Poetry uses beautiful language to share feelings and ideas. Instead of saying things in plain words, poets often use special phrases to make their writing sound more creative. One way they do this is by using idioms. Idioms are expressions that don’t mean exactly what the words say. They help the reader picture something in a fun or interesting way.
In this article, we’ll learn about idioms that can be used when writing or reading poetry. These idioms help show emotions, ideas, or actions in a more colorful way. If you want your poem to sound better or more exciting, these idioms can help. They are easy to use and make your writing feel more alive. Let’s look at some idioms that poets love to use.
Idioms for Poetry
1. A trip down memory lane
Meaning: A nostalgic journey back to the past, remembering old experiences.
Samples: She took a trip down memory lane when she found her childhood photo album. / His story about his summer camp was a trip down memory lane.
To Put it Another Way: He recalled his old memories. / She thought about the past with fondness.
2. A blast from the past
Meaning: Something that reminds you of an earlier time.
Samples: That old song was a blast from the past, taking me back to high school. / The reunion was a blast from the past with everyone from our class.
To Put it Another Way: It felt like something from a long time ago. / That moment reminded me of old times.
3. In the back of your mind
Meaning: Something that you remember but don’t always think about.
Samples: I always keep the fun trip in the back of my mind. / Her birthday was in the back of my mind until I remembered.
To Put it Another Way: It’s something I remember, but I don’t think about often. / I keep that thought hidden.
4. Forgotten memories
Meaning: Memories that you have lost or no longer think about.
Samples: The old house holds many forgotten memories of my childhood. / We revisited forgotten memories when we saw the old park.
To Put it Another Way: These are memories I’ve lost touch with. / Those moments were once forgotten but now come back.
5. Leave a mark on someone
Meaning: To have a lasting impression or memory on someone.
Samples: That kind gesture will leave a mark on me forever. / The event left a mark on her, and she often thinks about it.
To Put it Another Way: It made a lasting impact on me. / She remembers that moment deeply.
6. Cry over spilled milk
Meaning: To be upset about something that has already happened and can’t be changed.
Samples: There’s no use crying over spilled milk now. / She told him to stop crying over spilled milk and move on.
To Put it Another Way: Don’t worry about the past. / What’s done is done.
7. Heart of gold
Meaning: A kind and caring nature.
Samples: She has a heart of gold and always helps others. / The poem described a man with a heart of gold.
To Put it Another Way: She’s very kind inside. / He cares a lot about people.
8. Cold shoulder
Meaning: To ignore someone or treat them with little attention.
Samples: He gave me the cold shoulder after our fight. / She got the cold shoulder from her best friend.
To Put it Another Way: He acted like I wasn’t there. / She ignored me on purpose.
9. Open book
Meaning: Someone who shows all their feelings or thoughts.
Samples: He’s an open book—you always know how he feels. / Her poetry makes her look like an open book.
To Put it Another Way: She doesn’t hide anything. / He’s easy to understand.
10. Break the silence
Meaning: To start talking after being quiet for a long time.
Samples: She broke the silence with a quiet poem. / He broke the silence in the room with a laugh.
To Put it Another Way: She started speaking again. / The quiet finally ended.
11. Cloud nine
Meaning: Very happy or joyful.
Samples: After hearing the poem, he was on cloud nine. / She felt like she was on cloud nine after the good news.
To Put it Another Way: She was full of joy. / He felt super happy.
12. A picture paints a thousand words
Meaning: A single image can show a lot of meaning.
Samples: Her poem described a sunset that painted a thousand words. / Sometimes poems act like pictures that say more than words.
To Put it Another Way: A small image can say a lot. / One idea can show big feelings.
13. Bite your tongue
Meaning: To stop yourself from saying something.
Samples: He bit his tongue and didn’t say what he was thinking. / I had to bite my tongue during the meeting.
To Put it Another Way: I wanted to speak but stayed quiet. / He kept his thoughts to himself.
14. Speak from the heart
Meaning: To say something that is truly felt.
Samples: The poet spoke from the heart in every line. / She spoke from the heart when she read her story.
To Put it Another Way: She meant what she said. / It was true and full of feeling.
15. Lost in thought
Meaning: Thinking deeply and not noticing what’s around.
Samples: He was lost in thought, staring out the window. / Her poem showed a girl lost in thought.
To Put it Another Way: He was thinking quietly. / She wasn’t paying attention.
16. On the same page
Meaning: To agree or understand something the same way.
Samples: The writer and the artist were on the same page about the message. / We’re finally on the same page with this poem.
To Put it Another Way: We agree now. / We understand each other.
17. A heavy heart
Meaning: Feeling very sad.
Samples: She wrote the poem with a heavy heart. / He left with a heavy heart after saying goodbye.
To Put it Another Way: He was very sad. / She felt sorrow.
18. In black and white
Meaning: Clearly written or shown.
Samples: Her words were right there in black and white. / The truth is in black and white in this poem.
To Put it Another Way: It’s plain to see. / The words are clear.
19. Written in the stars
Meaning: Meant to happen, like destiny.
Samples: Their meeting felt like it was written in the stars. / The poem said their love was written in the stars.
To Put it Another Way: It was meant to be. / It was fate.
20. Paint a picture
Meaning: To describe something in a detailed way.
Samples: Her poem painted a picture of a sunny beach. / He used words to paint a picture of peace.
To Put it Another Way: She made it easy to imagine. / It felt real through words.
21. A shoulder to cry on
Meaning: Someone who listens when you’re sad.
Samples: Her poem was about needing a shoulder to cry on. / He became a shoulder to cry on during hard times.
To Put it Another Way: Someone who offers comfort. / A person who helps when you’re sad.
22. Let the words flow
Meaning: To write or speak without stopping or holding back.
Samples: I let the words flow and finished my poem. / She let the words flow during her speech.
To Put it Another Way: The ideas came out freely. / I wrote without stopping.
23. Put your feelings into words
Meaning: To express emotions through language.
Samples: She put her feelings into words through her poetry. / He finds it hard to put feelings into words.
To Put it Another Way: She wrote how she felt. / He tried to share his emotions.
24. At a loss for words
Meaning: Not knowing what to say.
Samples: His poem left me at a loss for words. / I was at a loss for words after reading that.
To Put it Another Way: I didn’t know what to say. / It surprised me.
25. Sound like a broken record
Meaning: To repeat something again and again.
Samples: His poems sound like a broken record with the same ideas. / She kept saying the same line like a broken record.
To Put it Another Way: It was said too many times. / It got repeated a lot.
26. Speak volumes
Meaning: To say a lot without using many words.
Samples: Her quiet line spoke volumes. / That one phrase spoke volumes about his pain.
To Put it Another Way: It meant a lot. / It said more than the words.
27. A tearjerker
Meaning: Something that makes people cry.
Samples: The poem was a real tearjerker about saying goodbye. / That story is a tearjerker for sure.
To Put it Another Way: It made people cry. / It was very sad.
28. Behind closed doors
Meaning: Something private or hidden.
Samples: The poem tells what happens behind closed doors. / She wrote about feelings kept behind closed doors.
To Put it Another Way: It’s not shown to others. / It’s kept private.
29. Get something off your chest
Meaning: To say something you’ve been holding in.
Samples: She used the poem to get her feelings off her chest. / He felt better after getting that off his chest.
To Put it Another Way: She shared her feelings. / He finally said what he was thinking.
30. Light up the page
Meaning: To write something that feels lively or bright.
Samples: Her words lit up the page with joy. / His poem lights up the page with hope.
To Put it Another Way: It feels cheerful. / It brings light through words.
Find the Topics : Idioms for Poetry
Activity: “Poetry Club Day”
On Friday afternoon, the school poetry club met in the library. Maya came with a notebook full of poems. She said she had written them to get something off her chest. One poem described her grandma’s house and felt like a trip down memory lane.
As she read it, the room grew quiet. Her words spoke volumes, even though the poem was short. “It’s about the things we keep in the back of our minds,” she explained. Then Lucas read a poem about his old dog. “It’s kind of a tearjerker,” he said.
Next, Zoe shared her poem about being ignored by her best friend. “She gave me the cold shoulder last week,” Zoe said softly. Her poem helped her put her feelings into words.
Ms. Carter smiled. “You all really spoke from the heart today,” she said. “These poems will leave a mark on anyone who reads them.”
The students felt proud. Their poems had lit up the page, and for the first time, they felt truly heard.
Your Task:
Underline or list the 8 idioms for poetry used in the story.
Answer Key
- Get something off her chest
- A trip down memory lane
- Spoke volumes
- In the back of our minds
- A tearjerker
- The cold shoulder
- Put her feelings into words
- Spoke from the heart
Conclusion
Idioms make poems feel more real and emotional. They help show how people feel, remember things, or share thoughts. Instead of saying something in a simple way, idioms let writers paint pictures with words.
When you use idioms in poetry, your writing becomes more colorful and easier to connect with. Try adding some of these idioms in your next poem. It might help someone feel exactly what you mean.
