As we go through life, we often use interesting phrases to talk about different things. One of the most common ways to do this is by using idioms. An idiom is a group of words that has a meaning different from the individual words on their own. For example, when people talk about “blood,” they often use idioms that carry a deeper meaning. These idioms have special meanings that we can use to describe different feelings, situations, or experiences.
In this article, we will explore some popular idioms that involve blood. Whether they are about family ties or deep emotions, these idioms add color and life to everyday conversations. By understanding them, we can make our speech and writing more interesting and fun! Let’s dive into the world of blood idioms.
Idioms for Blood
1. Blood is thicker than water
Meaning: Family relationships are stronger than other relationships.
Samples: No matter what happens, I know my family will always support me because blood is thicker than water. / After the argument, she reconciled with her brother because blood is thicker than water.
To Put it Another Way: Family comes first. / Family bonds are stronger than other friendships.
2. Blood, sweat, and tears
Meaning: A lot of hard work and effort.
Samples: He put in blood, sweat, and tears to finish the project on time. / She worked through blood, sweat, and tears to win the competition.
To Put it Another Way: It took a lot of effort. / He worked extremely hard for this.
3. Make one’s blood boil
Meaning: To make someone very angry.
Samples: His rude comments made my blood boil. / The unfair treatment made her blood boil.
To Put it Another Way: It made me furious. / It made me really upset.
4. A blood bath
Meaning: A situation where there is a lot of violence or a large amount of loss.
Samples: The battle turned into a blood bath with many casualties. / The competition felt like a blood bath as everyone fought for the top spot.
To Put it Another Way: It was a brutal situation. / It was full of intense conflict.
5. Cold-blooded
Meaning: To act without feeling, compassion, or remorse.
Samples: His cold-blooded actions shocked everyone. / The criminal was so cold-blooded in his behavior.
To Put it Another Way: He acted without care. / He showed no remorse.
6. Blood on one’s hands
Meaning: To be responsible for someone’s death or harm.
Samples: He felt like he had blood on his hands after the accident. / The general was accused of having blood on his hands for the soldiers’ deaths.
To Put it Another Way: He was responsible for the harm. / He felt guilty for the tragedy.
7. A blood relation
Meaning: A person related by birth, not by marriage.
Samples: She’s not just a friend, she’s a blood relation. / He’s my blood relation, so we share the same family tree.
To Put it Another Way: A family member. / A relative by birth.
8. Blood runs cold
Meaning: To feel fear or horror.
Samples: My blood ran cold when I heard the loud crash in the house. / Her blood ran cold when she saw the accident.
To Put it Another Way: I felt terrified. / I became afraid instantly.
9. Good blood
Meaning: A good family background or lineage.
Samples: He comes from good blood, with many doctors in his family. / She has good blood, her family has always been highly respected.
To Put it Another Way: He comes from a good family. / He has a respectable lineage.
10. In cold blood
Meaning: Done without any emotion or feeling, often in a cruel way.
Samples: The murder was committed in cold blood. / He destroyed the documents in cold blood, with no remorse.
To Put it Another Way: It was done without any care. / It was cruel and emotionless.
11. Blood is thicker than water
Meaning: Family bonds are stronger than friendships or other relationships.
Samples: Even when things were tough, I knew blood was thicker than water, and my family would stick together. / Despite their disagreements, they knew blood is thicker than water.
To Put it Another Way: Family always comes first. / Your family will always support you.
12. Blood and thunder
Meaning: Dramatic and passionate actions, usually with a lot of noise or emotion.
Samples: The speech was filled with blood and thunder, inspiring the crowd. / The movie had a lot of blood and thunder with its intense battles.
To Put it Another Way: Full of drama. / Full of excitement and passion.
13. Blood money
Meaning: Money earned or received from immoral or illegal activities.
Samples: He felt guilty accepting the blood money from the deal. / The company made blood money from exploiting workers.
To Put it Another Way: Money from bad actions. / Money earned unethically.
14. New blood
Meaning: New people or fresh ideas brought into a group or organization.
Samples: The company needed some new blood to improve its performance. / They hired new blood to help with the upcoming project.
To Put it Another Way: Fresh talent. / New ideas or people.
15. Blood will tell
Meaning: A person’s true nature or family traits will be revealed over time.
Samples: She’s always had a flair for drama—blood will tell, since her father was an actor. / His love for music showed that blood will tell, as his mother was a famous singer.
To Put it Another Way: Family traits come through. / Your background influences who you are.
16. High blood pressure
Meaning: A medical condition where the force of the blood against the walls of the arteries is too high.
Samples: Eating too much salt can lead to high blood pressure. / His high blood pressure made his doctor very concerned.
To Put it Another Way: Increased blood pressure. / A health condition affecting the heart.
17. Blood, sweat, and tears
Meaning: Hard work and sacrifice, often with great effort and struggle.
Samples: He put in blood, sweat, and tears to build his business from the ground up. / She gave blood, sweat, and tears to finish the project.
To Put it Another Way: Hard work and sacrifice. / A lot of effort was put in.
18. All in the blood
Meaning: Something that is inherited or runs in the family.
Samples: He has a talent for art, it’s all in the blood. / Like his father before him, his musical talent is all in the blood.
To Put it Another Way: It runs in the family. / It’s inherited.
19. Make your blood run cold
Meaning: To cause someone to feel frightened or terrified.
Samples: The haunted house made my blood run cold. / The sudden noise in the dark made her blood run cold.
To Put it Another Way: It frightened me. / It scared me badly.
20. Blood-curdling
Meaning: Causing great fear or horror.
Samples: The scream was blood-curdling, echoing through the night. / The blood-curdling movie left everyone on edge.
To Put it Another Way: Terrifying. / Horrifying.
21. A family’s blood
Meaning: The lineage or ancestry of a family.
Samples: She could trace her family’s blood back to royalty. / His blood was from generations of teachers.
To Put it Another Way: Family heritage. / Ancestry.
22. Get the blood pumping
Meaning: To increase excitement or energy, often through exercise.
Samples: A good workout really gets the blood pumping. / His energetic speech got the blood pumping in the audience.
To Put it Another Way: It gets you excited. / It energizes you.
23. Blood is thicker than water
Meaning: Family ties are stronger than other relationships.
Samples: He forgave his brother because he remembered blood is thicker than water. / She always prioritizes her family because blood is thicker than water.
To Put it Another Way: Family bonds are stronger. / Family is more important than other relationships.
24. In the blood
Meaning: Something is natural or inherited.
Samples: Music runs in the blood of their family. / His love for nature is in his blood.
To Put it Another Way: It’s natural for them. / They inherited it.
25. Blood on the streets
Meaning: A situation where there is a lot of violence or chaos.
Samples: After the stock market crash, there was blood on the streets. / The competition turned into blood on the streets.
To Put it Another Way: It was chaotic. / It was a violent situation.
26. Blood runs thick
Meaning: Family relationships are very strong and important.
Samples: Despite everything, he always knows blood runs thick when it comes to family. / No matter what happens, blood runs thick.
To Put it Another Way: Family ties are strong. / Family always comes first.
27. To have someone’s blood on your hands
Meaning: To be responsible for someone’s harm or death.
Samples: He felt guilty, knowing he had his enemy’s blood on his hands. / The general had blood on his hands after the tragic battle.
To Put it Another Way: He was responsible for their death. / He was guilty of their harm.
28. Get the blood boiling
Meaning: To make someone extremely angry.
Samples: His rude behavior really gets my blood boiling. / The unfair decision made everyone’s blood boil.
To Put it Another Way: It made me furious. / It made me really mad.
29. Blood money
Meaning: Money earned from unethical actions.
Samples: The company earned blood money through exploitation. / He refused to accept the blood money from the illegal deal.
To Put it Another Way: Money from unethical work. / Money gained in a harmful way.
30. A blood brother
Meaning: A close friend or companion, almost like family.
Samples: They became blood brothers after going through so much together. / He treated his childhood friend like a blood brother.
Find the Topics: Idioms for Blood
Activity: Find the Idioms About Blood
Read the passage below and underline or list all the idioms about blood that you find.
Last week, the students at Oakwood Middle School were in the middle of an intense science competition. The competition was a blood bath, with everyone giving their best effort. Sarah had spent months preparing, and it was clear that she had put in blood, sweat, and tears to get the project ready. She could feel her blood boiling when she saw another team trying to cheat, but she remembered that blood is thicker than water, and she couldn’t let her team sink to their level.
When the competition was over, Sarah felt like she had blood on her hands, knowing she hadn’t done enough to stop the cheating. However, her teacher reassured her that she had done her best, and in the end, she knew she had learned valuable lessons. Sarah’s efforts were in the blood of her family, as her parents were both scientists, and she knew that blood will tell when it came to their shared love of science.
Answer Key
- Blood bath
- Blood, sweat, and tears
- Blood boiling
- Blood is thicker than water
- Blood on her hands
- In the blood
- Blood will tell
Conclusion
Idioms about blood are rich in meaning and can express a wide range of emotions and situations. Whether describing the strength of family ties, the hard work needed for success, or the intense feelings we experience, these expressions help us communicate more effectively and vividly. Understanding these idioms not only enriches our vocabulary but also helps us connect with others through shared cultural expressions. By recognizing and using these idioms, we can make our conversations more colorful and relatable. So, the next time you hear someone mention “blood,” remember the deeper meaning behind the words!
