Sweating usually happens when we are hot, working hard, or feeling nervous. It’s something everyone does, but instead of just saying “I’m sweating,” people often use idioms. Idioms are phrases that use fun or creative words to describe what’s really going on.
For example, someone might say “I’m sweating bullets” instead of “I’m really nervous.” These idioms make it easier to explain how you feel in a funny or clear way. In this article, you’ll learn 30 idioms that describe sweating, whether it’s from heat, hard work, or stress.
Idioms for Sweating
1. Sweating bullets
Meaning: Very nervous or scared.
Samples: I was sweating bullets before the test. / He was sweating bullets while waiting for his turn.
To Put it Another Way: Really nervous.
2. Break a sweat
Meaning: Start to sweat from effort or stress.
Samples: I didn’t even break a sweat in gym today. / She broke a sweat during the race.
To Put it Another Way: Work hard or feel stressed.
3. Pouring sweat
Meaning: Sweating a lot.
Samples: I was pouring sweat after running laps. / He was pouring sweat in the hot sun.
To Put it Another Way: Sweating heavily.
4. Work up a sweat
Meaning: Start sweating from hard activity.
Samples: We worked up a sweat playing soccer. / She worked up a sweat doing chores.
To Put it Another Way: Got sweaty from moving.
5. Drenched in sweat
Meaning: Covered in sweat.
Samples: After the hike, I was drenched in sweat. / He came back drenched in sweat.
To Put it Another Way: Completely sweaty.
6. Sweat it out
Meaning: Wait nervously or work through something hard.
Samples: I had to sweat it out while waiting for the results. / We sweated it out during the last minutes of the game.
To Put it Another Way: Feel worried or work through stress.
7. Break out in a sweat
Meaning: Suddenly start sweating from fear or stress.
Samples: I broke out in a sweat when I heard my name. / She broke out in a sweat before going on stage.
To Put it Another Way: Started sweating from nerves.
8. Sweating like a pig
Meaning: Sweating a lot (said in a silly way).
Samples: I was sweating like a pig in the sun. / He was sweating like a pig after gym.
To Put it Another Way: Sweating a ton.
9. Not a drop of sweat
Meaning: Didn’t get tired or stressed.
Samples: She finished her speech without a drop of sweat. / He lifted the bag with not a drop of sweat.
To Put it Another Way: Stayed calm and cool.
10. Sweat pouring down
Meaning: Sweat running down your face or body.
Samples: I had sweat pouring down my back. / He had sweat pouring down after practice.
To Put it Another Way: Really sweaty.
11. Feel the heat
Meaning: Feeling pressure or stress.
Samples: I started to feel the heat during the test. / He felt the heat from the coach.
To Put it Another Way: Felt stressed or under pressure.
12. Cold sweat
Meaning: Sweat caused by fear or nerves, not heat.
Samples: I woke up in a cold sweat after the bad dream. / She was in a cold sweat before the audition.
To Put it Another Way: Sweating from fear or stress.
13. Sweat like crazy
Meaning: Sweat a lot from hard work or heat.
Samples: We were sweating like crazy at the track. / He sweated like crazy while dancing.
To Put it Another Way: Very sweaty.
14. Sweat trickled down
Meaning: A small stream of sweat.
Samples: Sweat trickled down my face in the sun. / I felt sweat trickle down my neck.
To Put it Another Way: Light but noticeable sweat.
15. Dripping with sweat
Meaning: So sweaty that drops are falling.
Samples: I was dripping with sweat after soccer. / She was dripping with sweat on the hike.
To Put it Another Way: Extremely sweaty.
16. Sweating buckets
Meaning: Sweating a huge amount.
Samples: He was sweating buckets before the test. / I was sweating buckets during PE.
To Put it Another Way: Sweating a ton.
17. Not sweating it
Meaning: Not worried or nervous.
Samples: I’m not sweating it I studied hard. / She’s not sweating it because she’s ready.
To Put it Another Way: Staying calm and confident.
18. Sweat rolling off
Meaning: Sweat moving down your skin.
Samples: Sweat was rolling off my forehead. / His arms had sweat rolling off them.
To Put it Another Way: Clearly sweating a lot.
19. Worked up a good sweat
Meaning: Exercised or worked hard enough to sweat.
Samples: We worked up a good sweat playing tag. / He worked up a good sweat helping in the yard.
To Put it Another Way: Got sweaty from effort.
20. Covered in sweat
Meaning: Entire body is sweaty.
Samples: After the race, I was covered in sweat. / He came in covered in sweat.
To Put it Another Way: Very sweaty.
21. Broke a nervous sweat
Meaning: Started sweating due to fear or worry.
Samples: I broke a nervous sweat before presenting. / She broke a nervous sweat during the quiz.
To Put it Another Way: Started sweating from stress.
22. Sweat beads formed
Meaning: Small drops of sweat appeared.
Samples: Sweat beads formed on his forehead. / Her nose had tiny sweat beads.
To Put it Another Way: Small signs of sweating.
23. Sweat streaming down
Meaning: Sweat flowing like water.
Samples: Sweat was streaming down my face. / He had sweat streaming down his neck.
To Put it Another Way: Sweat flowing like a small stream.
24. Broke into a sweat
Meaning: Suddenly began sweating.
Samples: I broke into a sweat right before the race. / She broke into a sweat walking up the hill.
To Put it Another Way: Started sweating quickly.
25. Worked up a lather
Meaning: Got really sweaty from working hard.
Samples: He worked up a lather cleaning the garage. / She worked up a lather in gym class.
To Put it Another Way: Sweaty from hard effort.
26. Wiped the sweat off
Meaning: Removed sweat with your hand or a towel.
Samples: I wiped the sweat off my face. / He wiped the sweat off his brow.
To Put it Another Way: Cleaned away sweat.
27. Sweat clinging to clothes
Meaning: Clothes sticking from being wet with sweat.
Samples: My shirt had sweat clinging to it. / His jersey was soaked, sweat clinging everywhere.
To Put it Another Way: Clothes stuck from sweat.
28. Sweat dripping down
Meaning: Drops of sweat falling.
Samples: Sweat was dripping down his nose. / I had sweat dripping down my chin.
To Put it Another Way: Drops of sweat falling off.
29. Sweat stung my eyes
Meaning: Sweat made your eyes hurt.
Samples: I wiped my face because the sweat stung my eyes. / His sweat stung his eyes during the run.
To Put it Another Way: Sweat made it hard to see.
30. Showered in sweat
Meaning: So sweaty it feels like water was poured on you.
Samples: After practice, I felt showered in sweat. / He was showered in sweat after helping in the yard.
To Put it Another Way: Very, very sweaty.
Find the Topics: Idioms for Sweating
Activity: “Race Day Heat”
It was Race Day at Lincoln Elementary, and the sun was blazing. As soon as the whistle blew, Mateo ran his fastest. After two laps, he was pouring sweat. His shirt was clinging with sweat, and he felt sweat streaming down his back.
“I’m working up a sweat for real,” he joked to his friend Kayla, who was also dripping with sweat. At the finish line, Mateo said, “That last lap sweat stung my eyes.” Kayla laughed, wiping sweat off her forehead, saying, “I’m sweating buckets, but we did it!”
Later, while resting under a tree, Mateo whispered, “Before the race, I was sweating bullets.” Kayla smiled, “Yeah, me too. But now I’m just showered in sweat and proud!”
Your Task:
Can you find and list all 8 idioms for sweating used in the story?
Answer Key
- Pouring sweat
- Clinging with sweat (sweat clinging to clothes)
- Sweat streaming down
- Working up a sweat
- Dripping with sweat
- Sweat stung my eyes
- Wiping sweat off
- Sweating buckets
Conclusion
Sweating can happen when we’re hot, working hard, or even nervous. Idioms like “sweating bullets” or “dripping with sweat” help us talk about those moments in fun and creative ways.
By learning these idioms, you can describe what your body feels like in a clearer and more interesting way whether you’re running in the sun, giving a speech, or just trying something new. These expressions help others understand what you’re going through.
