When people give up something they care about for someone else, we call it a sacrifice. Sacrifice can mean giving time, money, or effort to help others. Parents, teachers, and friends often make sacrifices. They may miss something they enjoy to support someone they love.
In English, we use idioms to talk about sacrifice. These idioms make it easier to explain what people give up and why. Some idioms come from old stories or daily life. Others come from history or work. They all help us understand how giving something up can show love, care, or bravery. This article will share some common idioms about sacrifice, so you can learn what they mean and how to use them.
Idioms About Sacrifice
1. Take one for the team
Meaning: To do something unpleasant for the good of others
Example Sentence:
• Jake took one for the team by staying late to clean up.
• She took one for the team by missing the game to help with homework.
Other ways to say: Make a trade, do the hard job
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from sports, where one player might do something tough to help the team win
Usage: Use when someone does something hard so the group benefits
2. Bite the bullet
Meaning: To accept pain or difficulty because it’s necessary
Example Sentence:
• He bit the bullet and told the truth, even though it was hard.
• She bit the bullet and got her shot at the doctor’s.
Other ways to say: Face the pain, do something tough
Fun Fact/Origin: Soldiers used to bite a bullet to deal with pain
Usage: Used when someone chooses to do something painful or hard
3. Pay the price
Meaning: To suffer for something you did
Example Sentence:
• He paid the price for staying up late when he was tired in class.
• She paid the price for not wearing a coat and caught a cold.
Other ways to say: Face the results, deal with the outcome
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from buying things—you give something to get something
Usage: Use when someone gives up something or faces the result of a choice
4. Lay it on the line
Meaning: To risk something important
Example Sentence:
• He laid it on the line when he told the truth to his coach.
• She laid it on the line to protect her friend.
Other ways to say: Risk it all, take a chance
Fun Fact/Origin: This comes from gambling, where players bet everything
Usage: Use when someone takes a big risk to help or protect
5. Go the extra mile
Meaning: To do more than what is asked
Example Sentence:
• She went the extra mile by helping with everyone’s homework.
• He went the extra mile to make sure the party was fun.
Other ways to say: Do extra work, help more
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from ancient times when messengers traveled far to help
Usage: Used when someone gives more effort than needed
6. Burn the candle at both ends
Meaning: To work too hard or stay up late doing many things
Example Sentence:
• He burned the candle at both ends studying and working.
• She burned the candle at both ends to finish her project.
Other ways to say: Overwork, do too much
Fun Fact/Origin: If you burn a candle at both ends, it runs out faster
Usage: Use when someone uses all their time or energy
7. Put your neck on the line
Meaning: To take a risk for others
Example Sentence:
• She put her neck on the line to defend her classmate.
• He put his neck on the line by speaking up for what’s right.
Other ways to say: Take a risk, speak up
Fun Fact/Origin: In old times, this meant risking harm to yourself
Usage: Used when someone risks something important for others
8. Throw oneself into something
Meaning: To give all your time and effort to something
Example Sentence:
• She threw herself into helping her team win.
• He threw himself into making the school play great.
Other ways to say: Work hard, give it all
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from the idea of jumping into water completely
Usage: Used when someone works really hard with full energy
9. Put others first
Meaning: To care more about others than yourself
Example Sentence:
• He put others first by sharing his lunch.
• She always puts others first and helps anyone in need.
Other ways to say: Be kind, think of others
Fun Fact/Origin: This is a common value in many families and schools
Usage: Used when someone helps others before helping themselves
10. Give the shirt off your back
Meaning: To give everything you have to help someone
Example Sentence:
• He would give the shirt off his back to a friend in need.
• She gave the shirt off her back when she donated her jacket.
Other ways to say: Give it all, be very generous
Fun Fact/Origin: This shows someone is willing to give even their clothes
Usage: Used when someone gives a lot to help someone else
11. Make a tough call
Meaning: To make a hard decision, often giving something up
Example Sentence:
• She made a tough call by missing her birthday party to visit her grandma.
• He made a tough call to tell the truth, even if it got his friend in trouble.
Other ways to say: Hard choice, serious decision
Fun Fact/Origin: “Call” here means making a judgment or choice
Usage: Used when someone gives something up to do what’s right
12. Put your life on the line
Meaning: To risk your safety for others
Example Sentence:
• Firefighters put their lives on the line to save people.
• He put his life on the line to rescue the puppy.
Other ways to say: Risk your life, take a big chance
Fun Fact/Origin: Common in police and army jobs
Usage: Used when someone takes a serious risk for someone else
13. Take the fall
Meaning: To accept blame so someone else doesn’t get in trouble
Example Sentence:
• He took the fall so his younger brother wouldn’t be punished.
• She took the fall for the team’s mistake.
Other ways to say: Take the blame, protect someone
Fun Fact/Origin: “Fall” means getting into trouble or failing
Usage: Used when someone takes the blame for another’s mistake
14. Carry the weight
Meaning: To take on a hard job or responsibility
Example Sentence:
• She carried the weight of taking care of her siblings.
• He carried the weight of leading the project alone.
Other ways to say: Do the hard part, take the lead
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from carrying something heavy for others
Usage: Used when someone does a lot of hard work for others
15. Throw yourself under the bus
Meaning: To take blame or punishment to protect someone else
Example Sentence:
• He threw himself under the bus so his team wouldn’t get in trouble.
• She threw herself under the bus for her friend’s mistake.
Other ways to say: Take the hit, protect others
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from the image of someone stepping in harm’s way
Usage: Used when someone takes punishment so others don’t have to
16. Give up the ghost
Meaning: To stop trying or let go of something, sometimes for someone else’s sake
Example Sentence:
• He gave up the ghost and let his brother win the game.
• She gave up the ghost after seeing her friend needed the prize more.
Other ways to say: Let go, stop trying
Fun Fact/Origin: This old saying means to give up one’s spirit or energy
Usage: Used when someone stops trying for the benefit of another
17. Take the heat
Meaning: To accept blame or anger from others
Example Sentence:
• He took the heat for the class being noisy.
• She took the heat from her coach when the team was late.
Other ways to say: Face the blame, handle the trouble
Fun Fact/Origin: “Heat” means pressure or anger
Usage: Used when someone accepts blame to protect others
18. Put something on the back burner
Meaning: To delay your own plans to help others
Example Sentence:
• She put her art class on the back burner to help her mom.
• He put his video game on the back burner to help his friend study.
Other ways to say: Wait on it, delay for now
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from cooking, where pots are moved to the back burner to wait
Usage: Used when someone delays something for a good reason
19. Take the hit
Meaning: To suffer loss or pain for someone else’s sake
Example Sentence:
• He took the hit and stayed behind to clean up.
• She took the hit by skipping the trip to help her little sister.
Other ways to say: Face the trouble, deal with it
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from sports or fights where someone takes the damage
Usage: Used when someone faces the bad part so others don’t have to
20. Pull your weight
Meaning: To do your fair share of hard work
Example Sentence:
• Everyone needs to pull their weight in group projects.
• She always pulls her weight at home by doing chores.
Other ways to say: Help out, do your part
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from teamwork, where everyone carries something heavy
Usage: Used when talking about doing your share in a group
21. Step up to the plate
Meaning: To take responsibility or do something important
Example Sentence:
• He stepped up to the plate and took care of his baby brother.
• She stepped up to the plate and led the class trip.
Other ways to say: Take charge, help out
Fun Fact/Origin: From baseball, where the batter steps up to hit
Usage: Used when someone takes on a task, even when it’s hard
22. Walk a mile in someone’s shoes
Meaning: To understand someone by imagining their life
Example Sentence:
• He walked a mile in her shoes and gave up video games for a week.
• She walked a mile in his shoes and helped with chores to understand.
Other ways to say: Understand others, think how they feel
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from Native American sayings
Usage: Used to show understanding and kindness by sacrificing comfort
23. Cut corners
Meaning: To skip steps to save time, usually with sacrifice in quality
Example Sentence:
• He cut corners to finish early but missed important parts.
• She cut corners by not checking her work.
Other ways to say: Rush it, skip things
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from carpentry or racing where corners are skipped
Usage: Used when someone gives up doing it right to save time
24. Let sleeping dogs lie
Meaning: To not start trouble again, even if it means staying quiet
Example Sentence:
• He let sleeping dogs lie instead of bringing up the fight again.
• She let sleeping dogs lie and didn’t tell her friend.
Other ways to say: Leave it alone, don’t stir things up
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from the idea that waking a dog might cause trouble
Usage: Used when someone gives up the chance to speak up to keep peace
25. Fall on your sword
Meaning: To take blame or fail on purpose to help others
Example Sentence:
• He fell on his sword to protect his friend.
• She fell on her sword so the group wouldn’t get in trouble.
Other ways to say: Take full blame, sacrifice yourself
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from old times when knights would do this in shame
Usage: Used when someone accepts failure to save others
Quiz: Idioms About Sacrifice
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 “take one for the team” mean?
A) Take a nap
B) Do something hard to help the group
C) Play a game alone
2. If someone “bites the bullet,” what are they doing?
A) Eating lunch
B) Telling a funny story
C) Doing something hard without complaining
3. “Give the shirt off your back” means:
A) Lend your clothes
B) Be very generous and helpful
C) Forget your coat
4. What does “burn the candle at both ends” describe?
A) Saving energy
B) Working too hard or too long
C) Lighting a fire
5. If you “put your neck on the line,” what does it mean?
A) You are going to get a haircut
B) You are taking a big risk
C) You are tying a scarf
6. “Take the fall” means:
A) Fall down in gym class
B) Accept blame for something
C) Jump into leaves
7. When someone “throws themselves under the bus,” they are:
A) Jumping in front of a bus
B) Taking blame to help others
C) Running away
8. What does it mean to “pull your weight”?
A) Carry something heavy
B) Help out and do your part
C) Work out at the gym
9. “Step up to the plate” means:
A) Serve food
B) Take responsibility
C) Clean dishes
10. If you “walk a mile in someone’s shoes,” you are:
A) Trying on new sneakers
B) Copying their style
C) Understanding their feelings by thinking like them
Answer Key
- B) Do something hard to help the group
- C) Doing something hard without complaining
- B) Be very generous and helpful
- B) Working too hard or too long
- B) You are taking a big risk
- B) Accept blame for something
- B) Taking blame to help others
- B) Help out and do your part
- B) Take responsibility
- C) Understanding their feelings by thinking like them
Wrapping Up
Sacrifice means giving up something for others. These idioms show how people help, share, and care in different ways. From taking the blame to doing extra work, each phrase helps explain these actions in a simple way.
Learning these idioms helps us talk about care and teamwork. Use them when you want to show how people support each other, even when it’s hard.
