Feelings are a big part of our everyday life. Sometimes we feel happy, sad, angry, or excited. There are many ways to talk about feelings. One fun way is by using idioms. Idioms are special phrases that don’t mean exactly what the words say. For example, if someone says they are “on cloud nine,” they don’t mean they’re flying in the sky. It means they feel very happy.
Learning idioms can help us speak and write in a more interesting way. These phrases are often used in books, movies, and even in daily conversation. In this article, we will explore some idioms about feelings. You might already know a few, and some may be new to you. Let’s take a closer look and try to understand what these idioms mean and how to use them.
Idioms about Feelings
1. On Cloud Nine
Meaning: Feeling very happy
Samples: After getting a puppy, Maya was on cloud nine. / Jason was on cloud nine when he scored the winning goal.
To Put it Another Way: He felt like he was floating. / She was full of joy all day.
2. Down in the Dumps
Meaning: Feeling sad or upset
Samples: Max was down in the dumps after losing his favorite toy. / I felt down in the dumps when I missed the school play.
To Put it Another Way: She had a gloomy day. / He wasn’t feeling like himself.
3. Jump for Joy
Meaning: To be very excited or happy
Samples: I jumped for joy when I got a new bike. / Emma jumped for joy after finding out about the field trip.
To Put it Another Way: He was thrilled. / She could hardly wait to tell her friends.
4. Cry Over Spilled Milk
Meaning: To be upset about something that already happened and can’t be changed
Samples: Don’t cry over spilled milk just because you forgot your lunch. / He cried over spilled milk after losing the game.
To Put it Another Way: She was worried about something that was already done. / He felt bad, but it was too late.
5. Butterflies in My Stomach
Meaning: Feeling nervous or anxious
Samples: I had butterflies in my stomach before the spelling bee. / Lucy got butterflies in her stomach before her dance recital.
To Put it Another Way: He was a little shaky. / She felt jumpy inside.
6. Walking on Air
Meaning: Feeling very happy
Samples: She was walking on air after getting an A on her project. / He felt like walking on air when his grandma visited.
To Put it Another Way: He was very cheerful. / She felt light and glad.
7. Lose My Cool
Meaning: To get angry
Samples: I lost my cool when my little brother broke my toy. / Dad lost his cool when we spilled juice on the carpet.
To Put it Another Way: She got really mad. / He couldn’t stay calm.
8. In a Funk
Meaning: Feeling a little sad or off
Samples: I was in a funk after my best friend moved. / He was in a funk and didn’t want to play.
To Put it Another Way: She was in a bad mood. / He didn’t feel like doing much.
9. Over the Moon
Meaning: Very happy or excited
Samples: They were over the moon about their team winning. / She was over the moon when her parents let her have a sleepover.
To Put it Another Way: He was super excited. / She couldn’t stop smiling.
10. Bent Out of Shape
Meaning: Very upset or angry
Samples: Mom got bent out of shape when I forgot my homework. / He was bent out of shape after losing his video game.
To Put it Another Way: She was really mad./ He got all worked up.
11. All Smiles
Meaning: Looking very happy
Samples: She was all smiles at the birthday party. / He was all smiles when he saw the puppy.
To Put it Another Way: Her face lit up. / He had a huge grin.
12. Like a Deer in Headlights
Meaning: Feeling frozen or shocked
Samples: I felt like a deer in headlights when the teacher called on me. / He looked like a deer in headlights when he got caught.
To Put it Another Way: She froze in surprise. / He didn’t know what to say.
13. Green with Envy
Meaning: Very jealous
Samples: I was green with envy when my friend got new shoes. / She was green with envy about her sister’s phone.
To Put it Another Way: He really wanted what someone else had. / She wished it was hers.
14. Blow Off Steam
Meaning: To release anger or stress
Samples: I rode my bike to blow off steam. / He played basketball to blow off steam after school.
To Put it Another Way: She did something to calm down. / He needed a break to feel better.
15. Grin from Ear to Ear
Meaning: Smiling a lot because of happiness
Samples: She grinned from ear to ear when she opened her gift. / He had a grin from ear to ear after getting ice cream.
To Put it Another Way: He smiled wide. / She looked very pleased.
16. Feeling Blue
Meaning: Feeling sad
Samples: I was feeling blue after my goldfish died. / She was feeling blue because it rained on field day.
To Put it Another Way: He was a bit gloomy. / She was feeling down.
17. Full of Beans
Meaning: Feeling full of energy and excitement
Samples: The kids were full of beans at recess. / He was full of beans on his birthday morning.
To Put it Another Way: She couldn’t sit still. / He had lots of energy.
18. Get Cold Feet
Meaning: To suddenly feel too nervous to do something
Samples: I got cold feet before going on stage. / She got cold feet before trying the rollercoaster.
To Put it Another Way: He changed his mind out of fear. / She backed out because she was scared.
19. Head Over Heels
Meaning: Deeply in love or very excited
Samples: My cousin is head over heels for her pet cat. / He was head over heels about his new game.
To Put it Another Way: She really loved something. / He was super into it.
20. A Lump in My Throat
Meaning: Feeling like crying
Samples: I had a lump in my throat during the sad part of the movie. / He got a lump in his throat when he said goodbye to his friend.
To Put it Another Way: She was holding back tears. / He felt emotional.
21. Have a Short Fuse
Meaning: Gets angry easily
Samples: My brother has a short fuse when he’s tired. / He has a short fuse after school sometimes.
To Put it Another Way: She gets mad fast. / He’s quick to snap.
22. All Shook Up
Meaning: Feeling upset or shocked
Samples: I was all shook up after the loud thunderstorm. / He was all shook up when his bike broke.
To Put it Another Way: She was really shaken. / He didn’t know what to do.
23. Tickled Pink
Meaning: Very pleased or happy
Samples: I was tickled pink when I got a compliment. / She was tickled pink about her drawing being picked.
To Put it Another Way: He was really glad. / She felt great about it.
24. Bottle Up Feelings
Meaning: To hide your emotions
Samples: It’s not good to bottle up your feelings. / He bottled up his anger instead of talking.
To Put it Another Way: She didn’t share what she felt. / He kept his sadness inside.
25. Have the Jitters
Meaning: Feeling nervous or scared
Samples: I had the jitters before the class speech. / She had the jitters before trying out for the team.
To Put it Another Way: He felt shaky and nervous. / She had a funny feeling in her stomach.
26. Blow a Fuse
Meaning: Get very angry
Samples: Dad blew a fuse when the sink overflowed. / I blew a fuse when my project got ruined.
To Put it Another Way: He yelled out loud. / She was furious.
27. Put on a Brave Face
Meaning: To act like you’re okay when you’re not
Samples: I put on a brave face at the doctor’s office. / She put on a brave face when her team lost.
To Put it Another Way: He smiled even though he was sad. / She tried not to show her fear.
28. Walk on Eggshells
Meaning: To be very careful not to upset someone
Samples: We walked on eggshells when mom was tired. / He walked on eggshells around his grumpy brother.
To Put it Another Way: She was careful with her words. / He tried not to make a mistake.
29. Let Off Steam
Meaning: To calm down after being upset
Samples: I let off steam by listening to music. / She let off steam by drawing pictures.
To Put it Another Way: He found a way to relax. / She felt better after a break.
30. Choked Up
Meaning: Feeling so emotional you can’t talk
Samples: I got choked up during the goodbye speech. / He was choked up at the end of the school year.
To Put it Another Way: She couldn’t speak because of feelings. / He got quiet from emotion.
Find the Topics: Idioms about Feelings
Yesterday was a big day at Lincoln Elementary. It was the annual Valentine’s Day dance, and everyone was excited. Mia was on cloud nine because her best friend gave her a card with a kind message. But when she saw her old friend hanging out with someone else, she suddenly felt green with envy.
Before the dance, Daniel had butterflies in his stomach. He had never danced in front of so many people before. But once his favorite song came on, he smiled from ear to ear and started dancing with his friends. Later, when the speaker stopped working, the teacher got bent out of shape, but the kids didn’t mind.
Sophia felt choked up during the slow song, remembering her pet who passed away last week. Jack, who had spilled juice on his shirt, tried to put on a brave face so no one would notice. At the end of the night, everyone was tired but happy, and some kids were still walking on air as they left the gym.
Your Task:
Underline or list all the idioms you found in the story.
Answer Key
- On cloud nine
- Green with envy
- Butterflies in his stomach
- From ear to ear
- Bent out of shape
- Choked up
- Put on a brave face
- Walking on air
Conclusion
Idioms are fun and helpful ways to talk about feelings. They make our speech more colorful and clear. When you hear someone say they have “butterflies in their stomach” or are “on cloud nine,” now you know what they mean.
Try using some of these idioms in your own writing or when you talk with others. It can help show how you feel without saying it in plain words. Keep learning and practicing, and these phrases will become easy to use.
