Some people only think about themselves. In the USA, we often say they “look out for number one.” But there are many other ways to describe selfish people using idioms. These phrases make talking about behavior easier and more fun.
In this article, we will explore idioms that show what it means to be selfish. Each idiom comes with a short meaning and easy sentence examples. These sayings are often used by Americans in daily talk, news, and even TV shows. Let’s take a look at some idioms that show what it means to care only about yourself.
Idioms About Selfishness
1. Look out for number one
Meaning: To care only about yourself
Example Sentence:
• Jake always looks out for number one and never shares his snacks.
• She didn’t help anyone because she was too busy looking out for number one.
Other ways to say: Care only for yourself, be self-centered
Fun Fact/Origin: “Number one” means yourself. This idiom is common in American English.
Usage: Used when someone puts themselves before others.
2. Me, myself, and I
Meaning: Someone who only thinks about themselves
Example Sentence:
• All he talks about is me, myself, and I.
• It’s always about me, myself, and I with her.
Other ways to say: Self-focused, all about them
Fun Fact/Origin: Often used to joke about someone being too full of themselves.
Usage: Used to describe selfish or braggy people.
3. Only out for what they can get
Meaning: Someone who does things only for their own gain
Example Sentence:
• He helped just to win a prize—he’s only out for what he can get.
• Don’t trust her; she’s only out for what she can get.
Other ways to say: Selfish, greedy
Fun Fact/Origin: Often used when someone uses others for their own good.
Usage: Used when someone wants something only for themselves.
4. Out for number one
Meaning: Focused on their own needs
Example Sentence:
• She doesn’t care about the team; she’s out for number one.
• He quit helping and went out for number one.
Other ways to say: Think only of yourself, selfish
Fun Fact/Origin: A variation of “look out for number one” used across the USA.
Usage: Used when someone acts for their own benefit.
5. It’s all about them
Meaning: Someone acts like the world revolves around them
Example Sentence:
• He interrupted everyone. It’s all about him.
• She made the group project all about her.
Other ways to say: Self-centered, ego-driven
Fun Fact/Origin: Popular in school talk and social media.
Usage: Used when someone always needs attention.
6. Take the biggest piece of the pie
Meaning: To grab the most for yourself
Example Sentence:
• He always takes the biggest piece of the pie.
• She got more than the rest—again.
Other ways to say: Grab more than fair share, greedy
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from sharing real pies or food—used widely in American families.
Usage: Used when someone is greedy.
7. Have it all
Meaning: Wanting everything for yourself
Example Sentence:
• She wants to have it all and not share.
• He tries to have it all in every game.
Other ways to say: Be greedy, take everything
Fun Fact/Origin: Popular in movies and ads, often seen as selfish.
Usage: Used when someone won’t settle or share.
8. Grab all the glory
Meaning: Take all the credit
Example Sentence:
• He didn’t do much but grabbed all the glory.
• She always grabs the glory even if others help.
Other ways to say: Take credit, steal the spotlight
Fun Fact/Origin: Common in sports and school group work.
Usage: Used when someone doesn’t give others credit.
9. Hog the spotlight
Meaning: Take all the attention
Example Sentence:
• She hogged the spotlight at the party.
• He always hogs the spotlight at show-and-tell.
Other ways to say: Be showy, grab attention
Fun Fact/Origin: “Hog” is another word for pig—used when someone is greedy for attention.
Usage: Used when someone doesn’t share the stage or credit.
10. All take and no give
Meaning: Someone who never shares or helps
Example Sentence:
• He’s all take and no give in friendships.
• She takes help but never returns the favor.
Other ways to say: Selfish, unfair
Fun Fact/Origin: Used to teach fairness in relationships.
Usage: Used when someone takes from others but never gives back.
11. Dog in the manger
Meaning: Not using something but not letting others use it either
Example Sentence:
• He doesn’t play with the toy but won’t let anyone else have it—what a dog in the manger.
• She wouldn’t eat the cookies but stopped others from taking them.
Other ways to say: Selfish hoarder, won’t share
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from an old fable about a dog lying in hay, not eating it but keeping cows away.
Usage: Used when someone keeps others from enjoying something they don’t even want.
12. Step on others to get ahead
Meaning: Hurt others just to get what you want
Example Sentence:
• He stepped on others to win the contest.
• She will step on anyone to be the best.
Other ways to say: Use people, push past
Fun Fact/Origin: Common in business or sports talk.
Usage: Used when someone wins by being unfair or mean.
13. Butter their own bread
Meaning: Only do things that benefit themselves
Example Sentence:
• He’s just buttering his own bread with that deal.
• She helped because it would butter her own bread.
Other ways to say: Self-serving, benefit themselves
Fun Fact/Origin: From the idea that you take care of what you will eat first.
Usage: Used when someone does things only for personal gain.
14. Feather their own nest
Meaning: Make things better for themselves, often secretly
Example Sentence:
• He’s feathering his own nest while others struggle.
• She used her job to feather her own nest.
Other ways to say: Take advantage, gain quietly
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from birds lining their nests to make them cozy.
Usage: Used when someone uses a role or position for personal comfort.
15. Think the world owes them
Meaning: Act like they deserve everything without working
Example Sentence:
• He acts like the world owes him a prize.
• She didn’t study but still thinks the world owes her an A.
Other ways to say: Entitled, spoiled
Fun Fact/Origin: A popular phrase in parenting and school settings.
Usage: Used to describe people who expect everything without effort.
16. Only in it for themselves
Meaning: Join a group or activity just to benefit
Example Sentence:
• He joined the club but is only in it for himself.
• She’s only in the project for the prize.
Other ways to say: Selfish reason, not a team player
Fun Fact/Origin: Common in school, clubs, and work settings.
Usage: Used when someone doesn’t care about others’ success.
17. Throw others under the bus
Meaning: Blame others to save yourself
Example Sentence:
• She threw her friend under the bus to avoid trouble.
• He lied and threw his teammate under the bus.
Other ways to say: Blame others, save your own skin
Fun Fact/Origin: First used in American politics.
Usage: Used when someone hurts others to protect themselves.
18. Take more than their fair share
Meaning: Grab more than they should
Example Sentence:
• He always takes more than his fair share of pizza.
• She grabbed more than her fair share of class supplies.
Other ways to say: Greedy, not fair
Fun Fact/Origin: Common in family and classroom settings.
Usage: Used when someone doesn’t play fair.
19. All about me attitude
Meaning: Always thinking about themselves
Example Sentence:
• He has an all about me attitude.
• Everything she does shows her all about me attitude.
Other ways to say: Selfish, me-first mindset
Fun Fact/Origin: A phrase often used by teachers or parents.
Usage: Used when someone makes everything about them.
20. Take the credit and run
Meaning: Take praise and leave others behind
Example Sentence:
• He took the credit and ran when the project succeeded.
• She didn’t help much but took the credit and ran.
Other ways to say: Steal credit, be unfair
Fun Fact/Origin: A twist on “take the money and run.”
Usage: Used when someone takes credit but avoids responsibility.
21. Look down their nose at others
Meaning: Act like they are better than everyone
Example Sentence:
• He looks down his nose at kids who don’t wear fancy clothes.
• She looked down her nose at others who got lower grades.
Other ways to say: Snobby, stuck-up
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from turning your nose up—like you’re too good.
Usage: Used when someone acts proud or rude.
22. Take the lion’s share
Meaning: Take the biggest portion
Example Sentence:
• He took the lion’s share of the cake.
• She always grabs the lion’s share of prizes.
Other ways to say: Most of it, greedy
Fun Fact/Origin: From Aesop’s fables about lions taking the most.
Usage: Used when someone gets more than others.
23. Only help when it helps them
Meaning: Only give help when they get something too
Example Sentence:
• He helped just so he could win points with the teacher.
• She only helps if it helps her too.
Other ways to say: Selfish helper, help for gain
Fun Fact/Origin: Common in classroom teamwork complaints.
Usage: Used when someone helps for reward, not kindness.
24. Put themselves first
Meaning: Think of their own needs before anyone else
Example Sentence:
• She always puts herself first in every game.
• He never shares—he puts himself first.
Other ways to say: Self-centered, me-first
Fun Fact/Origin: Often used in group or team settings in the USA.
Usage: Used when someone doesn’t care about others.
25. Not lift a finger for others
Meaning: Refuse to help even in small ways
Example Sentence:
• He didn’t lift a finger to help clean up.
• She won’t lift a finger for her classmates.
Other ways to say: No help at all, lazy
Fun Fact/Origin: From the idea that helping takes just a finger—but they won’t even do that.
Usage: Used when someone refuses to help.
26. Take the cake (in a bad way)
Meaning: Be the worst at being selfish
Example Sentence:
• Of all the selfish things he did, this one takes the cake.
• That really takes the cake—she didn’t even thank us.
Other ways to say: Top it all, the worst
Fun Fact/Origin: Used to say something is the most extreme.
Usage: Used when someone does something very selfish.
27. The world revolves around them
Meaning: Think they are the center of everything
Example Sentence:
• She acts like the world revolves around her.
• He never listens because he thinks the world revolves around him.
Other ways to say: Self-important, full of yourself
Fun Fact/Origin: A popular American phrase from daily life.
Usage: Used when someone acts like they’re the most important.
28. Only play when they win
Meaning: Join only when it benefits them
Example Sentence:
• He only plays when he’s winning.
• She joined the game once it looked easy.
Other ways to say: Fair-weather friend, picky player
Fun Fact/Origin: Common in sports and school games.
Usage: Used when someone shows up only when things go their way.
29. Fish for compliments
Meaning: Try to get others to praise them
Example Sentence:
• She was fishing for compliments on her drawing.
• He always says he did bad, so people will say he did great.
Other ways to say: Seek praise, brag quietly
Fun Fact/Origin: Like fishing—you cast your line hoping for a catch (compliment).
Usage: Used when someone asks for praise without directly asking.
30. Me-first attitude
Meaning: Always wants to go first or get the best
Example Sentence:
• His me-first attitude made others upset.
• She pushed ahead in line with a me-first attitude.
Other ways to say: Selfish, greedy
Fun Fact/Origin: A phrase used often in schools to encourage fairness.
Usage: Used when someone always puts themselves first.
31. Never share the spotlight
Meaning: Refuse to give others attention or praise
Example Sentence:
• She never shares the spotlight with her group.
• He acts like he’s the only one who did the work.
Other ways to say: Take all the credit, show off
Fun Fact/Origin: From stage plays where the spotlight shines on one person.
Usage: Used when someone doesn’t give others a chance to shine.
32. Selfish to the core
Meaning: Deeply selfish in everything
Example Sentence:
• He’s selfish to the core—never thinks of others.
• She’s always been selfish to the core.
Other ways to say: Extremely selfish, not generous
Fun Fact/Origin: “To the core” means all the way inside.
Usage: Used when someone is selfish in every way.
33. All about the win
Meaning: Only care about success, not fairness
Example Sentence:
• She’s all about the win, even if it means cheating.
• He cares more about winning than playing fair.
Other ways to say: Win at all costs, cutthroat
Fun Fact/Origin: Used in sports and competitions in the USA.
Usage: Used when someone cares more about winning than being fair.
34. Always wants the last word
Meaning: Needs to be right or have the final say
Example Sentence:
• He always wants the last word in every argument.
• She kept talking until she got the last word.
Other ways to say: Bossy, controlling
Fun Fact/Origin: Common in family talks or classroom debates.
Usage: Used when someone can’t let others have the final say.
35. Take credit where credit isn’t due
Meaning: Claim success they didn’t earn
Example Sentence:
• He took credit where credit wasn’t due.
• She got praised for something she didn’t even do.
Other ways to say: Steal credit, unfair praise
Fun Fact/Origin: A popular complaint in group work.
Usage: Used when someone takes praise unfairly.
Quiz: Idioms About Selfishness
Instructions: Choose the best answer that shows what each idiom means. Think about how people in the USA talk and use these phrases in real life.
Question Key
1. What does “look out for number one” mean?
A) Help others first
B) Care only about yourself
C) Share your things
2. If someone “throws others under the bus,” what are they doing?
A) Helping a friend
B) Blaming someone else to stay safe
C) Riding on the school bus
3. What does it mean to “hog the spotlight”?
A) Act shy at a party
B) Take all the attention
C) Stand in the back
4. What does “dog in the manger” mean?
A) Someone who shares happily
B) Someone who doesn’t want something but won’t let others have it
C) A person playing with a dog
5. What does “take more than their fair share” mean?
A) Share evenly
B) Take less than others
C) Grab more than what’s fair
6. If someone has a “me-first attitude,” how do they act?
A) They wait their turn
B) They want to go first all the time
C) They let others go ahead
7. What does it mean when someone is “all take and no give”?
A) They help too much
B) They take help but never return the favor
C) They give more than they take
8. If someone “feathers their own nest,” what are they doing?
A) Making a birdhouse
B) Making things better for themselves
C) Cleaning their house
9. What does it mean to “grab all the glory”?
A) Give others the spotlight
B) Take credit even if others helped
C) Refuse to win
10. What does it mean to “never share the spotlight”?
A) Always cheer for teammates
B) Let others have a turn
C) Keep all the attention to yourself
11. What does “fish for compliments” mean?
A) Try to get others to praise you
B) Go fishing at a lake
C) Say nice things to someone else
12. If someone “thinks the world revolves around them,” what are they like?
A) They help everyone
B) They believe they are the most important
C) They care about animals
Answer Key
- B) Care only about yourself
- B) Blaming someone else to stay safe
- B) Take all the attention
- B) Someone who doesn’t want something but won’t let others have it
- C) Grab more than what’s fair
- B) They want to go first all the time
- B) They take help but never return the favor
- B) Making things better for themselves
- B) Take credit even if others helped
- C) Keep all the attention to yourself
- A) Try to get others to praise you
- B) They believe they are the most important
Wrapping Up
Selfishness can show up in many ways, and people in the USA have created lots of idioms to describe it. These phrases help explain how someone acts when they only think about themselves. Whether it’s grabbing too much, taking credit, or refusing to share, each idiom shows a different kind of selfish behavior.
Understanding these idioms helps us speak clearly and notice how actions affect others. Next time someone is being “all take and no give,” you’ll know just what to say.
