Our hearts race, our stomachs flip, we get butterflies or feel blue — isn’t it amazing how much our emotions color our world? Yet, these vivid feelings aren’t always easy to express, especially when you’re learning a new language. Enter English idioms, our secret weapons for making sense of this emotional roller coaster. Using these expressions, we can describe our feelings in rich, creative ways that straight-up vocabulary just can’t touch. So, are you ready to explore this heartland of expressive language?
Now, let’s dive in and uncover 25 emotionally-charged idioms to give your English a feeling of authenticity:
1. Over the moon: This means to be extremely happy or pleased.
Example: I was over the moon when I got the promotion.
2. Down in the dumps: This idiom describes feeling sad or depressed.
Example: After the breakup, she was down in the dumps for weeks.
3. Cold feet: This means to feel nervous or unsure about something you’ve planned to do.
Example: I was going to audition for the play, but I got cold feet at the last minute.
4. Green with envy: This refers to feeling jealous or desiring something someone else has.
Example: When he saw his neighbor’s new sports car, he was green with envy.
5. A heart of gold: This means someone is very kind and generous.
Example: My grandmother has a heart of gold, she always puts others before herself.
6. Wearing your heart on your sleeve: This means showing your feelings openly, rather than keeping them hidden.
Example: He wears his heart on his sleeve, so it’s easy to tell when he’s upset.
7. Fly off the handle: This means to suddenly become very angry.
Example: My boss can fly off the handle if things don’t go as planned.
8. On cloud nine: This refers to a state of extreme happiness or euphoria.
Example: When I heard I got the job, I was on cloud nine.
9. Cry your heart out: This idiom means to cry a lot or for a long time.
Example: I cried my heart out when my dog passed away.
10. Head over heels: This idiom is used to express being deeply in love with someone.
Example: I’ve been head over heels in love with her since the day we met.
11. Lost your nerve: This means to lose courage or confidence.
Example: I wanted to ask for a raise, but I lost my nerve.
12. At the end of your rope: This refers to a state of frustration or desperation.
Example: I was at the end of my rope after dealing with the stubborn customer.
13. Close to your heart: This means something that you care about deeply.
Example: The cause is close to her heart, as she’s dealt with the issue herself.
14. A sight for sore eyes: This phrase describes something or someone that you’re happy to see.
Example: After a long day of work, my bed is a sight for sore eyes.
15. Feel it in your bones: This idiom means to have a strong intuition about something.
Example: I can feel it in my bones that this is the right decision.
16. Get your wires crossed: This means to misunderstand or miscommunicate something.
Example: We must have gotten our wires crossed, I thought the meeting was at three.
17. Have a chip on your shoulder: This means to seem angry all the time because you feel that you have been treated unfairly or feel you are not as good as other people.
Example: He has a chip on his shoulder about not having been to university.
18. Have a soft spot for: This refers to feeling affection or tenderness for someone or something.
Example: Even though he’s a tough boss, he has a soft spot for his employees.
19. A piece of your mind: This means to tell someone how you really feel, usually in a negative way.
Example: I’m going to give him a piece of my mind for not inviting me to the party.
20. Keep your chin up: This phrase is used to encourage someone to stay optimistic in a difficult situation.
Example: Despite the setbacks, I told my team to keep their chins up.
21. A gut feeling: This means a sensation felt in the stomach area that something is right or wrong.
Example: I had a gut feeling that he was lying to me.
22. Bent out of shape: This refers to getting upset or offended.
Example: Don’t get so bent out of shape; I was only teasing.
23. Heart skips a beat: This means to be surprised or frightened suddenly.
Example: My heart skipped a beat when I saw the ghostly figure.
24. Tear your hair out: This idiom refers to feeling so worried or frustrated that you could do something extreme like pulling your own hair out.
Example: I was tearing my hair out trying to meet the deadline.
25. Walking on air: This means being extremely happy or elated.
Example: She’s been walking on air ever since she found out she’s going to be a mother.
See? Emotions in English can be fun and expressive, thanks to these idioms! Just remember, practice makes perfect. Don’t be afraid to wear your heart on your sleeve and give these a try in your daily conversations.
