Society is made up of all the people around us—our neighbors, classmates, and communities in the USA. It’s how people live, work, and grow together. Sometimes, things go well, and sometimes, there are problems. People often use funny or smart sayings, called idioms, to talk about these problems in a simple way. These idioms help us understand what’s going on around us, like issues about fairness, kindness, or pressure in daily life.
In this article, we will look at idioms that talk about society. Some idioms show what people think or feel about social issues. Others may add a bit of humor to tough situations. You’ll learn what these idioms mean, how to use them, and even where they came from. These sayings are common in the USA, and knowing them can help you sound more like a local. Let’s get started.
Idioms About Society
1. The powers that be
Meaning: People in charge or with authority
Example Sentence:
• The powers that be decided to close the playground early.
• The powers that be raised the school lunch prices.
Other ways to say: People in charge, those in control
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from the Bible, used to describe rulers or leaders.
Usage: Often used when talking about decisions made by leaders.
2. Toe the line
Meaning: To follow the rules
Example Sentence:
• If you want to stay on the team, you have to toe the line.
• The students toed the line during the field trip.
Other ways to say: Obey the rules, stay in line
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from sports or the military, where people had to stand in a straight line.
Usage: Used when someone is expected to behave properly.
3. Red tape
Meaning: Too many rules or delays from the government
Example Sentence:
• We couldn’t build the treehouse because of all the red tape.
• Getting the permit took forever due to red tape.
Other ways to say: Slow rules, too much paperwork
Fun Fact/Origin: Old government papers were tied with red ribbon.
Usage: Used when talking about delays in official processes.
4. Raise eyebrows
Meaning: To shock or surprise people
Example Sentence:
• His loud outfit raised eyebrows at school.
• The new rule raised a few eyebrows.
Other ways to say: Surprise people, get attention
Fun Fact/Origin: People raise eyebrows when confused or surprised.
Usage: Used when something odd or unexpected happens.
5. The squeaky wheel gets the grease
Meaning: The person who complains gets help
Example Sentence:
• She kept asking for help and got it—just like the squeaky wheel.
• In our class, the squeaky wheel gets the grease.
Other ways to say: Speak up to get help, the loudest gets noticed
Fun Fact/Origin: From old wagons where noisy wheels got fixed first.
Usage: Used when someone gets help because they kept asking.
6. Go with the flow
Meaning: To not fight change, just adjust
Example Sentence:
• He didn’t argue about the plan—he went with the flow.
• It rained, so we went with the flow and stayed indoors.
Other ways to say: Adapt, follow along
Fun Fact/Origin: Related to rivers flowing naturally.
Usage: Used when someone adjusts easily to changes.
7. A melting pot
Meaning: A mix of different cultures or people
Example Sentence:
• The city is a melting pot with many traditions.
• Our class is a melting pot of different backgrounds.
Other ways to say: Diverse group, mixed culture
Fun Fact/Origin: Used to describe the USA’s mix of people.
Usage: Used to describe places with people from different cultures.
8. Rat race
Meaning: Busy life with no rest, often about work or school
Example Sentence:
• Dad says the work rat race is tiring.
• The morning traffic felt like a rat race.
Other ways to say: Daily grind, fast-paced life
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from lab rats running endlessly in mazes.
Usage: Used when people are stressed from daily routines.
9. Elephant in the room
Meaning: A big issue no one wants to talk about
Example Sentence:
• The fight was the elephant in the room at dinner.
• Nobody mentioned the test scores—it was the elephant in the room.
Other ways to say: Big issue, unspoken problem
Fun Fact/Origin: An elephant is big—hard to ignore but people pretend it’s not there.
Usage: Used when people avoid a serious topic.
10. Call the shots
Meaning: To be the one who makes decisions
Example Sentence:
• In our group, Amy calls the shots.
• The coach called the shots during practice.
Other ways to say: Be the boss, make the rules
Fun Fact/Origin: From shooting sports or military commands.
Usage: Used when someone has control over decisions.
11. Break the mold
Meaning: To do something different than usual
Example Sentence:
• She broke the mold by starting a school club no one had before.
• The new student broke the mold with his creative ideas.
Other ways to say: Be different, stand out
Fun Fact/Origin: A mold shapes things. Breaking it means doing things in a new way.
Usage: Used to describe someone who changes how things are done.
12. Keep up with the Joneses
Meaning: Trying to have what others have
Example Sentence:
• They bought a new car just to keep up with the Joneses.
• Don’t stress about your phone. You don’t need to keep up with the Joneses.
Other ways to say: Compete with neighbors, copy others
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from a comic strip about a family named the Joneses.
Usage: Used when someone tries to match others in money or things.
13. Fall through the cracks
Meaning: To be missed or forgotten
Example Sentence:
• Some students fall through the cracks without enough help.
• He didn’t get the invitation—it must’ve fallen through the cracks.
Other ways to say: Get overlooked, be missed
Fun Fact/Origin: Cracks in a system can let small things slip by.
Usage: Used when someone or something is forgotten or ignored.
14. Jump on the bandwagon
Meaning: To join something popular
Example Sentence:
• Everyone jumped on the bandwagon when the new game came out.
• She jumped on the bandwagon and started the new trend too.
Other ways to say: Follow the trend, copy the crowd
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from parades where people would jump on the bandwagon for fun.
Usage: Used when someone joins a popular idea or group.
15. On the same page
Meaning: Agreeing with someone
Example Sentence:
• The team was on the same page about the project.
• My parents and I are on the same page about bedtime.
Other ways to say: Agree, think alike
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from reading together and turning pages at the same time.
Usage: Used when people share the same idea or plan.
16. Go against the grain
Meaning: To do the opposite of what’s normal
Example Sentence:
• It goes against the grain to wear pajamas to school.
• Speaking up in class went against the grain for him.
Other ways to say: Be different, not follow the crowd
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from cutting wood—the wrong way feels rough.
Usage: Used when someone acts differently than most people.
17. Burning the candle at both ends
Meaning: Doing too much and getting tired
Example Sentence:
• She was burning the candle at both ends with homework and chores.
• He got sick from burning the candle at both ends.
Other ways to say: Overworking, doing too much
Fun Fact/Origin: Candles burn faster if lit from both ends.
Usage: Used when someone is tired from doing too much.
18. Bite the hand that feeds you
Meaning: To hurt someone who helps you
Example Sentence:
• He bit the hand that fed him by being rude to his coach.
• Don’t bite the hand that feeds you—your teacher is trying to help.
Other ways to say: Be ungrateful, turn on someone helpful
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from the idea of pets biting their owner.
Usage: Used when someone mistreats a helper.
19. Put yourself in someone else’s shoes
Meaning: Imagine how another person feels
Example Sentence:
• Try to put yourself in her shoes—she had a tough day.
• He put himself in his friend’s shoes and understood the problem.
Other ways to say: Be understanding, see someone’s view
Fun Fact/Origin: Wearing someone’s shoes helps imagine their journey.
Usage: Used when asking for empathy or kindness.
20. Throw someone under the bus
Meaning: To blame or hurt someone to save yourself
Example Sentence:
• He threw his friend under the bus to avoid trouble.
• She threw her partner under the bus during the group project.
Other ways to say: Blame others, let someone take the fall
Fun Fact/Origin: The phrase paints a strong image of betrayal.
Usage: Used when someone treats another unfairly to protect themselves.
21. A tough pill to swallow
Meaning: Something hard to accept
Example Sentence:
• Losing the contest was a tough pill to swallow.
• It was a tough pill to swallow when the rules changed.
Other ways to say: Hard truth, painful fact
Fun Fact/Origin: Pills can be hard to take—just like some truths.
Usage: Used when dealing with something difficult or disappointing.
22. Pulling strings
Meaning: Using power or connections to get something
Example Sentence:
• His uncle pulled strings to get him the job.
• She pulled some strings and got front-row tickets.
Other ways to say: Use connections, get help behind the scenes
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from puppets controlled by strings.
Usage: Used when people get special help from someone with power.
23. Fight fire with fire
Meaning: To use the same methods as your opponent
Example Sentence:
• They fought fire with fire by making louder signs at the protest.
• She fought fire with fire when others were being unfair.
Other ways to say: Use similar tactics, push back equally
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from firefighters sometimes using controlled fire to stop wildfires.
Usage: Used when responding strongly to a problem.
24. Hold your tongue
Meaning: To stay quiet when you want to speak
Example Sentence:
• He held his tongue even though he was upset.
• She held her tongue during the meeting.
Other ways to say: Stay quiet, don’t talk back
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from the idea of stopping words by grabbing your tongue.
Usage: Used when someone chooses not to speak out.
25. Behind closed doors
Meaning: In private, not in public
Example Sentence:
• The decision was made behind closed doors.
• Behind closed doors, they were having a serious talk.
Other ways to say: In secret, privately
Fun Fact/Origin: Closed doors mean no one else can see or hear.
Usage: Used when things are kept hidden or quiet.
26. Face the music
Meaning: Accept the consequences
Example Sentence:
• He had to face the music for not doing his homework.
• She broke the rule and faced the music.
Other ways to say: Deal with it, take the blame
Fun Fact/Origin: May come from soldiers standing to music before punishment.
Usage: Used when someone must accept what’s coming.
27. Out of touch
Meaning: Not understanding what others are feeling
Example Sentence:
• The rules felt out of touch with what students needed.
• He’s out of touch with today’s trends.
Other ways to say: Not connected, unaware
Fun Fact/Origin: Being out of touch means you’re not feeling what others do.
Usage: Used when someone doesn’t relate to others’ views.
28. Under the table
Meaning: Secret or illegal
Example Sentence:
• They paid him under the table to avoid taxes.
• That deal sounds under the table.
Other ways to say: In secret, off the record
Fun Fact/Origin: Money handed under a table was often hidden.
Usage: Used when something isn’t done openly or legally.
29. Hit close to home
Meaning: To affect someone personally
Example Sentence:
• The story about bullying hit close to home.
• That movie hit close to home for many families.
Other ways to say: Personal, emotional
Fun Fact/Origin: Things that happen near home feel more real.
Usage: Used when something feels very personal.
30. Big brother is watching
Meaning: Someone is always watching or controlling
Example Sentence:
• With cameras everywhere, it feels like Big Brother is watching.
• In school, it felt like Big Brother was always watching.
Other ways to say: Always being watched, controlled
Fun Fact/Origin: From a book called 1984 about total control.
Usage: Used when people feel watched or not free.
31. Crack down on
Meaning: To take strong action to stop something
Example Sentence:
• The school cracked down on cheating.
• Police cracked down on speeding in the neighborhood.
Other ways to say: Get strict, take action
Fun Fact/Origin: To “crack down” means to apply pressure or force.
Usage: Used when authorities stop bad behavior strongly.
32. Bend the rules
Meaning: To not follow rules exactly
Example Sentence:
• He bent the rules to let us play longer.
• They bent the rules for the special event.
Other ways to say: Be flexible, not strict
Fun Fact/Origin: Bending something means it changes shape but doesn’t break.
Usage: Used when someone makes small exceptions to rules.
33. Keep your nose clean
Meaning: Stay out of trouble
Example Sentence:
• He’s been keeping his nose clean since his last warning.
• Stay quiet and keep your nose clean during lunch.
Other ways to say: Stay out of trouble, behave
Fun Fact/Origin: A clean nose means not getting into messy problems.
Usage: Used when someone is trying to behave well.
34. Get the short end of the stick
Meaning: To get a bad deal
Example Sentence:
• She got the short end of the stick when her chores doubled.
• He felt like he got the short end of the stick during the game.
Other ways to say: Be treated unfairly, get the bad deal
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from drawing sticks—short one means losing.
Usage: Used when someone is treated worse than others.
35. Read between the lines
Meaning: Understand the hidden meaning
Example Sentence:
• Read between the lines—she’s not happy.
• He didn’t say it, but reading between the lines, he was upset.
Other ways to say: Understand the hint, see the truth
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from secret messages hidden between printed lines.
Usage: Used when there’s more meaning than what’s said.
36. Blow the whistle
Meaning: To report something wrong
Example Sentence:
• She blew the whistle on the unfair treatment.
• A student blew the whistle on cheating in class.
Other ways to say: Tell on, report
Fun Fact/Origin: Refers to sports, where refs blow whistles to stop play.
Usage: Used when someone reports bad or illegal actions.
37. Have a chip on your shoulder
Meaning: Always ready to argue or feel hurt
Example Sentence:
• He has a chip on his shoulder about losing the game.
• Don’t walk around with a chip on your shoulder.
Other ways to say: Be easily upset, hold a grudge
Fun Fact/Origin: In the past, people would place a chip of wood on their shoulder to dare others to knock it off.
Usage: Used when someone seems ready for a fight or upset.
38. Put up a front
Meaning: To hide true feelings
Example Sentence:
• He put up a front like everything was fine.
• She smiled, but it was just a front.
Other ways to say: Hide feelings, pretend
Fun Fact/Origin: A front is like a cover that hides what’s behind.
Usage: Used when people act okay even if they’re not.
39. Get off on the wrong foot
Meaning: Start something badly
Example Sentence:
• They got off on the wrong foot on the first day of school.
• The meeting got off on the wrong foot when no one had notes.
Other ways to say: Start badly, begin in trouble
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from marching—starting on the wrong foot messes up rhythm.
Usage: Used when things begin with problems.
40. Air your dirty laundry
Meaning: Talk about private problems in public
Example Sentence:
• Don’t air your dirty laundry on social media.
• They aired their dirty laundry during the class presentation.
Other ways to say: Share private issues, tell secrets
Fun Fact/Origin: Dirty laundry is supposed to stay private, just like personal issues.
Usage: Used when people tell things that should stay private.
Quiz: Idioms About Society
Instructions: Choose the correct answer for each question. Each question has only one right answer. Think about the meaning of the idiom and how it might be used in daily life in the USA.
Question Key
1. What does “toe the line” mean?
A) Say something rude
B) Follow the rules
C) Start a race
2. If someone says “the elephant in the room,” what do they mean?
A) A funny joke
B) A large animal
C) A big problem no one wants to talk about
3. What does “call the shots” mean?
A) Take pictures
B) Be in charge
C) Get vaccinated
4. When someone is “burning the candle at both ends,” they are:
A) Making crafts
B) Getting too much sleep
C) Doing too much and getting tired
5. What does it mean to “jump on the bandwagon”?
A) Ride a wagon
B) Join something because it’s popular
C) Watch a parade
6. What does “fall through the cracks” mean?
A) Someone slipped on the sidewalk
B) Something was forgotten or missed
C) A paper got ripped
7. If you “put yourself in someone else’s shoes,” what are you doing?
A) Borrowing shoes
B) Playing dress-up
C) Trying to understand how someone feels
8. What does “red tape” mean?
A) A red ribbon
B) Confusing rules that slow things down
C) A party decoration
9. When you “throw someone under the bus,” you are:
A) Helping them
B) Protecting them
C) Blaming them to save yourself
10. What does “keep up with the Joneses” mean?
A) Compete with neighbors
B) Play with a friend named Jones
C) Walk faster
11. If someone “breaks the mold,” what did they do?
A) Followed the crowd
B) Did something new or different
C) Broke a bowl
12. What does “air your dirty laundry” mean?
A) Do chores
B) Talk about private problems in public
C) Clean your clothes
13. What does “get the short end of the stick” mean?
A) Win a prize
B) Be treated unfairly
C) Pick a lucky stick
14. If someone “reads between the lines,” they are:
A) Reading fast
B) Finding a secret meaning
C) Skipping words
15. What does “put up a front” mean?
A) Build a fence
B) Show your real feelings
C) Pretend everything is okay
Answer Key
- B) Follow the rules
- C) A big problem no one wants to talk about
- B) Be in charge
- C) Doing too much and getting tired
- B) Join something because it’s popular
- B) Something was forgotten or missed
- C) Trying to understand how someone feels
- B) Confusing rules that slow things down
- C) Blaming them to save yourself
- A) Compete with neighbors
- B) Did something new or different
- B) Talk about private problems in public
- B) Be treated unfairly
- B) Finding a secret meaning
- C) Pretend everything is okay
Wrapping Up
Idioms about society help us talk about how people act, feel, and live together. These short phrases make it easier to share big ideas in simple ways. From problems at school to funny moments at home, these idioms are part of everyday talk in the USA.
Learning them can help you understand others better—and help others understand you too. Use them when speaking or writing to sound more natural and clear.
