The New Year is a time when people feel hopeful and excited. Many think about fresh starts, big goals, and good changes. Families and friends often gather to celebrate with parties, food, and fireworks. People talk about making resolutions, which means promises to do better in the year ahead.
English has many idioms related to the New Year. These special phrases use fun and creative words to describe feelings, plans, and events that happen around this time. They help make language more interesting and easier to understand. In this article, we will learn 40 idioms that people use when talking about the New Year. Each one has a simple meaning and easy examples. Let’s explore these sayings and see how they make talking about the New Year more fun.
Idioms About New Year
1. Ring in the New Year
Meaning: To celebrate the start of the new year
Example Sentence:
– We rang in the New Year with a big family dinner.
– Everyone stayed up late to ring in the New Year at the town square.
Other ways to say: Celebrate the New Year, welcome the New Year
Fun Fact/Origin: This phrase comes from ringing church bells to mark the beginning of a new year.
Usage: Used when people celebrate the start of the year.
2. Turn over a new leaf
Meaning: To start fresh and try to be better
Example Sentence:
– She turned over a new leaf by keeping her room clean every day.
– I want to turn over a new leaf and eat healthier this year.
Other ways to say: Start fresh, make a change
Fun Fact/Origin: This saying refers to turning the page (leaf) of a book to begin a new story.
Usage: Used when someone makes a fresh start.
3. Out with the old, in with the new
Meaning: To leave past things behind and welcome new ones
Example Sentence:
– Out with the old, in with the new! Let’s give away things we don’t need.
– She got a new hairstyle and said, “Out with the old, in with the new!”
Other ways to say: Move on, start again
Fun Fact/Origin: This phrase is often used during New Year to show change and hope.
Usage: Used to mark a fresh beginning.
4. New Year’s resolution
Meaning: A promise to do something better in the new year
Example Sentence:
– My New Year’s resolution is to read more books.
– His New Year’s resolution is to be more helpful at home.
Other ways to say: Goal for the year, yearly promise
Fun Fact/Origin: People have made resolutions at the start of the year since ancient times.
Usage: Used when talking about goals for the new year.
5. Start the year off on the right foot
Meaning: To begin the new year in a good way
Example Sentence:
– I want to start the year off on the right foot by being kind to everyone.
– She cleaned her room to start the year off on the right foot.
Other ways to say: Begin well, start strong
Fun Fact/Origin: “Right foot” suggests making the correct or best move first.
Usage: Used to describe a good beginning to the year.
6. Hit the ground running
Meaning: To begin something with energy and purpose
Example Sentence:
– I want to hit the ground running with my schoolwork this year.
– She hit the ground running on her new job after winter break.
Other ways to say: Start strong, dive right in
Fun Fact/Origin: This phrase comes from soldiers or workers jumping from vehicles and starting fast.
Usage: Used when someone starts something quickly and with effort.
7. A clean slate
Meaning: A fresh start with no mistakes
Example Sentence:
– The new year gives us a clean slate to do better.
– He saw January as a clean slate to fix his habits.
Other ways to say: Fresh start, new beginning
Fun Fact/Origin: In the past, people wrote on slates with chalk. Cleaning the slate meant starting again.
Usage: Used to talk about starting over.
8. Make a fresh start
Meaning: To begin again with new plans
Example Sentence:
– After a tough year, we’re ready to make a fresh start.
– She moved to a new town to make a fresh start.
Other ways to say: Begin again, start new
Fun Fact/Origin: “Fresh” means new or not used, showing a brand-new beginning.
Usage: Used when someone wants to leave the past behind.
9. All set for the new year
Meaning: Ready to begin the new year
Example Sentence:
– We’re all set for the new year with our party hats and snacks.
– She’s all set for the new year with her planner and goals.
Other ways to say: Ready to go, prepared
Fun Fact/Origin: “Set” means being prepared and in place.
Usage: Used when someone is fully ready.
10. Start from scratch
Meaning: To begin something from the beginning
Example Sentence:
– I had to start from scratch with my reading log.
– They started from scratch on their science project.
Other ways to say: Begin from the start, begin again
Fun Fact/Origin: This saying came from old cooking recipes and race tracks, where “scratch” was a starting point.
Usage: Used when someone has to do something from the beginning.
11. Break old habits
Meaning: To stop doing something you’ve done for a long time
Example Sentence:
– My goal is to break old habits like biting my nails.
– He wants to break old habits and stop staying up late.
Other ways to say: Quit bad habits, stop doing something
Fun Fact/Origin: This idiom uses “break” to show stopping something forcefully.
Usage: Used when someone wants to stop a routine behavior.
12. Set your sights on
Meaning: To choose a goal to reach
Example Sentence:
– I set my sights on winning the school spelling bee this year.
– She set her sights on learning how to skateboard.
Other ways to say: Aim for, plan to do
Fun Fact/Origin: The phrase comes from aiming a bow or gun at a target.
Usage: Used when someone picks a goal.
13. Kick off the year
Meaning: To begin the year
Example Sentence:
– We kicked off the year with a pancake breakfast.
– The school kicked off the year with fun games.
Other ways to say: Start the year, begin the year
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from sports, where “kickoff” starts the game.
Usage: Used to describe how someone starts the year.
14. Bright future ahead
Meaning: Good things are expected in the future
Example Sentence:
– She works hard and has a bright future ahead.
– We believe the new year brings a bright future ahead.
Other ways to say: Good future, many chances
Fun Fact/Origin: “Bright” shows something full of light or hope.
Usage: Used when someone has good chances coming.
15. Put your best foot forward
Meaning: To try your hardest
Example Sentence:
– I want to put my best foot forward in the new year.
– He put his best foot forward on the first day of class.
Other ways to say: Do your best, give full effort
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from old times when people stepped out with their nicer foot first.
Usage: Used when someone is doing their best.
16. Wipe the slate clean
Meaning: To forget the past and start over
Example Sentence:
– Let’s wipe the slate clean and try again this year.
– They wiped the slate clean after their argument.
Other ways to say: Forget the past, start fresh
Fun Fact/Origin: Refers to cleaning a chalkboard or slate to make room for new writing.
Usage: Used when someone is ready to forgive or begin again.
17. Keep your eye on the prize
Meaning: Stay focused on your goal
Example Sentence:
– I’ll keep my eye on the prize and study each night.
– He keeps his eye on the prize to earn his black belt.
Other ways to say: Stay focused, keep going
Fun Fact/Origin: “Prize” means the reward at the end of effort.
Usage: Used when working toward a goal.
18. Fresh as a daisy
Meaning: Feeling rested and ready
Example Sentence:
– After winter break, she came back fresh as a daisy.
– He felt fresh as a daisy after a good night’s sleep.
Other ways to say: Rested, full of energy
Fun Fact/Origin: Daisies open in the morning, looking new and bright.
Usage: Used to describe someone who feels ready and full of life.
19. The ball is in your court
Meaning: It’s your turn to take action
Example Sentence:
– You made your goals—now the ball is in your court.
– She gave her advice, and now the ball is in his court.
Other ways to say: It’s your choice, your move
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from tennis—once the ball is served, the other player must act.
Usage: Used when someone must decide or do something.
20. A fresh coat of paint
Meaning: A small change that makes something feel new
Example Sentence:
– We gave the house a fresh coat of paint for the new year.
– A new backpack gave her school days a fresh coat of paint.
Other ways to say: Makeover, small update
Fun Fact/Origin: Painting something makes it look new without changing everything.
Usage: Used when something gets a small update to feel new.
21. A change is as good as a rest
Meaning: Trying something new can be as refreshing as taking a break
Example Sentence:
– We rearranged our classroom seats, and it felt exciting. A change is as good as a rest.
– She started painting instead of watching TV. A change is as good as a rest.
Other ways to say: Try something new, switch things up
Fun Fact/Origin: This saying suggests that doing something different can make you feel better, just like resting does.
Usage: Used when someone tries a new activity to feel refreshed.
22. Nothing ventured, nothing gained
Meaning: You can’t achieve anything if you don’t try
Example Sentence:
– He tried out for the school play, saying, “Nothing ventured, nothing gained.”
– She applied for the art contest, thinking, “Nothing ventured, nothing gained.”
Other ways to say: Take a chance, give it a try
Fun Fact/Origin: This phrase encourages people to take risks to achieve something.
Usage: Used when someone takes a chance to reach a goal.
23. First-foot
Meaning: The first person to enter a home in the new year, bringing good luck
Example Sentence:
– Uncle Joe was our first-foot this year, bringing cookies and smiles.
– We waited for our neighbor to be the first-foot and bring good luck.
Other ways to say: First visitor, New Year guest
Fun Fact/Origin: This tradition comes from Scotland, where the first visitor of the year brings gifts and luck.
Usage: Used when talking about New Year traditions.
24. New year, new me
Meaning: A phrase people say when they want to make big changes in the new year
Example Sentence:
– She started jogging every morning, saying, “New year, new me.”
– He began learning guitar, thinking, “New year, new me.”
Other ways to say: Time for a change, starting fresh
Fun Fact/Origin: This saying is popular on social media when people set new goals.
Usage: Used when someone wants to improve themselves in the new year.
25. The early bird catches the worm
Meaning: People who start early have an advantage
Example Sentence:
– She began her homework right after school. The early bird catches the worm.
– He arrived at the store early for the sale. The early bird catches the worm.
Other ways to say: Start early, be prompt
Fun Fact/Origin: This proverb suggests that starting early leads to success.
Usage: Used to encourage starting tasks early.
26. Out of the gate
Meaning: Starting something right away and with energy
Example Sentence:
– She was out of the gate with her science fair project on January 2.
– He got out of the gate fast in reading this year’s book list.
Other ways to say: Start quickly, begin fast
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from horse racing, where horses burst out of the gate at the start.
Usage: Used when someone starts something quickly.
27. A breath of fresh air
Meaning: Something new and different that feels nice
Example Sentence:
– His new attitude was a breath of fresh air after a hard year.
– The new student was a breath of fresh air in the class.
Other ways to say: Something new, refreshing change
Fun Fact/Origin: The phrase describes the good feeling of fresh outdoor air.
Usage: Used to describe positive changes or people.
28. January blues
Meaning: Feeling a bit sad or tired after the holidays
Example Sentence:
– I always feel the January blues when school starts again.
– After New Year’s, many people feel the January blues.
Other ways to say: Feeling down, post-holiday sadness
Fun Fact/Origin: This idiom shows how people sometimes feel low after holiday fun ends.
Usage: Used when talking about sadness after New Year.
29. Break the mold
Meaning: To do something different from usual
Example Sentence:
– He broke the mold by choosing a brand-new hobby this year.
– She broke the mold and stopped following her old routine.
Other ways to say: Try something new, be different
Fun Fact/Origin: “Mold” means a shape or pattern, and breaking it means not following the same way.
Usage: Used when someone acts in a new or bold way.
30. Back to the grind
Meaning: Returning to work or school after a break
Example Sentence:
– After New Year’s, it was back to the grind with homework.
– We all felt tired getting back to the grind after vacation.
Other ways to say: Back to work, back to normal
Fun Fact/Origin: “Grind” means hard, daily work.
Usage: Used after holidays when normal work begins again.
31. Raise the bar
Meaning: To aim higher or do better than before
Example Sentence:
– I want to raise the bar and get all A’s this year.
– She raised the bar with her creative art project.
Other ways to say: Improve, aim higher
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from sports like high jump where the bar is lifted for harder jumps.
Usage: Used when someone wants to do better.
32. In high spirits
Meaning: Feeling happy and excited
Example Sentence:
– The class was in high spirits at the New Year party.
– He was in high spirits after making his new year’s plan.
Other ways to say: Happy, cheerful
Fun Fact/Origin: “Spirit” means mood, and “high” means lifted or bright.
Usage: Used when someone is feeling very positive.
33. Full steam ahead
Meaning: To move forward quickly with full effort
Example Sentence:
– After winter break, it was full steam ahead on the school play.
– She said it’s full steam ahead with her reading goal.
Other ways to say: Keep going strong, move fast
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from steam trains that went faster when full steam was used.
Usage: Used when people push forward with energy.
34. On the right track
Meaning: Doing things in the correct way
Example Sentence:
– He’s on the right track with his homework schedule.
– Her new routine puts her on the right track for better sleep.
Other ways to say: Doing well, making progress
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from train tracks—if you’re on the right one, you go to the right place.
Usage: Used when someone is making good progress.
35. Clear the air
Meaning: To fix a problem or remove tension
Example Sentence:
– They cleared the air after their argument before the new year.
– We talked about our problem to clear the air.
Other ways to say: Talk it out, fix things
Fun Fact/Origin: It means removing bad feelings like clearing smoke from a room.
Usage: Used to talk about making peace.
36. Put the past behind you
Meaning: To stop thinking about past problems
Example Sentence:
– It’s time to put the past behind you and look forward.
– She put the past behind her and forgave her friend.
Other ways to say: Move on, let go
Fun Fact/Origin: This means leaving past troubles behind as you move forward.
Usage: Used when someone wants to forget past problems.
37. Get off on the wrong foot
Meaning: To have a bad start
Example Sentence:
– I got off on the wrong foot by being late the first day back.
– He got off on the wrong foot with his new teacher.
Other ways to say: Start badly, rough beginning
Fun Fact/Origin: Opposite of “on the right foot”—it means something went wrong early on.
Usage: Used to describe a poor start.
38. New year, fresh eyes
Meaning: Seeing something in a new or better way
Example Sentence:
– She read her essay with fresh eyes and fixed mistakes.
– In the new year, he looked at his plan with fresh eyes.
Other ways to say: New view, better look
Fun Fact/Origin: “Fresh eyes” means seeing something clearly after a break.
Usage: Used when someone takes a new look at something.
39. Get your ducks in a row
Meaning: To get everything organized
Example Sentence:
– I need to get my ducks in a row before school starts.
– She got her ducks in a row for her New Year’s party.
Other ways to say: Get ready, organize
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from lining up ducklings neatly.
Usage: Used when preparing for something.
40. Blow the cobwebs away
Meaning: To refresh your mind or body after rest
Example Sentence:
– We went for a walk to blow the cobwebs away after New Year’s dinner.
– Exercise helps blow the cobwebs away and feel awake.
Other ways to say: Wake up, get moving
Fun Fact/Origin: Cobwebs mean dust and stillness, so this phrase means to shake off tiredness.
Usage: Used to describe becoming active again after being still or lazy.
Quiz: Idioms About New Year
Instructions: Choose the best answer for each question about New Year idioms. Each question has only one correct choice.
Question Key
1. What does “ring in the New Year” mean?
A) Buy a new ring
B) Celebrate the start of the year
C) Listen to bells all night
2. If someone “turns over a new leaf,” what are they doing?
A) Picking up trash
B) Starting fresh
C) Reading a book
3. What does “kick off the year” mean?
A) Start the year
B) Play a soccer game
C) Throw a party
4. What does “start from scratch” mean?
A) Begin from the very beginning
B) Use leftover food
C) Write on paper
5. If you “put your best foot forward,” what does it mean?
A) Try your hardest
B) Go for a walk
C) Show off your shoes
6. What does “January blues” mean?
A) Wearing blue clothes
B) Feeling happy
C) Feeling a bit sad after the holidays
7. If someone is “out of the gate,” what are they doing?
A) Leaving the house
B) Starting something quickly
C) Closing a door
8. What does “get your ducks in a row” mean?
A) Visit the pond
B) Line up toy ducks
C) Get organized
9. What does “full steam ahead” mean?
A) A train is coming
B) Move forward with full effort
C) It’s time to clean the windows
10. What does “wipe the slate clean” mean?
A) Clean a chalkboard
B) Forget the past and start over
C) Do math homework
11. If someone says “New Year, new me,” what are they talking about?
A) Getting new clothes
B) Wanting to make changes in themselves
C) Changing their name
12. What does “a clean slate” mean?
A) A brand-new chalkboard
B) Starting with no mistakes
C) Painting a wall
13. What does it mean to “break the mold”?
A) Make cookies
B) Do something different
C) Fix something
14. If someone has “fresh eyes,” what does that mean?
A) They got glasses
B) They slept well
C) They see things in a new way
15. What does “put the past behind you” mean?
A) Hide old photos
B) Stop thinking about past problems
C) Look at old books
Answer Key
- B) Celebrate the start of the year
- B) Starting fresh
- A) Start the year
- A) Begin from the very beginning
- A) Try your hardest
- C) Feeling a bit sad after the holidays
- B) Starting something quickly
- C) Get organized
- B) Move forward with full effort
- B) Forget the past and start over
- B) Wanting to make changes in themselves
- B) Starting with no mistakes
- B) Do something different
- C) They see things in a new way
- B) Stop thinking about past problems
Wrapping Up
Learning idioms about the New Year can help us understand how people talk about change, hope, and new beginnings. These phrases make it easier to express how we feel at the start of something new. They are fun to learn and use in real life.
As a new year begins, these idioms can help you talk about your goals, your plans, and even your feelings. Try using them when you speak or write. It’s a simple way to make your language more interesting and meaningful.
