Sometimes we say things in fun ways to make our words more interesting. One way to do this is by using idioms. Idioms are phrases that don’t always mean exactly what the words say. For example, if someone says they are “having a blast,” it doesn’t mean there was an explosion. It just means they are enjoying themselves a lot.
In this article, you’ll learn some common idioms people use when they are having a good time. These phrases can help make your speaking and writing more fun. You might even hear some of them at a party, at school, or while watching TV. Once you understand what they mean, you’ll be able to use them yourself.
Idioms for Having A Good Time
1. Have a blast
Meaning: To enjoy a lot
Sample Sentences: We had a blast at the birthday party. / I always have a blast at the amusement park.
Other Way to Say: Had so much fun / Loved it
2. Paint the town red
Meaning: Go out and have a fun time
Sample Sentences: They went out to paint the town red after the big win. / We painted the town red on Friday night.
Other Way to Say: Went out for fun / Celebrated
3. Let your hair down
Meaning: Relax and enjoy yourself
Sample Sentences: Mom let her hair down at the dance party. / It’s time to let your hair down after a long week.
Other Way to Say: Chill out / Be yourself
4. Have the time of your life
Meaning: Have a very good time
Sample Sentences: I had the time of my life at camp. / She had the time of her life on the school trip.
Other Way to Say: Best time ever / Super fun
5. On cloud nine
Meaning: Very happy
Sample Sentences: He was on cloud nine after the party. / She was on cloud nine at the concert.
Other Way to Say: So happy / Overjoyed
6. In seventh heaven
Meaning: Feeling great joy
Sample Sentences: I was in seventh heaven when we went to Disney. / She’s in seventh heaven with her new puppy.
Other Way to Say: Very happy / Feeling great
7. Have a whale of a time
Meaning: Enjoy a lot
Sample Sentences: We had a whale of a time at the zoo. / He had a whale of a time playing games.
Other Way to Say: Had fun / Great time
8. Like a kid in a candy store
Meaning: Very excited and happy
Sample Sentences: He was like a kid in a candy store at the toy shop. / She was like a kid in a candy store on Halloween.
Other Way to Say: Super excited / Full of joy
9. Full of beans
Meaning: Energetic and excited
Sample Sentences: After lunch, the kids were full of beans. / He’s always full of beans on game day.
Other Way to Say: Very lively / Full of energy
10. Living it up
Meaning: Enjoying life
Sample Sentences: They’re living it up on their beach trip. / We were living it up during summer break.
Other Way to Say: Enjoying a lot / Having fun
11. Jump for joy
Meaning: Be very happy
Sample Sentences: She jumped for joy when she got the good news. / He jumped for joy after winning the prize.
Other Way to Say: Really happy / So excited
12. Over the moon
Meaning: Extremely happy
Sample Sentences: I was over the moon about my birthday gift. / They were over the moon after the fun day.
Other Way to Say: Super glad / Very happy
13. Party animal
Meaning: Someone who loves to party
Sample Sentences: He’s a party animal at every school dance. / My cousin is a real party animal at family gatherings.
Other Way to Say: Loves to party / Fun-lover
14. Hit the town
Meaning: Go out to have fun
Sample Sentences: We hit the town after the school play. / They hit the town for a fun night out.
Other Way to Say: Went out / Had a fun night
15. All fun and games
Meaning: Lots of fun
Sample Sentences: The carnival was all fun and games. / It’s all fun and games until bedtime.
Other Way to Say: Just for fun / Lots of laughs
16. In high spirits
Meaning: Feeling cheerful
Sample Sentences: She was in high spirits at the fair. / He’s in high spirits during game night.
Other Way to Say: Happy mood / Feeling good
17. Good vibes
Meaning: A happy feeling
Sample Sentences: There were good vibes at the school picnic. / I felt good vibes at the birthday party.
Other Way to Say: Nice mood / Happy energy
18. Laugh your head off
Meaning: Laugh a lot
Sample Sentences: We laughed our heads off at the funny movie. / She laughed her head off at the joke.
Other Way to Say: Laughed a lot / Couldn’t stop laughing
19. Burst out laughing
Meaning: Start laughing suddenly
Sample Sentences: He burst out laughing when he saw the silly face. / We burst out laughing at the puppet show.
Other Way to Say: Laughed loud / Cracked up
20. A breath of fresh air
Meaning: Something fun and new
Sample Sentences: The field trip was a breath of fresh air. / Her visit was a breath of fresh air during the week.
Other Way to Say: Something nice / Fun change
21. In a good mood
Meaning: Feeling happy
Sample Sentences: She’s always in a good mood at the park. / I was in a good mood all day after the fun class.
Other Way to Say: Happy / Feeling great
22. A ball of fun
Meaning: Very fun or funny
Sample Sentences: The science show was a ball of fun. / The trip was a ball of fun for everyone.
Other Way to Say: A blast / So funny
23. Rollicking good time
Meaning: A wild and fun time
Sample Sentences: We had a rollicking good time at the sleepover. / The camp was a rollicking good time.
Other Way to Say: Crazy fun / Super silly time
24. Rolling with laughter
Meaning: Laughing a lot
Sample Sentences: We were rolling with laughter during the skit. / The joke had us rolling with laughter.
Other Way to Say: Laughing hard / Cracking up
25. Chuckling away
Meaning: Laughing gently
Sample Sentences: Grandpa was chuckling away at the story. / We were chuckling away at the cartoons.
Other Way to Say: Laughing softly / Smiling
26. Get a kick out of
Meaning: Enjoy something a lot
Sample Sentences: I got a kick out of the magic show. / She gets a kick out of making silly faces.
Other Way to Say: Liked it / Thought it was fun
27. Love every minute
Meaning: Enjoy something fully
Sample Sentences: I loved every minute of the fair. / She loved every minute of her time at the zoo.
Other Way to Say: Had fun the whole time / Enjoyed it
28. Dance the night away
Meaning: Dance and have fun for hours
Sample Sentences: We danced the night away at the party. / They danced the night away after the game.
Other Way to Say: Kept dancing / Had fun dancing
29. Light up like a Christmas tree
Meaning: Look very happy
Sample Sentences: His face lit up like a Christmas tree when he saw the surprise. / She lit up like a Christmas tree at the party.
Other Way to Say: Big smile / Looked thrilled
30. Smile from ear to ear
Meaning: Smile widely
Sample Sentences: She smiled from ear to ear after winning. / He was smiling from ear to ear at the fun park.
Other Way to Say: Big grin / Very happy
31. In the groove
Meaning: Feeling the fun rhythm
Sample Sentences: He was in the groove while dancing. / We were all in the groove at the music show.
Other Way to Say: Feeling the beat / Loving the music
32. Grinning like a Cheshire cat
Meaning: Smiling a lot
Sample Sentences: She was grinning like a Cheshire cat after the fun ride. / He grinned like a Cheshire cat during recess.
Other Way to Say: Smiling wide / Big grin
33. Soak up the fun
Meaning: Enjoy the fun deeply
Sample Sentences: We soaked up the fun at the beach. / She soaked up the fun at the sleepover.
Other Way to Say: Enjoyed every moment / Took it all in
34. Happy camper
Meaning: Someone who is very happy
Sample Sentences: He was a happy camper after lunch and games. / She’s always a happy camper at school parties.
Other Way to Say: Cheerful / Smiling kid
35. Giggle fit
Meaning: Laughing a lot in a silly way
Sample Sentences: The girls had a giggle fit at the joke. / We had a giggle fit during the movie.
Other Way to Say: Laughing a lot / Silly laughs
36. Tickled pink
Meaning: Very pleased or happy
Sample Sentences: I was tickled pink to get extra recess. / She was tickled pink by the funny story.
Other Way to Say: Super happy / Very pleased
37. Have fun to spare
Meaning: So much fun you could share it
Sample Sentences: We had fun to spare at the carnival. / There was fun to spare at the picnic.
Other Way to Say: Lots of fun / So much fun
38. Go bananas
Meaning: Get very excited and wild
Sample Sentences: The kids went bananas at the trampoline park. / He went bananas when he saw the puppy.
Other Way to Say: Super excited / Wild with joy
39. A joy to be around
Meaning: A person who brings fun and happiness
Sample Sentences: She is a joy to be around at every party. / He’s a joy to be around on the playground.
Other Way to Say: Fun friend / Makes everyone smile
40. Play to your heart’s content
Meaning: Play as much as you want
Sample Sentences: We played to our heart’s content at the arcade. / She painted to her heart’s content in art class.
Other Way to Say: Played a lot / Played freely
41. Cracking up
Meaning: Laughing hard
Sample Sentences: We were cracking up at the silly dance. / He cracked up during the funny video.
Other Way to Say: Laughing a lot / Losing it laughing
42. Joy ride
Meaning: A fun and exciting ride
Sample Sentences: The roller coaster was a joy ride! / We took a joy ride through the countryside.
Other Way to Say: Fun ride / Thrill ride
43. Giggles and grins
Meaning: Lots of laughter and smiles
Sample Sentences: The sleepover was full of giggles and grins. / Their clubhouse always has giggles and grins.
Other Way to Say: Laughing and smiling / Lots of fun
44. All smiles
Meaning: Very happy
Sample Sentences: She was all smiles at the petting zoo. / He was all smiles after his turn on the slide.
Other Way to Say: Smiling big / Very cheerful
45. A hoot and a half
Meaning: Very fun and silly
Sample Sentences: That game was a hoot and a half! / He’s a hoot and a half when he tells jokes.
Other Way to Say: Super silly / Very funny
46. Blowing off steam
Meaning: Doing something fun to relax
Sample Sentences: We went to the park to blow off steam. / He played tag to blow off steam after homework.
Other Way to Say: Chill out / Let loose
47. Make a day of it
Meaning: Spend the whole day having fun
Sample Sentences: Let’s go to the zoo and make a day of it. / We made a day of it at the beach.
Other Way to Say: Spend the day / Fun day
48. A good laugh
Meaning: Something really funny
Sample Sentences: That joke gave us a good laugh. / The movie gave me a good laugh.
Other Way to Say: Funny moment / Fun time
49. Play the day away
Meaning: Play all day long
Sample Sentences: We played the day away in the backyard. / The cousins played the day away at grandma’s.
Other Way to Say: Played all day / So much fun
50. Soak in the joy
Meaning: Feel and enjoy the happiness
Sample Sentences: She soaked in the joy of the surprise party. / I just sat back and soaked in the joy.
Other Way to Say: Enjoyed the moment / Felt happy
51. Feel like a celebration
Meaning: Something that feels special and fun
Sample Sentences: Friday felt like a celebration! / The pizza party felt like a celebration.
Other Way to Say: Party feeling / Festive time
52. Bubble over with joy
Meaning: Be filled with happiness
Sample Sentences: He was bubbling over with joy at the parade. / She bubbled over with joy after opening gifts.
Other Way to Say: Very excited / Full of joy
53. Laugh till it hurts
Meaning: Laughing so much it makes your belly hurt
Sample Sentences: We laughed till it hurt watching the silly video. / I laughed till it hurt at his goofy face.
Other Way to Say: Lots of laughing / Couldn’t stop
54. Fun and fancy-free
Meaning: Feeling happy with no worries
Sample Sentences: We were fun and fancy-free on the last day of school. / They were fun and fancy-free during the dance.
Other Way to Say: Happy and carefree / Joyful
55. Jumping with joy
Meaning: So happy you feel like jumping
Sample Sentences: She was jumping with joy after winning the game. / I was jumping with joy at the fair.
Other Way to Say: Very excited / Super happy
Multiple Choice Questions: Idioms for Having A Good Time
1. What does “have a blast” mean?
A. To make a loud noise
B. To have a lot of fun
C. To run really fast
2. If someone says, “We painted the town red,” what did they most likely do?
A. Went shopping for paint
B. Stayed home and cleaned
C. Went out and had a fun night
3. “On cloud nine” means someone is:
A. Flying in an airplane
B. Feeling very happy
C. Looking at the weather
4. When you “let your hair down,” what are you doing?
A. Getting a haircut
B. Relaxing and enjoying yourself
C. Brushing your hair
5. “The kids had a field day” means:
A. They worked in a garden
B. They had a lot of fun
C. They played with animals
6. What does “laugh it up” mean?
A. To cry quietly
B. To clean up something
C. To laugh and have a fun time
7. “She’s a party animal” means she:
A. Has a pet at parties
B. Brings snacks to school
C. Loves going to fun events
8. “Grinning from ear to ear” shows someone is:
A. Angry
B. Really happy
C. Tired
9. What does “cut loose” mean?
A. To relax and have fun
B. To stop talking
C. To leave early
10. “He’s in seventh heaven” means he is:
A. Taking a plane ride
B. Very excited or happy
C. In a tall building
11. “She was the life of the party” means:
A. She brought the cake
B. She cleaned the house
C. She made the party more fun
12. If a day was “fun-filled,” what happened?
A. It was full of things to enjoy
B. It was cold and boring
C. It was all about homework
Answer Key
1. B. To have a lot of fun
2. C. Went out and had a fun night
3. B. Feeling very happy
4. B. Relaxing and enjoying yourself
5. B. They had a lot of fun
6. C. To laugh and have a fun time
7. C. Loves going to fun events
8. B. Really happy
9. A. To relax and have fun
10. B. Very excited or happy
11. C. She made the party more fun
12. A. It was full of things to enjoy
Scoring Guide
- 12 Correct Answers: Love Idiom Master! You know how to spot a fun phrase and use it right.
- 8–11 Correct Answers: Well on your way to understanding love idioms. Keep it up!
- 4–7 Correct Answers: Room for improvement, but you’re getting there!
- 0–3 Correct Answers: Let’s explore fun idioms together and learn more.
Conclusion
Idioms can make your speaking and writing more fun. When you know what phrases like “have a blast” or “on cloud nine” mean, you can understand others better and share your own good times clearly.
Now that you’ve learned many ways to talk about having fun, try using them in your own stories or conversations. They can help your words feel more real and interesting. Keep listening for these phrases in shows, books, and daily talk you’ll notice them more often than you think