Sometimes, we feel happy, sad, angry, or excited but we don’t always say those words. People often use special phrases called idioms to talk about feelings. These idioms don’t always mean exactly what they say, but they help us describe emotions in fun and creative ways.
In this article, you’ll learn some common idioms that talk about feelings. Each idiom will come with a short meaning and examples so it’s easy to understand. After learning them, you can try a short quiz to test what you remember. Let’s explore how people use idioms to talk about their emotions in everyday life.
Idioms about Feelings
1. On cloud nine
Meaning: Feeling very happy
Sample Sentences: I was on cloud nine when I won the art contest. / She was on cloud nine after getting her puppy.
Other Way to Say: Over the moon / Super happy
2. Feeling blue
Meaning: Feeling sad
Sample Sentences: He was feeling blue after his friend moved away. / I feel blue when it rains all day.
Other Way to Say: Down in the dumps / Sad
3. Butterflies in my stomach
Meaning: Feeling nervous
Sample Sentences: I had butterflies in my stomach before my speech. / She got butterflies in her stomach on the first day of school.
Other Way to Say: Felt jumpy / Nervous feeling
4. A heavy heart
Meaning: Feeling very sad
Sample Sentences: She walked away with a heavy heart after saying goodbye. / I had a heavy heart when my goldfish died.
Other Way to Say: Really sad / Full of sorrow
5. Walking on air
Meaning: Feeling great joy
Sample Sentences: I was walking on air after getting an A on my test. / He felt like walking on air after the game.
Other Way to Say: Super happy / Overjoyed
6. Blowing off steam
Meaning: Releasing anger or stress
Sample Sentences: He played basketball to blow off steam after school. / I yelled into a pillow to blow off steam.
Other Way to Say: Letting it out / Cooling off
7. Heart skipped a beat
Meaning: Feeling surprised or excited
Sample Sentences: My heart skipped a beat when I saw the big roller coaster. / Her heart skipped a beat when she got the gift.
Other Way to Say: Felt shocked / Got excited
8. Cold feet
Meaning: Feeling scared to do something
Sample Sentences: I got cold feet before jumping into the pool. / She got cold feet before her dance show.
Other Way to Say: Lost courage / Got nervous
9. Crying your eyes out
Meaning: Crying a lot
Sample Sentences: He cried his eyes out when he lost his favorite toy. / She cried her eyes out after the movie.
Other Way to Say: Sobbed hard / Wept a lot
10. Head over heels
Meaning: Very much in love
Sample Sentences: My cousin is head over heels for her new puppy. / He was head over heels about his new game.
Other Way to Say: In love / Crazy about something
11. Grinning from ear to ear
Meaning: Smiling a lot from being happy
Sample Sentences: I was grinning from ear to ear after the field trip. / He grinned from ear to ear when he saw the cake.
Other Way to Say: Big smile / Very cheerful
12. In a funk
Meaning: Feeling sad or not in a good mood
Sample Sentences: I was in a funk after losing the game. / She’s in a funk because her friend is sick.
Other Way to Say: Feeling low / Gloomy
13. Jump for joy
Meaning: Be very happy
Sample Sentences: I jumped for joy when I saw snow outside. / He jumped for joy when he got extra recess.
Other Way to Say: Really excited / Very glad
14. Down in the dumps
Meaning: Feeling sad
Sample Sentences: She felt down in the dumps after her team lost. / I’m down in the dumps today.
Other Way to Say: Feeling blue / Not happy
15. Like a ticking time bomb
Meaning: Full of anger and ready to explode
Sample Sentences: He was like a ticking time bomb during the argument. / I felt like a ticking time bomb before I calmed down.
Other Way to Say: About to burst / Super angry
15. Like a ticking time bomb
Meaning: Full of anger and ready to explode
Sample Sentences: He was like a ticking time bomb during the argument. / I felt like a ticking time bomb before I calmed down.
Other Way to Say: About to burst / Super angry
16. A lump in your throat
Meaning: Feeling like you might cry
Sample Sentences: I had a lump in my throat during the sad part of the book. / She got a lump in her throat when her friend moved.
Other Way to Say: About to cry / Choked up
17. All smiles
Meaning: Very happy and cheerful
Sample Sentences: She was all smiles after her birthday party. / He walked in all smiles with his new puppy.
Other Way to Say: Really happy / Full of joy
18. Wearing your heart on your sleeve
Meaning: Showing your feelings openly
Sample Sentences: He wears his heart on his sleeve and always shows when he’s sad. / She wears her heart on her sleeve when she’s excited.
Other Way to Say: Shows emotions easily / Open about feelings
19. In high spirits
Meaning: Feeling happy and energetic
Sample Sentences: The class was in high spirits before the field trip. / She was in high spirits after hearing good news.
Other Way to Say: Feeling good / Cheerful
20. Feeling under the weather
Meaning: Not feeling well
Sample Sentences: I stayed home because I was feeling under the weather. / He didn’t play today; he was under the weather.
Other Way to Say: Feeling sick / Not well
21. Sick to your stomach
Meaning: Feeling very upset or nervous
Sample Sentences: I felt sick to my stomach before the big test. / She was sick to her stomach after the bad news.
Other Way to Say: Upset / Nervous and queasy
22. Heart of stone
Meaning: Not showing any emotions
Sample Sentences: He didn’t even say sorry he must have a heart of stone. / She showed no feelings at all, like a heart of stone.
Other Way to Say: Cold-hearted / No emotion
23. Break down in tears
Meaning: Start crying suddenly
Sample Sentences: I broke down in tears when I lost my favorite toy. / She broke down in tears after the sad movie.
Other Way to Say: Started crying / Burst into tears
24. Bottle things up
Meaning: Hiding your feelings
Sample Sentences: He bottles things up and doesn’t tell anyone when he’s upset. / Don’t bottle it up talk to someone.
Other Way to Say: Keep it inside / Hide emotions
25. Keep your cool
Meaning: Stay calm
Sample Sentences: I kept my cool even when the game got hard. / She kept her cool when she forgot her lines.
Other Way to Say: Stay calm / Don’t panic
26. Let it all out
Meaning: Share your feelings
Sample Sentences: She let it all out and felt better. / I cried and let it all out after my bad day.
Other Way to Say: Express feelings / Say what you feel
27. Hot under the collar
Meaning: Getting angry
Sample Sentences: He got hot under the collar when someone took his seat. / I was hot under the collar after being blamed.
Other Way to Say: Mad / Upset
28. Cry wolf
Meaning: Pretend to be upset or in trouble when you’re not
Sample Sentences: If you cry wolf too much, people won’t believe you. / He cried wolf just to get attention.
Other Way to Say: Fake upset / Not honest about feelings
29. Green with envy
Meaning: Very jealous
Sample Sentences: I was green with envy when I saw her new bike. / He was green with envy about the new video game.
Other Way to Say: Jealous / Wished I had it
30. Lose your temper
Meaning: Get very angry
Sample Sentences: He lost his temper and yelled. / I try not to lose my temper when things go wrong.
Other Way to Say: Get mad / Blow up
31. Choked up
Meaning: Feeling like you might cry
Sample Sentences: She got choked up during the goodbye speech. / I was choked up when my dog was sick.
Other Way to Say: About to cry / Very emotional
32. In a rage
Meaning: Extremely angry
Sample Sentences: He was in a rage when his project was ruined. / She was in a rage when she was treated unfairly.
Other Way to Say: Very angry / Furious
33. Giddy with excitement
Meaning: So excited you can hardly stand still
Sample Sentences: I was giddy with excitement before going to Disneyland. / He was giddy with excitement when he saw snow.
Other Way to Say: Super excited / Jumping for joy
34. Lost for words
Meaning: So shocked or emotional you don’t know what to say
Sample Sentences: I was lost for words when I saw the surprise. / She was lost for words after the amazing news.
Other Way to Say: Speechless / Didn’t know what to say
35. Tear up
Meaning: Get watery eyes from emotion
Sample Sentences: I teared up during the sad part of the book. / She teared up when she saw her old friend.
Other Way to Say: Got emotional / Eyes filled with tears
36. Beaming with pride
Meaning: Feeling proud and happy
Sample Sentences: He was beaming with pride after his drawing won first place. / She beamed with pride when her little brother read a book.
Other Way to Say: Very proud / Glowing with joy
37. Lost your cool
Meaning: Couldn’t stay calm
Sample Sentences: I lost my cool when my brother kept teasing me. / She lost her cool during the game.
Other Way to Say: Got angry / Couldn’t stay calm
38. Hit the roof
Meaning: Got really angry
Sample Sentences: Dad hit the roof when I broke the window. / She hit the roof after hearing the bad news.
Other Way to Say: Exploded with anger / Got super mad
39. On edge
Meaning: Feeling nervous or jumpy
Sample Sentences: I was on edge before my spelling test. / She was on edge waiting for her turn.
Other Way to Say: Anxious / Nervous
40. Smile from ear to ear
Meaning: Big, happy smile
Sample Sentences: She smiled from ear to ear when she got a new backpack. / I smiled from ear to ear after getting a compliment.
Other Way to Say: Big smile / Very happy
41. All choked up
Meaning: Too emotional to talk
Sample Sentences: I was all choked up at the graduation. / He got all choked up during the speech.
Other Way to Say: Full of emotion / Almost crying
42. Downhearted
Meaning: Feeling sad and hopeless
Sample Sentences: He was downhearted after losing his pet. / She felt downhearted when she didn’t make the team.
Other Way to Say: Really sad / Feeling low
43. Nervous wreck
Meaning: Very nervous and worried
Sample Sentences: I was a nervous wreck before my music recital. / She felt like a nervous wreck waiting for her turn.
Other Way to Say: Super nervous / Very worried
44. In seventh heaven
Meaning: Extremely happy
Sample Sentences:I was in seventh heaven when I got my favorite snack. / She was in seventh heaven at the amusement park.
Other Way to Say: Super happy / Overjoyed
45. In a huff
Meaning: Upset and annoyed
Sample Sentences: He walked away in a huff after losing the game. / She was in a huff when her toy broke.
Other Way to Say: Mad / Annoyed
46. Feel small
Meaning: Feel embarrassed or ashamed
Sample Sentences: I felt small after yelling at my friend. / He felt small when the teacher corrected him.
Other Way to Say: Embarrassed / Sad inside
47. See red
Meaning: Get very angry
Sample Sentences: He saw red when someone called him a name. / I saw red after being blamed unfairly.
Other Way to Say: Really angry / Furious
48. Tickled pink
Meaning: Very pleased and happy
Sample Sentences: I was tickled pink when Grandma sent me a card. / She was tickled pink by the surprise.
Other Way to Say: Delighted / Really happy
49. On pins and needles
Meaning: Very anxious or excited
Sample Sentences: I was on pins and needles waiting for my turn. / She was on pins and needles before her performance.
Other Way to Say: Nervous / Can’t wait
50. Feeling drained
Meaning: Feeling very tired or worn out
Sample Sentences: I felt drained after the long test. / He was drained from running around all day.
Other Way to Say: Worn out / Exhausted
51. A bad taste in your mouth
Meaning: Feeling uneasy after something happened
Sample Sentences: That rude comment left a bad taste in my mouth. / The unfair rule left a bad taste in her mouth.
Other Way to Say: Felt bad / Uncomfortable feeling
52. Light-hearted
Meaning: Cheerful and not too serious
Sample Sentences: The story was light-hearted and fun. / We had a light-hearted chat at lunch.
Other Way to Say: Fun / Easygoing
53. All fired up
Meaning: Very excited or ready to do something
Sample Sentences: The team was all fired up before the game. / I was all fired up to go to the zoo.
Other Way to Say: Pumped up / Super ready
54. Blown away
Meaning: Very impressed or surprised
Sample Sentences: I was blown away by her singing. / The fireworks show blew us away.
Other Way to Say: Amazed / Surprised in a good way
55. Out of sorts
Meaning: Not feeling like yourself
Sample Sentences: I was out of sorts after staying up too late. / He seemed out of sorts during class.
Other Way to Say: Off / Not feeling great
Multiple Choice Questions: Idioms about Feelings
1. What does “feeling blue” mean?
A) You are wearing blue clothes
B) You are feeling very sad
C) You are playing outside
2. If someone is “on cloud nine,” how do they feel?
A) Very happy
B) Very sleepy
C) Very confused
3. What does “butterflies in your stomach” mean?
A) You ate too much
B) You feel nervous
C) You are excited to go outside
4. If your “heart skips a beat,” what might you be feeling
A) You’re sleeping
B) You’re excited or surprised
C) You’re hungry
5. What does it mean when someone says “blow off steam”?
A) Make something hot
B) Calm down by doing something active
C) Blow air out of your mouth
6. When someone “wears their heart on their sleeve,” what are they doing?
A) Putting a sticker on their arm
B) Hiding their feelings
C) Showing their feelings openly
7. What does “green with envy” mean?
A) You are feeling sick
B) You are very jealous
C) You are wearing green
8. What does “lost for words” mean?
A) You don’t know what to say
B) You forgot how to read
C) You said too much
9. If someone is a “nervous wreck,” how do they feel?
A) Very calm
B) Very nervous
C) Very sleepy
10. What does it mean to “see red”?
A) You are looking at a stop sign
B) You are feeling very happy
C) You are very angry
11. What does “smile from ear to ear” mean?
A) You have a big happy smile
B) You are chewing gum
C) You are tired
12. If someone is “out of sorts,” what does that mean?
A) They are sorting books
B) They feel a little off or not like themselves
C) They are feeling really strong
Answer Key
- B – You are feeling very sad
- A – Very happy
- B – You feel nervous
- B – You’re excited or surprised
- B – Calm down by doing something active
- C – Showing their feelings openly
- B – You are very jealous
- A – You don’t know what to say
- B – Very nervous
- C – You are very angry
- A – You have a big happy smile
- B – They feel a little off or not like themselves
Scoring Guide
- 12 Correct Answers: Love Idioms Master!
You really understand how idioms show feelings. Great job. - 8–11 Correct Answers: Well on your way to understanding love idioms.
You’re learning fast. Keep it up! - 4–7 Correct Answers: Room for improvement, but you’re getting there!
You’re on the right path. Try reading them again. - 0–3 Correct Answers: Let’s explore the world of love idioms together.
It’s okay! Keep learning, and you’ll get better.
Conclusion
Idioms help us talk about feelings in fun and easy ways. Instead of always saying “happy” or “sad,” we can say things like “on cloud nine” or “down in the dumps.” These expressions make our language more interesting.
Now that you’ve learned some common feeling idioms, try using them in your writing and speaking. The more you use them, the easier they’ll become to understand.
