Have you ever heard someone say, “That kid is a walking dictionary,” or “He has a chip on his shoulder”? These are called idioms. Idioms are phrases that don’t mean exactly what the words say. Instead, they have special meanings. Many idioms use objects to describe people, feelings, or situations. These objects help paint a picture in our minds.
Idioms with objects can be fun to learn. They make language more colorful and help us understand things better. When someone says “She’s got a heart of gold,” they don’t mean she has real gold in her chest. It means she’s very kind. In this article, we will look at 25 idioms that include everyday things like keys, hats, and hands. You’ll see what they mean and how people in the U.S. use them in real life.
Idioms About Objects
1. At the drop of a hat
Meaning: Right away, without waiting
Example Sentence:
• He’ll play video games at the drop of a hat.
• She leaves the room at the drop of a hat when she’s mad.
Other ways to say: Instantly, right away
Fun Fact/Origin: In old times, people dropped a hat as a signal to start something like a race or a fight.
Usage: Used when someone acts quickly without delay.
2. A chip on your shoulder
Meaning: Acting angry or upset for no clear reason
Example Sentence:
• He has a chip on his shoulder about losing the game.
• She walks around with a chip on her shoulder at school.
Other ways to say: Holding a grudge, feeling bitter
Fun Fact/Origin: It comes from a custom where boys put a chip of wood on their shoulder to start a fight.
Usage: Used when someone acts angry because of past hurt.
3. Rule of thumb
Meaning: A general rule based on experience
Example Sentence:
• A good rule of thumb is to save 10% of your money.
• As a rule of thumb, we leave the house 15 minutes early.
Other ways to say: Basic rule, usual way
Fun Fact/Origin: It might have started from using your thumb to measure things.
Usage: Used to share a tip or a simple guide.
4. By the book
Meaning: Follow the rules exactly
Example Sentence:
• She runs the classroom by the book.
• He wants everything done by the book.
Other ways to say: Follow the rules, stick to the plan
Fun Fact/Origin: Refers to rule books or instruction books.
Usage: Used when someone does things in a strict way.
5. Hit the nail on the head
Meaning: Say something that is exactly right
Example Sentence:
• You hit the nail on the head with your guess.
• She hit the nail on the head when she said we needed more practice.
Other ways to say: Got it right, spot on
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from hammering a nail—if you hit it right, it goes in easily.
Usage: Used when someone gives the perfect answer or idea.
6. On the same page
Meaning: Agreeing or thinking alike
Example Sentence:
• The coach and the players are on the same page.
• Mom and Dad were not on the same page about dinner plans.
Other ways to say: Agree, think alike
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from reading the same page in a book together.
Usage: Used when people understand and agree with each other.
7. The ball is in your court
Meaning: It’s your turn to make a decision
Example Sentence:
• I told her I liked her. Now the ball is in her court.
• You have all the facts, so the ball is in your court.
Other ways to say: It’s your move, your choice
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from tennis—when the ball is in your side, it’s your turn.
Usage: Used when someone must decide or act next.
8. Put all your eggs in one basket
Meaning: Relying on one thing too much
Example Sentence:
• Don’t put all your eggs in one basket—apply to more than one college.
• She put all her eggs in one basket by trying only one job.
Other ways to say: Don’t risk it all, have a backup plan
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from the idea that if you drop one basket, all the eggs break.
Usage: Used when someone depends too much on one plan.
9. A blessing in disguise
Meaning: Something that seems bad but turns out good
Example Sentence:
• Missing the bus was a blessing in disguise—we found a better route.
• The canceled trip turned out to be a blessing in disguise.
Other ways to say: Good surprise, hidden benefit
Fun Fact/Origin: The word “disguise” means something hidden or not as it looks.
Usage: Used when a problem leads to something good.
10. Burn the midnight oil
Meaning: Stay up late working
Example Sentence:
• He burned the midnight oil studying for the math test.
• She burned the midnight oil finishing her art project.
Other ways to say: Stay up late, work into the night
Fun Fact/Origin: Long ago, people used oil lamps at night.
Usage: Used when someone works late into the night.
11. Skeleton in the closet
Meaning: A hidden secret
Example Sentence:
• Every family has a skeleton in the closet.
• He acts nice, but he has a skeleton in the closet.
Other ways to say: Hidden past, secret story
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from the idea of hiding something scary in a closet.
Usage: Used when someone hides something they don’t want others to know.
12. Bite the bullet
Meaning: To do something hard or unpleasant
Example Sentence:
• I didn’t want a shot, but I bit the bullet.
• She bit the bullet and told the truth.
Other ways to say: Face it, deal with it
Fun Fact/Origin: Soldiers used to bite on bullets during pain when no medicine was available.
Usage: Used when someone does something tough without avoiding it.
13. Spill the beans
Meaning: Tell a secret
Example Sentence:
• Don’t spill the beans about the surprise party.
• He spilled the beans and told Mom everything.
Other ways to say: Tell the secret, let it slip
Fun Fact/Origin: May come from voting using beans in old times—spilling them showed the result.
Usage: Used when someone reveals something they were supposed to keep quiet.
14. Cold feet
Meaning: Feeling nervous before doing something big
Example Sentence:
• He got cold feet before the school play.
• She had cold feet about moving to a new city.
Other ways to say: Got scared, lost courage
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from soldiers who said their feet were cold to avoid battle.
Usage: Used when someone backs out due to fear.
15. Hands are tied
Meaning: Unable to act or help
Example Sentence:
• I want to help you, but my hands are tied.
• His hands were tied by the school rules.
Other ways to say: Can’t help, not allowed
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from the image of someone being tied up and unable to move.
Usage: Used when someone is unable to take action.
16. Pulling strings
Meaning: Using secret power or influence
Example Sentence:
• She got the job by pulling some strings.
• He pulled strings to get front-row tickets.
Other ways to say: Used connections, made it happen secretly
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from puppets, which move when someone pulls strings behind the scenes.
Usage: Used when someone uses hidden help to get something.
17. Kick the bucket
Meaning: To die
Example Sentence:
• The old man kicked the bucket last week.
• The dog finally kicked the bucket after a long illness.
Other ways to say: Passed away, died
Fun Fact/Origin: No one knows for sure, but it may come from an old way of hanging animals on a bucket to clean them.
Usage: Used in a casual way to talk about death.
18. On thin ice
Meaning: In a risky or dangerous situation
Example Sentence:
• You’re on thin ice talking back to the teacher.
• He was on thin ice after missing work again.
Other ways to say: In trouble, risky situation
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from skating on ice that might break.
Usage: Used when someone is close to getting in trouble.
19. Through thick and thin
Meaning: Stay together no matter what
Example Sentence:
• Best friends stick together through thick and thin.
• My dog stayed with me through thick and thin.
Other ways to say: Always there, loyal
Fun Fact/Origin: This phrase goes back hundreds of years and means staying through good and bad times.
Usage: Used to show support during hard times.
20. Have a heart of gold
Meaning: To be very kind
Example Sentence:
• She has a heart of gold and always helps others.
• That boy with the lunch money? Heart of gold.
Other ways to say: Very kind, super caring
Fun Fact/Origin: Gold is rare and precious, just like a kind heart.
Usage: Used when someone is generous and good-natured.
21. Let the cat out of the bag
Meaning: To reveal a secret
Example Sentence:
• You let the cat out of the bag about the gift.
• Don’t let the cat out of the bag until her birthday.
Other ways to say: Spilled the secret, gave it away
Fun Fact/Origin: It may come from old markets where people hid things in bags.
Usage: Used when someone reveals something by accident.
22. Hit the sack
Meaning: Go to bed
Example Sentence:
• I’m so tired, I’m going to hit the sack.
• After practice, she hit the sack early.
Other ways to say: Go to sleep, turn in
Fun Fact/Origin: “Sack” was an old word for a bed.
Usage: Used when someone goes to sleep.
23. Back to the drawing board
Meaning: Start over after failing
Example Sentence:
• Our science project broke, so it’s back to the drawing board.
• The recipe didn’t work—back to the drawing board.
Other ways to say: Start again, try a new idea
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from designers or architects going back to redo their plans.
Usage: Used when something doesn’t work and you must try again.
24. Keep something under your hat
Meaning: Keep a secret
Example Sentence:
• Keep the party plan under your hat.
• She kept the good news under her hat for days.
Other ways to say: Don’t tell anyone, stay quiet
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from the idea of hiding something in your hat.
Usage: Used when you want someone to keep something private.
25. Throw in the towel
Meaning: To give up
Example Sentence:
• He threw in the towel after three tries.
• She didn’t want to throw in the towel, but she was too tired.
Other ways to say: Give up, quit
Fun Fact/Origin: From boxing—when someone throws in a towel, the fight is over.
Usage: Used when someone stops trying.
Quiz: Idioms About Objects
Instructions: Read each question and the answer choices carefully. Pick the letter that best matches the meaning of the phrase or expression.
Question Key
1. What does “spill the beans” mean?
A) Clean up a mess
B) Tell a secret
C) Plant something in the garden
2. If someone says “hit the sack,” what should you do?
A) Go shopping
B) Go to sleep
C) Hit a bag
3. What does “chip on your shoulder” mean?
A) You’re balancing food
B) You feel sad without reason
C) You’re acting angry about something
4. “Put all your eggs in one basket” means:
A) Eat breakfast early
B) Rely too much on one plan
C) Share everything with a friend
5. If the “ball is in your court,” what does that mean?
A) It’s your turn to decide
B) You lost the game
C) Someone passed you the ball
6. What does “kick the bucket” mean?
A) Kick a ball outside
B) Fall off a chair
C) Die
7. If someone has a “heart of gold,” they are:
A) Very kind
B) Very rich
C) Wearing gold clothes
8. “Burn the midnight oil” means:
A) Light a fire
B) Stay up late working
C) Waste cooking oil
9. What does “on thin ice” mean?
A) You’re in trouble
B) You’re skating well
C) You’re being cold
10. “Throw in the towel” means:
A) Start a laundry load
B) Give up
C) Clean something
Answer Key
- B – Tell a secret
- B – Go to sleep
- C – You’re acting angry about something
- B – Rely too much on one plan
- A – It’s your turn to decide
- C – Die
- A – Very kind
- B – Stay up late working
- A – You’re in trouble
- B – Give up
Wrapping Up
Idioms help us talk in fun and creative ways. When we use objects in idioms, it helps people picture what we mean. Saying someone has a “heart of gold” or is “on thin ice” gives more feeling than just using plain words. These idioms make everyday talk more interesting.
Now that you’ve seen 25 idioms about objects, try using them in your own sentences. You’ll sound more natural, and others will understand you better. Just remember, idioms don’t always mean what they say—they tell a story behind the words.
