Change happens in many parts of our lives. It can mean starting something new, moving to a different place, or trying a new way of doing things. People use special phrases called idioms to talk about change. These idioms help make talking about change easier and more fun.
In this article, you will learn about idioms for change. They are common sayings that show how people feel or think about change. Knowing these idioms can help you understand stories better and make your own speaking and writing more interesting.
Idioms for Change
1. Turning over a new leaf
Meaning: Starting fresh or making a positive change.
Samples: After summer vacation, I turned over a new leaf and did my homework on time. / She turned over a new leaf by being kinder to her friends.
To Put it Another Way: Starting fresh. / Making a good change.
2. Break the ice
Meaning: To start something new and make people feel comfortable.
Samples: At the new school, John told a joke to break the ice. / We played a game to break the ice on the first day of class.
To Put it Another Way: Starting to feel relaxed. / Making a new beginning easy.
3. Change of heart
Meaning: Changing your mind about something.
Samples: I had a change of heart and decided to try the new sport. / After thinking more, she had a change of heart and said yes to the trip.
To Put it Another Way: Changing your mind. / Feeling differently.
4. A fresh start
Meaning: Beginning again in a new way.
Samples: Moving to a new town gave him a fresh start. / After the mistake, she got a fresh start and worked harder.
To Put it Another Way: Starting again. / Trying something new.
5. Shake things up
Meaning: To change the usual way of doing things.
Samples: The coach decided to shake things up by trying a new practice plan. / We need to shake things up to make the game more fun.
To Put it Another Way: Making a change. / Mixing things differently.
6. Out with the old, in with the new
Meaning: Getting rid of old things and welcoming new ones.
Samples: We cleaned the classroom and said out with the old, in with the new. / When I got a new phone, I thought out with the old, in with the new.
To Put it Another Way: Letting go of the past. / Bringing in new things.
7. Turn the page
Meaning: To move on from the past and start something new.
Samples: After the fight, they decided to turn the page and be friends again. / I want to turn the page and focus on my new goals.
To Put it Another Way: Moving forward. / Forgetting the past.
8. On the move
Meaning: Changing location or situation often.
Samples: My family is always on the move because of Dad’s job. / The team was on the move to a new stadium this season.
To Put it Another Way: Moving around. / Changing places.
9. Switch gears
Meaning: To change what you are doing or your focus.
Samples: We switched gears from playing outside to doing homework. / After lunch, the teacher switched gears and started science class.
To Put it Another Way: Changing focus. / Doing something different.
10. Turn over a new leaf
Meaning: To begin again with better habits.
Samples: After getting a bad grade, he turned over a new leaf and studied every night. / She turned over a new leaf by cleaning her room daily.
To Put it Another Way: Starting fresh. / Changing for the better.
11. Make a clean break
Meaning: To end something completely and start fresh.
Samples: After the argument, they made a clean break and stopped talking. / I made a clean break from bad habits and joined the club.
To Put it Another Way: Ending fully. / Starting over without looking back.
12. Blow the dust off
Meaning: To start using or doing something again after a long time.
Samples: I blew the dust off my bike and rode it around the park. / She blew the dust off her old piano and started to play again.
To Put it Another Way: Using something again. / Bringing something back to life.
13. Change horses in midstream
Meaning: To change plans or leaders while doing something.
Samples: Changing the project idea now is like changing horses in midstream. / They changed coaches in midstream of the season.
To Put it Another Way: Changing plans halfway. / Switching in the middle.
14. New kid on the block
Meaning: Someone new to a place or group.
Samples: Jake is the new kid on the block and just joined our class. / The new store is the new kid on the block in the mall.
To Put it Another Way: A newcomer. / Someone who just arrived.
15. Change of pace
Meaning: Doing something different from usual.
Samples: Playing soccer was a nice change of pace from schoolwork. / We took a trip to the mountains for a change of pace.
To Put it Another Way: Doing something different. / A break from routine.
16. Turn things around
Meaning: To change a bad situation into a good one.
Samples: The team turned things around and won the game after losing at first. / She turned her grades around by studying more.
To Put it Another Way: Improving. / Making a positive change.
17. Start from scratch
Meaning: To begin again without using anything from before.
Samples: After the computer crashed, I had to start my work from scratch. / We started the game from scratch because the rules changed.
To Put it Another Way: Beginning again. / Starting fresh without help.
18. Change the tune
Meaning: To change your opinion or attitude.
Samples: After hearing the news, he changed the tune and joined the team. / She changed her tune about homework and started to like it.
To Put it Another Way: Changing opinion. / Seeing things differently.
19. New blood
Meaning: New people with fresh ideas or energy.
Samples: The school needs new blood to help with the student council. / The team added new blood to improve the game.
To Put it Another Way: New people. / Fresh energy.
20. Switch things up
Meaning: To change the way things are done.
Samples: We switched things up and played a new game at recess. / The teacher switched things up by using videos in class.
To Put it Another Way: Making changes. / Doing things differently.
21. Change lanes
Meaning: To change direction or career.
Samples: After college, he changed lanes and became an artist instead of a scientist. / She changed lanes from soccer to swimming last year.
To Put it Another Way: Changing direction. / Trying something new.
22. Hit the reset button
Meaning: To start over and fix mistakes.
Samples: The coach told the team to hit the reset button and try again. / After the fight, they hit the reset button and became friends again.
To Put it Another Way: Starting over. / Fixing things.
23. The winds of change
Meaning: Signs that something new is coming.
Samples: The new principal brought the winds of change to the school. / The town felt the winds of change when the park was built.
To Put it Another Way: Signs of change. / New things coming.
24. On a new track
Meaning: Doing things in a new way.
Samples: After the summer, he was on a new track and worked harder. / The company went on a new track with fresh ideas.
To Put it Another Way: A new path. / Doing things differently.
25. A breath of fresh air
Meaning: Something new and refreshing.
Samples: The new student was a breath of fresh air in class. / The new game was a breath of fresh air for everyone.
To Put it Another Way: Something new. / A nice change.
26. Turn the tables
Meaning: To change a situation to your advantage.
Samples: In the game, they turned the tables and won at the last minute. / She turned the tables by answering the hard question first.
To Put it Another Way: Changing to win. / Getting the upper hand.
27. Jump on the bandwagon
Meaning: To join others in doing something popular.
Samples: Everyone was playing the new game, so I jumped on the bandwagon. / She jumped on the bandwagon and joined the cheer team.
To Put it Another Way: Joining others. / Doing what is popular.
28. Change your stripes
Meaning: To change your habits or character.
Samples: He promised to change his stripes and be more helpful. / After practice, she changed her stripes and became more patient.
To Put it Another Way: Changing habits. / Becoming better.
29. Flip the script
Meaning: To change the usual way things happen.
Samples: The movie flipped the script with a surprise ending. / The team flipped the script and won after losing for weeks.
To Put it Another Way: Changing the plan. / Doing something different.
30. Make waves
Meaning: To cause change or start something new.
Samples: The new student made waves by starting a club. / She made waves in the class by sharing new ideas.
To Put it Another Way: Starting change. / Causing excitement.
Find the Topics: Idioms for Change
Last week, our school decided to shake things up by changing the lunch schedule. At first, many students were confused, but it was a good change of pace from the usual routine. I was the new kid on the block, so I tried to break the ice by joining a game at recess.
My friend Sarah had a change of heart about the school play. She wanted to be in it, even though she was nervous. I told her it’s okay to turn the page and try something new. During practice, our coach told us to switch gears and focus on teamwork.
After a few days, it felt like we were all ready for a fresh start. I guess sometimes it takes a little change to make things better!
Your Task:
Underline or list all the idioms for change you found in the story.
Answer Key
- Shake things up
- Change of pace
- New kid on the block
- Break the ice
- Change of heart
- Turn the page
- Switch gears
- Fresh start
Conclusion
Idioms for change help us talk about new beginnings and how things can be different. These sayings make it easier to understand how people feel when things are not the same as before.
By learning these idioms, you can explain changes better in your writing and speaking. Whether you are turning the page or shaking things up, using these phrases can help you share your ideas clearly and simply.
