Writing can be a fun way to share your thoughts. It can also be a challenge when you don’t know what to say. People often use special phrases, called idioms, to talk about writing. These idioms help explain how writing feels or what someone is trying to do when they write. They make language more interesting and easier to understand.
In this article, we will explore idioms about writing. You’ll learn what they mean and how to use them. These idioms are common in books, movies, and everyday talk. Once you know them, you might even start using them yourself!
Idioms About Writing
1. Put pen to paper
Meaning: To start writing
Example Sentence:
• It’s time to put pen to paper and start the story.
• She put pen to paper to begin her thank-you note.
Other ways to say: Start writing, begin a draft
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from when people wrote with pens and paper before using computers.
Usage: Used when someone begins writing something.
2. Write off the top of your head
Meaning: To write something quickly without planning
Example Sentence:
• I wrote the poem off the top of my head.
• He answered the question off the top of his head.
Other ways to say: Quickly write, guess-write
Fun Fact/Origin: Refers to saying or writing without much thought.
Usage: Used when someone writes without thinking too much.
3. By the book
Meaning: To follow rules exactly
Example Sentence:
• She wrote the essay by the book.
• We did the writing project by the book.
Other ways to say: Follow the rules, stick to the guide
Fun Fact/Origin: Refers to rule books or manuals.
Usage: Used when someone follows instructions closely.
4. Get the ball rolling
Meaning: To begin something
Example Sentence:
• Let’s get the ball rolling on our writing project.
• The teacher got the ball rolling by giving us a topic.
Other ways to say: Start things, begin
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from sports, where the game starts when the ball moves.
Usage: Used when beginning any activity, including writing.
5. Read between the lines
Meaning: To understand a hidden meaning
Example Sentence:
• I had to read between the lines to find the author’s message.
• She read between the lines and guessed the secret.
Other ways to say: Look deeper, understand more
Fun Fact/Origin: Refers to things not written but still understood.
Usage: Used when someone finds meaning not clearly said.
6. The pen is mightier than the sword
Meaning: Words are stronger than violence
Example Sentence:
• He believes the pen is mightier than the sword.
• She used her writing to bring change.
Other ways to say: Words have power, writing can change things
Fun Fact/Origin: An old saying from the 1800s.
Usage: Used when writing or speaking is more powerful than fighting.
7. Put it in black and white
Meaning: To write something down
Example Sentence:
• We put the rules in black and white so everyone could see.
• The story was better once it was in black and white.
Other ways to say: Write it down, put on paper
Fun Fact/Origin: Refers to ink (black) on paper (white).
Usage: Used when something is written clearly.
8. Go back to the drawing board
Meaning: To start over
Example Sentence:
• My story didn’t make sense, so I went back to the drawing board.
• We need to go back to the drawing board and fix the ending.
Other ways to say: Start again, try something new
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from art and design, where people draw plans.
Usage: Used when starting over after something doesn’t work.
9. Put your thoughts into words
Meaning: To say or write what you think
Example Sentence:
• I tried to put my thoughts into words in my journal.
• He found it hard to put his feelings into words.
Other ways to say: Express, write how you feel
Fun Fact/Origin: Common phrase used when someone shares emotions in writing.
Usage: Used when writing or speaking about feelings or ideas.
10. Have a way with words
Meaning: To be good at using words
Example Sentence:
• She has a way with words and writes beautiful poems.
• He has a way with words and always writes great stories.
Other ways to say: Good writer, good speaker
Fun Fact/Origin: Common compliment for writers or speakers.
Usage: Used to describe someone who is good at writing or talking.
11. Put it in writing
Meaning: To write something down to make it official
Example Sentence:
• The teacher told us to put it in writing.
• Always put important things in writing.
Other ways to say: Write it down, record it
Fun Fact/Origin: Used to show proof or agreement
Usage: When something needs to be written to be trusted or remembered.
12. Write up a storm
Meaning: To write a lot in a short time
Example Sentence:
• She wrote up a storm during quiet time.
• He wrote up a storm and finished two stories.
Other ways to say: Write quickly, write a lot
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from the idea of a storm happening fast and strong
Usage: Used when someone writes quickly and with energy.
13. Writer’s block
Meaning: When you can’t think of what to write
Example Sentence:
• I had writer’s block and couldn’t start my essay.
• He got stuck with writer’s block before the test.
Other ways to say: Stuck, out of ideas
Fun Fact/Origin: A common problem for writers
Usage: Used when someone can’t think of anything to write.
14. Write someone off
Meaning: To stop thinking someone or something is useful
Example Sentence:
• Don’t write off your story yet—it can still be great.
• They wrote him off too soon.
Other ways to say: Give up on, stop believing in
Fun Fact/Origin: Often used in sports or business too
Usage: Used when someone is not expected to do well.
15. Pen a letter
Meaning: To write a letter
Example Sentence:
• She penned a letter to her grandma.
• He penned a thank-you note for his teacher.
Other ways to say: Write a letter, send a note
Fun Fact/Origin: “Pen” used to be the only way to write
Usage: Used when writing letters or notes.
16. In so many words
Meaning: To say something directly
Example Sentence:
• She told me, in so many words, to try again.
• He said no, in so many words.
Other ways to say: Clearly say, directly speak
Fun Fact/Origin: Shows someone didn’t use exact words but meant it
Usage: Used when something is said clearly, even if not word-for-word.
17. Edit out
Meaning: To remove something from writing
Example Sentence:
• I edited out the last paragraph.
• She edited out the extra part of her story.
Other ways to say: Take away, delete
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from editing in books or movies
Usage: Used when cutting parts out of writing.
18. Write your own story
Meaning: To live life your own way
Example Sentence:
• You can write your own story—don’t copy others.
• He wants to write his own story and be different.
Other ways to say: Be yourself, choose your path
Fun Fact/Origin: Life is often seen as a story
Usage: Used to tell someone to take charge of their life.
19. Get it down on paper
Meaning: To write something before you forget
Example Sentence:
• Quick—get it down on paper!
• I had to get my dream down on paper.
Other ways to say: Jot it down, write it fast
Fun Fact/Origin: Often used for ideas or notes
Usage: Used when someone wants to save their thoughts.
20. The final word
Meaning: The last and most important opinion
Example Sentence:
• The teacher had the final word on the topic.
• My mom always has the final word at home.
Other ways to say: Last say, the decision
Fun Fact/Origin: Refers to last lines in books or talks
Usage: Used when someone makes the last choice or says the last thing.
21. Make your mark
Meaning: To do something important or be remembered
Example Sentence:
• She made her mark with her amazing poem.
• He made his mark by writing a great story.
Other ways to say: Stand out, leave a legacy
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from the idea of leaving a physical mark
Usage: Used when someone does something worth remembering.
22. Put words in someone’s mouth
Meaning: To say someone said something they didn’t
Example Sentence:
• Don’t put words in my mouth—I didn’t say that.
• He put words in her mouth during the argument.
Other ways to say: Misquote, twist words
Fun Fact/Origin: Used when people are misunderstood
Usage: Used when someone is wrongly quoted.
23. A page-turner
Meaning: A very exciting book
Example Sentence:
• That mystery was a real page-turner.
• I couldn’t stop reading—it was such a page-turner.
Other ways to say: Gripping book, exciting story
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from books you can’t stop flipping through
Usage: Used when a book is really good.
24. The story writes itself
Meaning: The story is easy to tell because it’s so clear
Example Sentence:
• The adventure was so fun, the story wrote itself.
• It was such a great moment, the story just wrote itself.
Other ways to say: Easy to tell, comes naturally
Fun Fact/Origin: Writers use this to describe easy writing
Usage: Used when something is easy to write about.
25. Ink still wet
Meaning: Something just finished
Example Sentence:
• The report was so new, the ink was still wet.
• His story was so fresh, it felt like the ink was still wet.
Other ways to say: Just finished, hot off the press
Fun Fact/Origin: From real ink that takes time to dry
Usage: Used when something was just written or made.
26. Put a spin on it
Meaning: To tell something in a special or different way
Example Sentence:
• She put a fun spin on her book report.
• He put his own spin on the story.
Other ways to say: Add a twist, change the view
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from storytelling and news reporting
Usage: Used when changing how a story is told.
27. Stick to the script
Meaning: To say or do only what is planned
Example Sentence:
• He stuck to the script during the play.
• She told me to stick to the script in my speech.
Other ways to say: Follow the plan, stay on track
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from acting, where actors follow scripts
Usage: Used when staying with what was written or planned.
28. Every word counts
Meaning: Each word is important
Example Sentence:
• Keep your story short—every word counts.
• In poems, every word counts.
Other ways to say: Choose words carefully, make words matter
Fun Fact/Origin: Often used in writing contests with limits
Usage: Used when writing needs to be clear and short.
29. Put it into perspective
Meaning: To explain something clearly
Example Sentence:
• She put it into perspective with her short story.
• His writing helped us see the truth.
Other ways to say: Explain better, make sense
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from how artists show depth in pictures
Usage: Used when writing helps people understand things.
30. In your own words
Meaning: To explain in the way you understand
Example Sentence:
• Please tell the story in your own words.
• I explained the rules in my own words.
Other ways to say: Rephrase, say it your way
Fun Fact/Origin: Common in school when summarizing
Usage: Used when someone tells or writes something using their own language.
31. Keep it short and sweet
Meaning: Don’t make it too long
Example Sentence:
• Keep the paragraph short and sweet.
• His note was short and sweet—and very kind.
Other ways to say: Be brief, make it quick
Fun Fact/Origin: Often used in writing and talking
Usage: Used when writing something short but nice.
32. Turn the page
Meaning: To move on from something
Example Sentence:
• After that bad grade, I turned the page and tried again.
• It’s time to turn the page and write something new.
Other ways to say: Move on, start fresh
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from books where a new page starts a new part
Usage: Used when someone is ready to start over.
33. The rest is history
Meaning: What happened after is well-known
Example Sentence:
• I wrote my first book, and the rest is history.
• He won the contest, and the rest is history.
Other ways to say: And everything changed, the story goes on
Fun Fact/Origin: Often said after something big happens
Usage: Used to say that the ending is known or important.
34. Judged by the cover
Meaning: Judging something by how it looks
Example Sentence:
• Don’t judge a book by its cover.
• Her story looked boring but was great—you can’t judge by the cover.
Other ways to say: Look deeper, don’t assume
Fun Fact/Origin: Taken from real books but used for people too
Usage: Used when reminding others not to make quick judgments.
35. Between the lines
Meaning: Hidden meaning in writing
Example Sentence:
• You have to read between the lines in that poem.
• There was a message between the lines in her letter.
Other ways to say: Look deeper, hidden message
Fun Fact/Origin: Often used in books and poetry
Usage: Used when the real meaning isn’t written clearly.
36. Cross the t’s and dot the i’s
Meaning: To be very careful in writing
Example Sentence:
• Be sure to cross the t’s and dot the i’s in your report.
• She always crosses the t’s and dots the i’s.
Other ways to say: Be neat, check everything
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from handwriting
Usage: Used when someone is being very careful with their work.
37. Blank slate
Meaning: A fresh start
Example Sentence:
• A new notebook is like a blank slate.
• After the mistake, I started with a blank slate.
Other ways to say: Fresh start, clean page
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from writing on clean chalkboards
Usage: Used when someone begins again without anything old in the way.
38. Make a long story short
Meaning: To tell only the important parts
Example Sentence:
• To make a long story short, we missed the bus.
• Make a long story short—we won the game.
Other ways to say: In short, to sum up
Fun Fact/Origin: Often used in storytelling
Usage: Used to tell something quickly.
39. Write history
Meaning: To do something important that people will remember
Example Sentence:
• She wrote history with her first book.
• That speech will write history.
Other ways to say: Make history, do something big
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from things that get remembered forever
Usage: Used when someone does something very special.
40. Put something on paper
Meaning: To write something down
Example Sentence:
• I had to put my idea on paper.
• She put her dream on paper in a story.
Other ways to say: Write it down, draw or note
Fun Fact/Origin: Used often for ideas, letters, and stories
Usage: Used when you start writing something you’ve been thinking.
41. Call it a day
Meaning: To stop working or writing
Example Sentence:
• I finished my chapter and called it a day.
• After writing for hours, I called it a day.
Other ways to say: Stop, take a break
Fun Fact/Origin: From when workers end their day
Usage: Used when ending a writing session or any task.
42. Set in stone
Meaning: Something that can’t be changed
Example Sentence:
• The story ending isn’t set in stone—we can fix it.
• My plan isn’t set in stone yet.
Other ways to say: Final, unchangeable
Fun Fact/Origin: From writing or carving into stone
Usage: Used when something is final or needs to stay the same.
43. On the same page
Meaning: To agree or understand together
Example Sentence:
• We were on the same page about the essay.
• The group got on the same page for the project.
Other ways to say: Agree, understand each other
Fun Fact/Origin: From reading the same part of a book
Usage: Used when people agree on ideas or work.
44. Write it off as a loss
Meaning: To forget something that didn’t work
Example Sentence:
• I wrote the story off as a loss and started fresh.
• We wrote the first draft off and tried again.
Other ways to say: Give up on, move on
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from accounting and business
Usage: Used when something is no longer useful.
45. Put the finishing touches
Meaning: To add final small changes
Example Sentence:
• I put the finishing touches on my poem.
• She added the last sentence and called it done.
Other ways to say: Finalize, wrap up
Fun Fact/Origin: Often used in art and design
Usage: Used when completing something with small details.
Quiz: Idioms About Writing
Instructions: Choose the correct meaning for each idiom. Each question has one correct answer. Use what you’ve learned from the idioms to find the best choice.
Question Key
1. What does “put pen to paper” mean?
A) To buy a notebook
B) To begin writing
C) To draw a picture
2. What does “writer’s block” mean?
A) A book about writing
B) A pencil case
C) A time when you can’t think of what to write
3. If someone “has a way with words,” what are they good at?
A) Drawing
B) Using words well
C) Cooking
4. What does “read between the lines” mean?
A) Skip lines while reading
B) Find hidden meaning
C) Make your writing neater
5. If your story is a “page-turner,” how do people feel about it?
A) They want to stop reading
B) They get sleepy
C) They can’t wait to see what happens next
6. What does “edit out” mean?
A) Add more words
B) Take something out of writing
C) Rewrite the whole paper
7. What does “write your own story” mean?
A) Copy someone else’s work
B) Make your own choices in life
C) Only write fiction
8. If someone says “in your own words,” what should you do?
A) Use a dictionary
B) Repeat it exactly
C) Explain it your way
9. What does “turn the page” mean?
A) Stop reading
B) Start a new part of life
C) Rip the book
10. What does “call it a day” mean?
A) Say the day of the week
B) Start something new
C) Stop working for now
11. What does “put it in black and white” mean?
A) Use colored pens
B) Write it down
C) Draw pictures
12. If someone “puts the finishing touches” on a story, what are they doing?
A) Starting the story
B) Adding small final changes
C) Erasing the whole thing
13. What does “make a long story short” mean?
A) Write a book
B) Summarize the main idea
C) Forget the story
14. If something is “set in stone,” what does that mean?
A) It cannot be changed
B) It’s made of rock
C) It’s a drawing
15. What does “on the same page” mean?
A) Reading the same book
B) Agreeing or understanding together
C) Using the same notebook
Answer Key
- B) To begin writing
- C) A time when you can’t think of what to write
- B) Using words well
- B) Find hidden meaning
- C) They can’t wait to see what happens next
- B) Take something out of writing
- B) Make your own choices in life
- C) Explain it your way
- B) Start a new part of life
- C) Stop working for now
- B) Write it down
- B) Adding small final changes
- B) Summarize the main idea
- A) It cannot be changed
- B) Agreeing or understanding together
Wrapping Up
Idioms about writing help us talk about stories, books, and even our own ideas in a fun way. These phrases make writing easier to understand and more interesting to talk about. Some idioms show how to start, others tell how to keep going, and many help us explain our thoughts.
Now that you’ve learned these idioms, you can use them in your own writing or when talking about books and stories. They’re a great way to make your words stronger and clearer.
