks exchanged between people.
Usage: Used when someone uses their eyes to show attraction.
8. Can’t keep hands off
Meaning: Showing too much physical affection
Example Sentence:
– They couldn’t keep their hands off each other at the party.
– He always wants hugs—can’t keep his hands off!
Other ways to say: Very touchy, clingy
Fun Fact/Origin: Shows a person has a strong urge to be close physically.
Usage: Used for couples or flirty behavior.
9. Puppy love
Meaning: Young or playful crush
Example Sentence:
– Their puppy love was sweet, even if it didn’t last.
– He had puppy love for his babysitter.
Other ways to say: Cute crush, young love
Fun Fact/Origin: Like puppies, it’s sweet and short-lived.
Usage: Used to describe early or innocent attraction.
10. Got the hots for
Meaning: Feeling attracted to someone
Example Sentence:
– She’s got the hots for the new student.
– He told his friend he’s got the hots for their teacher.
Other ways to say: Crushing, into someone
Fun Fact/Origin: “Hot” stands for strong, burning feelings.
Usage: Casual way to say someone finds someone else attractive.
11. Flame
Meaning: A person someone is very attracted to
Example Sentence:
– She’s his old flame from high school.
– He still thinks about his first flame.
Other ways to say: Past crush, former love
Fun Fact/Origin: “Flame” stands for burning love or desire.
Usage: Used to talk about someone you used to like or still care about.
12. Whistle at
Meaning: A sound someone makes to show interest
Example Sentence:
– He whistled at the girl walking by.
– Whistling at people is not polite.
Other ways to say: Call out, show interest
Fun Fact/Origin: People sometimes use this sound to show someone caught their eye.
Usage: Often used to describe bold or rude ways of showing desire.
13. Crush on
Meaning: Liking someone a lot
Example Sentence:
– He has a crush on his classmate.
– She told her mom about her crush.
Other ways to say: Fancy, like a lot
Fun Fact/Origin: “Crush” can mean something heavy, like a strong feeling.
Usage: Used to talk about early or light feelings of attraction.
14. All over someone
Meaning: Acting clingy or flirty
Example Sentence:
– He was all over her at the school dance.
– She was all over her boyfriend in the hallway.
Other ways to say: Flirty, too close
Fun Fact/Origin: Think of someone hugging or clinging like glue.
Usage: Used when someone is showing a lot of physical attention.
15. Looker
Meaning: Someone very good-looking
Example Sentence:
– That guy is a real looker.
– She’s such a looker in that dress.
Other ways to say: Attractive, eye-catching
Fun Fact/Origin: “Looker” comes from people turning to look at someone.
Usage: Used to describe someone who looks great.
16. Love at first sight
Meaning: Falling for someone right away
Example Sentence:
– It was love at first sight when they met in the park.
– He says it was love at first sight, but maybe it was just a crush.
Other ways to say: Instant love, hit hard
Fun Fact/Origin: This phrase is from stories and fairy tales.
Usage: Used to talk about fast feelings of romance.
17. Turned on
Meaning: Feeling attracted or excited
Example Sentence:
– She was turned on by his voice.
– He gets turned on by confidence.
Other ways to say: Interested, fired up
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from the idea of “switching on” feelings.
Usage: Used to describe physical or emotional attraction.
18. Knockout
Meaning: Someone so good-looking it’s shocking
Example Sentence:
– She’s a total knockout in that red dress.
– Everyone thinks he’s a knockout.
Other ways to say: Stunning, super cute
Fun Fact/Origin: From boxing—when something hits you hard.
Usage: Used to describe someone’s looks in a strong way.
19. Have a thing for
Meaning: Really liking someone
Example Sentence:
– I think she has a thing for the soccer coach.
– He’s got a thing for redheads.
Other ways to say: Likes, drawn to
Fun Fact/Origin: “Thing” means a special feeling without naming it.
Usage: Used when you like someone in a quiet or fun way.
20. Eye candy
Meaning: Someone nice to look at
Example Sentence:
– That actor is pure eye candy.
– She wore that outfit to be eye candy at the dance.
Other ways to say: Easy on the eyes, nice-looking
Fun Fact/Origin: Like candy for your eyes—not useful, just pretty.
Usage: Used for someone who looks great but might not mean more.
21. Swept off your feet
Meaning: Feeling quickly charmed or wooed
Example Sentence:
– She was swept off her feet by his charm.
– He swept her off her feet with flowers and songs.
Other ways to say: Charmed, amazed
Fun Fact/Origin: Picture someone falling from strong feelings.
Usage: Used when someone is surprised by attraction.
22. Put the moves on
Meaning: Trying to flirt with someone
Example Sentence:
– He tried to put the moves on her during the dance.
– She wasn’t impressed when he put the moves on her.
Other ways to say: Flirt, make a move
Fun Fact/Origin: “Moves” here means actions or body language.
Usage: Used when someone is trying to get romantic.
23. Easy on the eyes
Meaning: Pleasant to look at
Example Sentence:
– That actor is easy on the eyes.
– She’s not just smart—she’s easy on the eyes too.
Other ways to say: Good-looking, nice to see
Fun Fact/Origin: A kind way to say someone looks good.
Usage: Used to describe someone who is attractive.
24. Hot stuff
Meaning: Someone who looks very attractive
Example Sentence:
– He thinks he’s hot stuff in that leather jacket.
– She looked like hot stuff at the party.
Other ways to say: Stunning, eye-catching
Fun Fact/Origin: “Hot” is used for looks and heat both.
Usage: Used for someone who draws attention with looks.
25. Fall for someone
Meaning: To start liking someone a lot
Example Sentence:
– She fell for him during summer camp.
– He fell for his best friend.
Other ways to say: Start liking, catch feelings
Fun Fact/Origin: Falling shows how fast or deep feelings happen.
Usage: Used when someone begins to like someone in a big way.
Quiz: Idioms About Lust
Instructions: Choose the best answer for each question. Each one tests your understanding of idioms about lust. Pick A, B, or C.
Question Key
1. What does “burning desire” mean?
A) Wanting something to eat
B) A strong feeling of wanting someone or something
C) Being scared of fire
2. If someone is “head over heels,” what are they feeling?
A) Bored
B) Dizzy from running
C) Deeply attracted to someone
3. What does it mean if you “make eyes at” someone?
A) Blink a lot
B) Look at someone in a flirty way
C) Close your eyes
4. What does “puppy love” describe?
A) A pet store
B) Strong adult love
C) A young or playful crush
5. If someone is “hot under the collar,” what are they feeling?
A) Cold and sleepy
B) Excited or flustered
C) Mad about homework
6. What does “got the hots for” mean?
A) Feeling very warm
B) Liking someone a lot
C) Being tired of someone
7. If someone is called a “knockout,” what does it mean?
A) They fainted
B) They’re very good-looking
C) They got hit in a game
8. What does “can’t keep hands off” suggest?
A) Washing hands too often
B) Being too lazy
C) Showing a lot of physical affection
9. What does it mean to “fall for someone”?
A) Trip over someone
B) Start liking someone a lot
C) Get into trouble
10. If someone is “easy on the eyes,” what does it mean?
A) They wear glasses
B) They’re fun to listen to
C) They’re nice to look at
Answer Key
- B – A strong feeling of wanting someone or something
- C – Deeply attracted to someone
- B – Look at someone in a flirty way
- C – A young or playful crush
- B – Excited or flustered
- B – Liking someone a lot
- B – They’re very good-looking
- C – Showing a lot of physical affection
- B – Start liking someone a lot
- C – They’re nice to look at
Wrapping Up
Idioms about lust are common in the USA and often show up in movies, music, and everyday talk. These phrases help people express how they feel without saying everything directly. They add fun and style to how people talk about attraction. Now that you know them, you might notice these expressions more often in what people say or watch.
Keep in mind, knowing these idioms doesn’t just help with English—it helps you understand how people in the U.S. express feelings in simple, catchy ways.
