Writing is something we do every day. Whether we write stories, letters, or even texts, words help us share our thoughts and ideas. Sometimes, people use special phrases called idioms when talking about writing. Idioms are groups of words that have a meaning different from the words alone. They make language fun and interesting.
Idioms about writing help us understand how people feel about writing. They can describe the hard work, the excitement, or even the mistakes we make. Learning these idioms can help us enjoy writing more and explain our ideas better. In this article, you will discover 30 idioms about writing with easy meanings and examples.
Idioms about Writing
1. Put pen to paper
Meaning: To start writing something.
Samples: I finally put pen to paper and wrote my story. / She put pen to paper to finish her homework.
To Put it Another Way: I began writing. / I started my work.
2. Dot your i’s and cross your t’s
Meaning: To pay close attention to details when writing.
Samples: Make sure you dot your i’s and cross your t’s before turning in your essay. / He dotted his i’s and crossed his t’s to make his letter perfect.
To Put it Another Way: Check every little thing. / Be careful with details.
3. Write between the lines
Meaning: To understand the hidden meaning.
Samples: When she said she was fine, I had to write between the lines. / You need to write between the lines to get the real message.
To Put it Another Way: Understand the secret meaning. / See what is not said.
4. The writing on the wall
Meaning: A sign that something bad will happen.
Samples: The low grades were the writing on the wall for the team losing the game. / The empty classroom was the writing on the wall that school was canceled.
To Put it Another Way: A warning sign. / A clue that trouble is coming.
5. Write your own story
Meaning: To make your own choices in life.
Samples: You can write your own story by choosing what you want to do. / She decided to write her own story by trying new things.
To Put it Another Way: Make your own path. / Choose your own way.
6. Write off
Meaning: To decide something or someone is not important or a failure.
Samples: Don’t write off your chances just because it’s hard. / They wrote off the team after the first loss.
To Put it Another Way: Say it won’t work. / Ignore it as a failure.
7. Write up
Meaning: To make a full report or story.
Samples: The teacher asked me to write up what happened during the field trip. / She wrote up the rules for the game.
To Put it Another Way: Make a report. / Write the full story.
8. Write down
Meaning: To put words on paper to remember.
Samples: I wrote down the homework in my notebook. / Please write down your ideas before we start.
To Put it Another Way: Take notes. / Record on paper.
9. Write back
Meaning: To answer someone who wrote to you.
Samples: I will write back to my friend tomorrow. / She wrote back quickly to the letter.
To Put it Another Way: Reply in writing. / Send a written answer.
10. Write off the bat
Meaning: To write or say something immediately.
Samples: He wrote off the bat without thinking twice. / I wrote my name off the bat when asked.
To Put it Another Way: Right away. / Immediately.
11. In black and white
Meaning: Written clearly so there is no doubt.
Samples: The rules were written in black and white. / Everything was in black and white on the contract.
To Put it Another Way: Clear and written down. / Easy to understand.
12. On paper
Meaning: Written down, but not done or true in real life.
Samples: On paper, the plan looked perfect, but it didn’t work. / The team was strong on paper, but lost the game.
To Put it Another Way: Written but not real. / Just in words.
13. Put something in writing
Meaning: To write something officially.
Samples: The teacher asked to put the permission in writing. / We need to put the rules in writing for everyone.
To Put it Another Way: Write it down officially. / Make it clear in words.
14. Writing is on the wall
Meaning: A sign that something will end or fail.
Samples: The empty seats showed the writing was on the wall for the event. / The slow sales were the writing on the wall for the shop closing.
To Put it Another Way: A warning sign. / Trouble is coming.
15. Write a blank check
Meaning: To give permission to do anything needed.
Samples: The coach gave the player a blank check to try new moves. / She was given a blank check to organize the party.
To Put it Another Way: Allowed to do anything. / Full permission.
16. Write the book on something
Meaning: To be the expert on a subject.
Samples: He wrote the book on how to play chess well. / She writes the book on science experiments.
To Put it Another Way: Know a lot about something. / Be the expert.
17. Write off as
Meaning: To think someone or something is not worth attention.
Samples: Don’t write off the idea as silly. / They wrote him off as lazy, but he worked hard.
To Put it Another Way: Ignore or reject. / Think it’s not important.
18. Write on
Meaning: To continue writing.
Samples: I need to write on until the story is finished. / She wrote on even when tired.
To Put it Another Way: Keep writing. / Continue.
19. Write it down in stone
Meaning: To make a rule or decision final.
Samples: The plan isn’t written down in stone yet. / Our schedule is not written down in stone.
To Put it Another Way: Final and fixed. / Not changing.
20. Write a letter of recommendation
Meaning: To write a letter saying someone is good for a job or school.
Samples: My teacher wrote a letter of recommendation for my camp. / She asked her coach to write a letter of recommendation.
To Put it Another Way: Write a letter to help someone. / Say good things about someone.
21. Write a check
Meaning: To pay money using a written check.
Samples: I wrote a check to buy books. / He wrote a check to pay for the trip.
To Put it Another Way: Pay with a check. / Give money on paper.
22. Write a story
Meaning: To create a story with words.
Samples: She wrote a story about her summer vacation. / I wrote a story for my English class.
To Put it Another Way: Make up a story. / Tell a story with words.
23. Write a report
Meaning: To write facts or information about something.
Samples: We wrote a report on animals. / The class wrote a report about the school garden.
To Put it Another Way: Give information in writing. / Tell what happened.
24. Write a poem
Meaning: To create a poem.
Samples: I wrote a poem about friendship. / She wrote a poem for Mother’s Day.
To Put it Another Way: Make a poem. / Write a special kind of story with rhymes.
25. Write under pressure
Meaning: To write when you have little time or stress.
Samples: He wrote the essay under pressure before the deadline. / She writes under pressure during tests.
To Put it Another Way: Write quickly with stress. / Write fast before time runs out.
26. Write a draft
Meaning: To write the first version of something.
Samples: I wrote a draft of my story before the final one. / She wrote a draft of her letter.
To Put it Another Way: First try at writing. / Early version.
27. Write off the cuff
Meaning: To write or speak without preparing.
Samples: He wrote off the cuff during the meeting. / She wrote her speech off the cuff.
To Put it Another Way: Without planning. / On the spot.
28. Write it up for submission
Meaning: To finish writing something to send it in.
Samples: The student wrote up the report for submission to the teacher. / She wrote up her story for submission in the contest.
To Put it Another Way: Finish writing to turn in. / Ready to send.
29. Write your thoughts
Meaning: To put your ideas or feelings into words.
Samples: I wrote my thoughts about the book we read. / She writes her thoughts in her journal.
To Put it Another Way: Say what you think on paper. / Share your ideas in writing.
30. Write for a living
Meaning: To work as a writer for a job.
Samples: My uncle writes for a living as a journalist. / She hopes to write for a living someday.
To Put it Another Way: Work by writing. / Make money by writing.
Find the Topics: Idioms about Writing
Last week, our class had a fun writing project. First, our teacher told us to put pen to paper and start writing our stories. Some students found it hard, but I kept going and wrote on until my story was finished.
During the break, my friend said she had to write down all her ideas so she wouldn’t forget them. Our teacher reminded us to dot our i’s and cross our t’s to make sure everything was correct.
After we finished, the teacher said, “Don’t write off your first draft. Everyone needs to write up a better version after some changes.” I also had to write back to a letter from my pen pal in another state.
At the end of the day, I felt proud because I had learned how to write my own story in my own way.
Your task: Find and underline or list all 8 idioms about writing you see in the story.
Answer Key
- Put pen to paper
- Write on
- Write down
- Dot your i’s and cross your t’s
- Write off
- Write up
- Write back
- Write your own story
Conclusion
Idioms about writing help us talk about the process of creating words in a fun way. They show different steps like starting, checking, and finishing our work.
Knowing these idioms can make writing easier to understand and more enjoyable. Whether you’re putting pen to paper or writing your own story, these phrases help explain what writing feels like.
