Passion is a strong feeling that can drive people to do amazing things. In the USA, passion is often seen in sports, music, art, and even everyday work. It is the energy that makes people wake up early to practice, stay up late to create, or keep going even when things get tough. Many idioms in American English capture this intense emotion, making conversations more colorful and fun.
Idioms about passion can describe excitement, love, dedication, or determination. They help express the fire someone feels inside when they truly care about something. Learning these idioms will not only improve your vocabulary but also help you understand American conversations better. In this article, we will explore common expressions that show how passion shapes people’s actions and inspires others.
Idioms About Passion
1. Burn with passion
Meaning: To feel intense excitement or desire for something.
Example Sentence:
• She burned with passion for painting and spent hours in her studio.
• He burned with passion to win the basketball championship.
Other ways to say: Feel strongly about, be driven by
Fun Fact/Origin: Compares strong emotions to fire, which spreads quickly and is hard to control.
Usage: Often used to describe deep enthusiasm for a hobby, career, or goal.
2. Head over heels
Meaning: To be completely in love or very excited about something.
Example Sentence:
• He fell head over heels for soccer and played every day.
• She’s head over heels about her new job.
Other ways to say: Crazy about, madly in love with
Fun Fact/Origin: Dates back to the 14th century, originally used to mean tumbling or flipping over.
Usage: Commonly used to describe strong romantic feelings or extreme enthusiasm.
3. Follow your heart
Meaning: To do what you truly feel is right or what you really want.
Example Sentence:
• She followed her heart and moved to New York to become an actress.
• He followed his heart into a career as a chef.
Other ways to say: Trust your feelings, go with your gut
Fun Fact/Origin: The “heart” has long been seen as the center of emotions and desires in many cultures.
Usage: Often used when encouraging someone to choose a path based on passion.
4. On fire
Meaning: Doing something extremely well with lots of energy and excitement.
Example Sentence:
• The baseball player was on fire, hitting three home runs in one game.
• She was on fire during her dance performance.
Other ways to say: At your best, unstoppable
Fun Fact/Origin: Compares success and energy to fire’s unstoppable nature.
Usage: Used in sports, performances, or any moment of high achievement.
5. Have a soft spot for
Meaning: To have a strong liking or affection for something or someone.
Example Sentence:
• She has a soft spot for rescue dogs and volunteers every weekend.
• He has a soft spot for old rock music.
Other ways to say: Be fond of, really like
Fun Fact/Origin: Refers to the idea of a tender, gentle place in your heart for something.
Usage: Describes a personal affection or sentimental preference.
6. Put your heart into it
Meaning: To give something your full effort and passion.
Example Sentence:
• He put his heart into building the treehouse for his kids.
• She put her heart into learning the guitar.
Other ways to say: Give it your all, work with dedication
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from the idea that the heart is the center of motivation and energy.
Usage: Used for work, hobbies, or activities done with great effort.
7. Swept off your feet
Meaning: To be quickly and strongly affected by love or excitement.
Example Sentence:
• She was swept off her feet by his charm.
• He was swept off his feet after watching the band perform live.
Other ways to say: Instantly impressed, deeply moved
Fun Fact/Origin: Originally described being lifted or knocked over, later used for emotional impact.
Usage: Used in love stories or moments of sudden inspiration.
8. Pour your heart out
Meaning: To share your deepest feelings openly.
Example Sentence:
• She poured her heart out in her diary every night.
• He poured his heart out to his best friend about his dreams.
Other ways to say: Open up, share feelings
Fun Fact/Origin: “Pouring” suggests feelings flowing freely, like water from a container.
Usage: Used when talking about emotional honesty.
9. Live and breathe something
Meaning: To be completely devoted to something.
Example Sentence:
• He lives and breathes basketball.
• She lives and breathes art.
Other ways to say: Be obsessed with, be fully devoted to
Fun Fact/Origin: Suggests that the subject is as essential as air to the person.
Usage: Often used for hobbies, careers, or causes someone deeply loves.
10. Fired up
Meaning: To be very excited or motivated.
Example Sentence:
• The team was fired up for the big game.
• She was fired up after hearing the motivational speech.
Other ways to say: Pumped up, energized
Fun Fact/Origin: Compares emotional energy to starting a fire.
Usage: Common in sports, competitions, and motivational situations.
11. Love at first sight
Meaning: Falling in love instantly upon meeting someone.
Example Sentence:
• It was love at first sight when they met at the park.
• She knew it was love at first sight when she saw the puppy.
Other ways to say: Instant attraction, immediate love
Fun Fact/Origin: Used in stories and songs for centuries, especially in romance.
Usage: Refers to sudden romantic feelings.
12. Heart of gold
Meaning: To be very kind and caring.
Example Sentence:
• She has a heart of gold and always helps others.
• He’s tough on the outside but has a heart of gold.
Other ways to say: Very kind, compassionate
Fun Fact/Origin: Gold is valuable and pure, making it a symbol of goodness.
Usage: Used to describe someone’s character in a positive way.
13. Blood, sweat, and tears
Meaning: Great effort and hard work.
Example Sentence:
• He put blood, sweat, and tears into his small business.
• She gave blood, sweat, and tears to train for the marathon.
Other ways to say: Total effort, hard labor
Fun Fact/Origin: Popularized by Winston Churchill in a 1940 speech.
Usage: Refers to doing something with extreme dedication.
14. Wear your heart on your sleeve
Meaning: To openly show your emotions.
Example Sentence:
• She wears her heart on her sleeve and doesn’t hide how she feels.
• He wore his heart on his sleeve during the farewell speech.
Other ways to say: Be open about feelings, show emotions freely
Fun Fact/Origin: Originates from medieval jousting, when knights wore a token from their beloved.
Usage: Describes someone emotionally expressive.
15. Wild about
Meaning: Extremely excited or enthusiastic about something.
Example Sentence:
• She’s wild about country music.
• He’s wild about hiking in the mountains.
Other ways to say: Crazy about, obsessed with
Fun Fact/Origin: “Wild” here means uncontrollable excitement.
Usage: Common in casual conversation.
16. Burning desire
Meaning: A very strong want or need for something.
Example Sentence:
• She had a burning desire to become a singer.
• He felt a burning desire to help his community.
Other ways to say: Strong ambition, deep craving
Fun Fact/Origin: Compares intense wanting to the heat of a fire.
Usage: Used in personal goals and dreams.
17. Crazy in love
Meaning: Extremely and deeply in love.
Example Sentence:
• They are crazy in love and spend all their time together.
• He’s crazy in love with his high school sweetheart.
Other ways to say: Madly in love, head over heels
Fun Fact/Origin: Popular phrase in songs, especially Beyoncé’s hit of the same name.
Usage: Informal, often romantic.
18. Chase your dreams
Meaning: To go after what you really want in life.
Example Sentence:
• She chased her dreams of becoming an actress.
• He’s chasing his dream of opening a bakery.
Other ways to say: Pursue goals, follow ambitions
Fun Fact/Origin: “Chase” gives the image of running after something important.
Usage: Used for motivation and encouragement.
19. Passion project
Meaning: A project done out of love, not for money.
Example Sentence:
• Her blog is a passion project she works on after her job.
• Restoring old cars is his passion project.
Other ways to say: Personal project, labor of love
Fun Fact/Origin: Gained popularity in creative and entrepreneurial circles.
Usage: Describes a personal, meaningful effort.
20. Hot-blooded
Meaning: Full of strong emotions, especially passion or anger.
Example Sentence:
• He’s a hot-blooded competitor on the field.
• She’s hot-blooded when it comes to defending her friends.
Other ways to say: Fiery, emotional
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from old beliefs about body “humors” affecting personality.
Usage: Describes energetic, passionate people.
21. Heart and soul
Meaning: To give something your full energy and commitment.
Example Sentence:
• She put her heart and soul into organizing the charity event.
• He gave his heart and soul to coaching the team.
Other ways to say: Fully committed, all-in
Fun Fact/Origin: Combines two symbols of a person’s being—heart for emotion and soul for spirit.
Usage: Used for activities done with total dedication.
22. Mad about
Meaning: Extremely fond of something or someone.
Example Sentence:
• She’s mad about chocolate cake.
• He’s mad about his new puppy.
Other ways to say: Crazy about, obsessed with
Fun Fact/Origin: In British English, “mad” can also mean “angry,” but in American usage it often means “passionately fond of.”
Usage: Common for hobbies, food, or relationships.
23. Love to bits
Meaning: To love something or someone very much.
Example Sentence:
• She loves her little brother to bits.
• He loves his guitar to bits.
Other ways to say: Adore, be crazy about
Fun Fact/Origin: “Bits” refers to loving every small part of something.
Usage: Often used in casual or affectionate speech.
24. Light a fire under someone
Meaning: To inspire or motivate someone to take action.
Example Sentence:
• The coach’s speech lit a fire under the team.
• Her friend’s success lit a fire under her to start her own business.
Other ways to say: Motivate, push into action
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from the idea of using heat to get something moving quickly.
Usage: Used in motivation and encouragement contexts.
25. Fall for
Meaning: To develop strong feelings for someone or something.
Example Sentence:
• She fell for him the moment they met.
• He fell for the charm of the small town.
Other ways to say: Be smitten, become attached to
Fun Fact/Origin: Suggests being “caught” by emotion like falling into a trap.
Usage: Common for love and attraction.
26. In your blood
Meaning: Something that feels natural or is part of who you are.
Example Sentence:
• Cooking is in her blood—her family owns a restaurant.
• Music is in his blood; his parents were both musicians.
Other ways to say: Natural talent, born to do
Fun Fact/Origin: Refers to inherited traits or deep passion passed through generations.
Usage: Describes strong natural interests or abilities.
27. Heart skips a beat
Meaning: Feeling sudden excitement or nervousness.
Example Sentence:
• Her heart skipped a beat when she saw him walk in.
• His heart skipped a beat before the big announcement.
Other ways to say: Get butterflies, feel a thrill
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from the physical sensation of excitement affecting heartbeat.
Usage: Often used for love or big moments.
28. Carry a torch for
Meaning: To secretly love someone who may not return the feelings.
Example Sentence:
• He’s been carrying a torch for her since high school.
• She carried a torch for her first crush for years.
Other ways to say: Secretly love, have feelings for
Fun Fact/Origin: From the image of keeping a flame alive, symbolizing lasting affection.
Usage: Refers to unreturned or long-lasting love.
29. Love conquers all
Meaning: Belief that love can overcome any problem.
Example Sentence:
• They faced many challenges, but believed love conquers all.
• In fairy tales, love conquers all obstacles.
Other ways to say: Love wins, love is stronger
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from a Latin phrase “Amor vincit omnia,” used in literature and art.
Usage: Often used in romantic or hopeful contexts.
30. In the mood for
Meaning: Wanting to do or have something at the moment.
Example Sentence:
• She’s in the mood for Italian food tonight.
• He’s in the mood for a long run in the park.
Other ways to say: Feel like, want to
Fun Fact/Origin: Popular in songs like “In the Mood” by Glenn Miller.
Usage: Used for food, activities, or experiences.
31. Can’t get enough of
Meaning: Loving something so much you always want more.
Example Sentence:
• She can’t get enough of mystery novels.
• He can’t get enough of the beach.
Other ways to say: Always want more, love a lot
Fun Fact/Origin: Often used in music and pop culture to describe obsession or deep enjoyment.
Usage: Casual, often for entertainment, hobbies, or food.
32. Music to your ears
Meaning: Something that makes you very happy to hear.
Example Sentence:
• His offer to help was music to her ears.
• Hearing the good news was music to my ears.
Other ways to say: Wonderful to hear, pleasing news
Fun Fact/Origin: Relates to the joy of hearing your favorite music.
Usage: Used for news or words that bring happiness.
33. Heart aflame
Meaning: To feel intense love or passion.
Example Sentence:
• Her heart was aflame with excitement for the big trip.
• His heart was aflame for her from the first meeting.
Other ways to say: Burning with love, filled with passion
Fun Fact/Origin: Compares strong feelings to a bright, hot flame.
Usage: More poetic, often used in romance or emotional writing.
Quiz: Idioms About Passion
Instruction: Choose the correct meaning for each question. Only one answer is correct.
Question Key
1. If someone “burns with passion” for music, it means:
A) They feel strongly about it
B) They dislike it
C) They are learning it for the first time
2. If you are “head over heels” about a sport, you are:
A) A little interested
B) Completely excited about it
C) Tired of it
3. “Follow your heart” means:
A) Do what you truly feel is right
B) Ask others for advice first
C) Avoid making decisions
4. If a player is “on fire,” it means:
A) They are performing extremely well
B) They are upset
C) They are warming up
5. Having “a soft spot for” rescue animals means:
A) You are afraid of them
B) You really like them
C) You avoid them
6. “Put your heart into it” means:
A) Give something your full effort
B) Do something halfway
C) Avoid working too hard
7. If someone was “swept off their feet” by a singer’s performance, they:
A) Were deeply impressed
B) Fell asleep
C) Left early
8. To “pour your heart out” means:
A) Share your deepest feelings
B) Keep emotions to yourself
C) Speak without thinking
9. If you “live and breathe” baseball, it means:
A) You are completely devoted to it
B) You are new to it
C) You only play sometimes
10. Being “fired up” for a race means:
A) You are nervous about losing
B) You are very excited and ready
C) You don’t want to run
11. “Love at first sight” means:
A) Love grows slowly over time
B) Falling in love instantly
C) Not liking someone at first
12. Having “a heart of gold” means:
A) Being very kind and caring
B) Being rich
C) Being strict
13. “Blood, sweat, and tears” means:
A) Doing something with great effort
B) Avoiding hard work
C) Feeling tired
14. If you “wear your heart on your sleeve,” you:
A) Hide your emotions
B) Show your emotions openly
C) Change your feelings often
15. Being “wild about” pizza means:
A) You are very excited about it
B) You are scared of it
C) You never eat it
16. A “burning desire” to travel means:
A) You have a strong wish to do it
B) You are unsure
C) You dislike the idea
17. “Crazy in love” means:
A) Feeling mild affection
B) Being deeply in love
C) Avoiding relationships
18. “Chase your dreams” means:
A) Give up on your goals
B) Pursue what you want in life
C) Follow someone else’s plan
19. A “passion project” is:
A) A job you dislike
B) A personal project done out of love
C) A group project at school
20. Being “hot-blooded” means:
A) Feeling strong emotions
B) Being calm all the time
C) Being quiet
21. “Heart and soul” in a project means:
A) You worked with full commitment
B) You worked very little
C) You didn’t care much
22. Being “mad about” baseball means:
A) You really like it
B) You are angry at it
C) You avoid it
23. Loving your dog “to bits” means:
A) You care for them deeply
B) You don’t like them anymore
C) You keep them outside
24. If a coach “lights a fire under” the team, they:
A) Motivate them to act
B) Tell them to go home
C) Ask them to stop playing
25. To “fall for” someone means:
A) Start to like them a lot
B) Trip over them
C) Disagree with them
26. If cooking is “in your blood,” it means:
A) It’s a natural talent or part of you
B) You are learning it for the first time
C) You dislike cooking
27. “Heart skips a beat” means:
A) Feeling sudden excitement or nervousness
B) Feeling tired
C) Being bored
28. To “carry a torch for” someone means:
A) Secretly love them
B) Want to compete with them
C) Work with them
29. “Love conquers all” means:
A) Love can overcome any problem
B) Love is never enough
C) Love is rare
30. Being “in the mood for” ice cream means:
A) You want it right now
B) You don’t want it
C) You want to avoid it
31. “Can’t get enough of” football means:
A) You never want to play again
B) You always want more of it
C) You dislike it
32. If someone’s help is “music to your ears,” it means:
A) It’s wonderful to hear
B) It’s a surprise
C) It’s unpleasant
33. A “heart aflame” means:
A) Feeling intense love or passion
B) Feeling tired and bored
C) Avoiding excitement
Answer Key
- A) They feel strongly about it
- B) Completely excited about it
- A) Do what you truly feel is right
- A) They are performing extremely well
- B) You really like them
- A) Give something your full effort
- A) Were deeply impressed
- A) Share your deepest feelings
- A) You are completely devoted to it
- B) You are very excited and ready
- B) Falling in love instantly
- A) Being very kind and caring
- A) Doing something with great effort
- B) Show your emotions openly
- A) You are very excited about it
- A) You have a strong wish to do it
- B) Being deeply in love
- B) Pursue what you want in life
- B) A personal project done out of love
- A) Feeling strong emotions
- A) You worked with full commitment
- A) You really like it
- A) You care for them deeply
- A) Motivate them to act
- A) Start to like them a lot
- A) It’s a natural talent or part of you
- A) Feeling sudden excitement or nervousness
- A) Secretly love them
- A) Love can overcome any problem
- A) You want it right now
- B) You always want more of it
- A) It’s wonderful to hear
- A) Feeling intense love or passion
Wrapping Up
Passion brings energy and purpose into life. In the USA, these idioms about passion appear in everyday speech, sports, and even music. They make it easier to express strong feelings and motivation. Whether it’s love for a person, excitement for a hobby, or dedication to a goal, these expressions help capture that fire inside. By using them, you can make your English sound more natural and full of life.
