Sometimes, people say things like “hooked on” or “can’t kick the habit” when they talk about doing something too much. These are idioms phrases that don’t mean exactly what the words say. Idioms can help us understand how strong habits, like watching too much TV or playing video games all day, can feel a bit like being stuck. They help us talk about addiction in a way that’s easy to picture.
In this article, you’ll learn some common idioms that describe habits people have a hard time breaking. Each idiom has a short meaning and an example to help you understand. You’ll also get to try a few fun multiple-choice questions to test what you’ve learned. Let’s take a look at how language can show us what it’s like to be drawn into something a little too much.
Idioms for Addiction
1. Hooked on something
Meaning: Can’t stop doing it.
Sample Sentences: I got hooked on video games. / She’s hooked on soda.
Other Way to Say: Addicted / Stuck on it
2. Can’t get enough
Meaning: Want more all the time.
Sample Sentences: I can’t get enough of those chips. / He can’t get enough of that show.
Other Way to Say: Love it too much / Keep coming back
3. Slave to it
Meaning: Controlled by it.
Sample Sentences: He’s a slave to his phone. / She’s a slave to candy.
Other Way to Say: Can’t stop / Stuck with it
4. In too deep
Meaning: Gone too far to stop.
Sample Sentences: He’s in too deep with online games. / I’m in too deep with sugar.
Other Way to Say: Too far in / Can’t back out
5. Craving it
Meaning: Really want it.
Sample Sentences: I’m craving soda. / She’s craving chocolate.
Other Way to Say: Want it badly / Need it now
6. Can’t quit
Meaning: Unable to stop.
Sample Sentences: He can’t quit playing. / I can’t quit candy.
Other Way to Say: Can’t give it up / Stuck on it
7. Stuck in a loop
Meaning: Keep doing it again and again.
Sample Sentences: She’s stuck in a loop with her tablet. / I’m stuck in a loop of snacks.
Other Way to Say: Won’t stop / Keep repeating
8. Always reaching for it
Meaning: Keep going back to it.
Sample Sentences: He’s always reaching for the remote. / She’s always reaching for candy.
Other Way to Say: Can’t resist / Keep grabbing it
9. Need my fix
Meaning: Feel like you must have it.
Sample Sentences: I need my fix of chips. / He needs his fix of soda.
Other Way to Say: Need a little / Need a taste
10. Got the bug
Meaning: Started liking it too much.
Sample Sentences: She got the bug for video games. / I got the bug for sugar.
Other Way to Say: Can’t stop liking / Got into it
11. Can’t help myself
Meaning: Do it even when you shouldn’t.
Sample Sentences: I can’t help myself around cookies. / He can’t help himself from playing games.
Other Way to Say: I give in / I always do it
12. Obsessed with it
Meaning: Think about it all the time.
Sample Sentences: She’s obsessed with her phone. / I’m obsessed with candy.
Other Way to Say: Always thinking about / Really into it
13. It has a hold on me
Meaning: It controls me.
Sample Sentences: Snacks have a hold on me. / That game has a hold on him.
Other Way to Say: It controls me / I can’t stop
14. One more time turns into forever
Meaning: You say “just once,” but can’t stop.
Sample Sentences: I said one more game, now it’s been hours. / One more candy turned into ten.
Other Way to Say: Can’t stop at one / Keeps going
15. Chained to it
Meaning: Feel trapped by it.
Sample Sentences: She’s chained to her phone. / I feel chained to snacks.
Other Way to Say: Can’t break free / Stuck to it
16. Fell into the habit
Meaning: Started doing it a lot.
Sample Sentences: I fell into the habit of watching shows late. / He fell into the habit of drinking soda every day.
Other Way to Say: Got used to it / Started doing too much
17. Like a magnet
Meaning: Always pulled back to it.
Sample Sentences: The phone is like a magnet. / Candy pulls me like a magnet.
Other Way to Say: Drawn to it / Can’t stay away
18. Always on my mind
Meaning: Think about it a lot.
Sample Sentences: Candy is always on my mind. / He always thinks about his game.
Other Way to Say: Keeps popping up / Can’t stop thinking
19. Addicted to the rush
Meaning: Love the excited feeling.
Sample Sentences: He’s addicted to the rush of winning. / I’m addicted to the rush of sugary snacks.
Other Way to Say: Love the thrill / Chasing the fun
20. Eyes glued to it
Meaning: Can’t look away.
Sample Sentences: His eyes are glued to the screen. / My eyes were glued to the game.
Other Way to Say: Always watching / Stuck staring
21. Can’t unplug
Meaning: Can’t stop using a device.
Sample Sentences: I can’t unplug from my tablet. / She can’t unplug from her phone.
Other Way to Say: Always connected / Won’t stop using it
22. Binge on it
Meaning: Do too much at once.
Sample Sentences: We binged on cookies after school. / He binged on shows all night.
Other Way to Say: Ate too many / Watched too much
23. Pulled in again
Meaning: Get drawn back even after stopping.
Sample Sentences: I stopped, but I got pulled in again. / She got pulled back into gaming.
Other Way to Say: Fell back / Came running back
24. Can’t stay away
Meaning: Always go back to it.
Sample Sentences: I can’t stay away from snacks. / He can’t stay away from that show.
Other Way to Say: Always go back / Too tempting
25. It calls my name
Meaning: Feels like it’s asking you to come back.
Sample Sentences: The candy calls my name. / My game calls my name when I try to sleep.
Other Way to Say: Keeps pulling me / Feels like it wants me
26. Keep falling for it
Meaning: Keep going back even when you don’t want to.
Sample Sentences: I keep falling for staying up late. / He keeps falling for junk food.
Other Way to Say: Always return / Can’t resist
27. Always need a taste
Meaning: Want to have it often.
Sample Sentences: I always need a taste of sweets. / He always needs a taste of soda.
Other Way to Say: Keep craving / Want more
28. Can’t push it away
Meaning: Can’t say no.
Sample Sentences: She can’t push away her favorite snacks. / I can’t push my phone away.
Other Way to Say: Hard to resist / Too tempting
29. Fall into the trap
Meaning: Get stuck doing it again.
Sample Sentences: I fall into the trap of late-night shows. / He falls into the trap of junk food.
Other Way to Say: Stuck again / Got pulled in
30. Need it to feel better
Meaning: Think you can’t feel okay without it.
Sample Sentences: He needs soda to feel better. / I think I need candy to be happy.
Other Way to Say: Use it to feel okay / Think it helps
31. Can’t break the cycle
Meaning: Keep doing the same thing.
Sample Sentences: She can’t break the candy cycle. / I can’t break the screen time cycle.
Other Way to Say: Repeat again and again / Keep doing it
32. On a sugar high
Meaning: Too full of energy from sweets.
Sample Sentences: After candy, I’m on a sugar high. / He’s on a sugar high from soda.
Other Way to Say: Too excited / Full of energy
33. Stuck in snack mode
Meaning: Can’t stop snacking.
Sample Sentences: I’m stuck in snack mode after school. / She stays in snack mode all day.
Other Way to Say: Always eating / Can’t stop munching
34. Lost in it
Meaning: Don’t notice time or people.
Sample Sentences: He got lost in the game for hours. / I was lost in videos.
Other Way to Say: Forgot about time / Too into it
35. Can’t stop clicking
Meaning: Keep going even when tired.
Sample Sentences: I can’t stop clicking next video. / She can’t stop clicking games.
Other Way to Say: Keep going / Won’t stop
36. Keep going back
Meaning: Return to it again and again.
Sample Sentences: I keep going back to the same game. / She keeps going back to junk food.
Other Way to Say: Return again / Try it again
37. Can’t step away
Meaning: Don’t want to stop.
Sample Sentences: I can’t step away from my tablet. / He can’t step away from the snacks.
Other Way to Say: Won’t stop / Stay close
38. Feels like a must
Meaning: Think you need it badly.
Sample Sentences: Candy feels like a must after lunch. / That show feels like a must to watch.
Other Way to Say: Feels needed / Like I have to
39. Can’t live without it
Meaning: Think you can’t be okay without it.
Sample Sentences: He says he can’t live without his game. / I feel like I can’t live without chocolate.
Other Way to Say: Need it badly / Always want it
40. Never enough
Meaning: Want more no matter how much you have.
Sample Sentences: One cookie is never enough. / Watching one video is never enough.
Other Way to Say: Always want more / Not satisfied
41. Need it to get through the day
Meaning: Think you can’t do things without it.
Sample Sentences: I need soda to get through the day. / He needs his show to feel okay.
Other Way to Say: Helps me cope / Keeps me going
42. It’s my comfort
Meaning: Makes you feel better when upset.
Sample Sentences: Candy is my comfort when I’m sad. / Her game is her comfort when bored.
Other Way to Say: Helps me feel better / Makes me calm
43. Lost control
Meaning: Can’t manage how often you use it.
Sample Sentences: He lost control with screen time. / I lost control with snacks.
Other Way to Say: Can’t stop / Went too far
44. Taken over by it
Meaning: It feels like it’s running your life.
Sample Sentences: She’s taken over by her game. / I feel taken over by junk food.
Other Way to Say: Runs my time / Too much of it
45. Drawn to it
Meaning: Feel pulled to use or do it.
Sample Sentences: I’m drawn to my tablet every morning. / She’s drawn to candy after school.
Other Way to Say: Keep going to it / Always want it
46. It’s always waiting
Meaning: It’s always there, ready to grab your time.
Sample Sentences: My video game is always waiting. / Candy is always waiting in the kitchen.
Other Way to Say: Always around / Easy to reach
47. Get sucked in
Meaning: Start and then can’t stop.
Sample Sentences: I get sucked into shows easily. / He gets sucked into video games.
Other Way to Say: Get pulled in / Hard to stop
48. Trapped by it
Meaning: Can’t get away from it.
Sample Sentences: She feels trapped by her screen. / I feel trapped by sugar.
Other Way to Say: Stuck with it / Can’t break free
49. Turn to it all the time
Meaning: Use it every time you feel something.
Sample Sentences: I turn to candy when I’m sad. / He turns to games when bored.
Other Way to Say: Use it a lot / Keep going back
50. Keep falling back
Meaning: Try to stop but return again.
Sample Sentences: I keep falling back into bad habits. / He keeps falling back into gaming.
Other Way to Say: Keep slipping / Can’t stay away
51. Locked in
Meaning: Feel like you can’t break free.
Sample Sentences: He feels locked in with his screen. / I feel locked in with snacks.
Other Way to Say: Trapped / No way out
52. Over the edge
Meaning: Doing way too much.
Sample Sentences: She’s over the edge with soda. / I’m over the edge with TV time.
Other Way to Say: Doing too much / Way too far
53. Just one more
Meaning: Say this but keep doing more.
Sample Sentences: I say “just one more cookie,” then eat five. / He says “just one more level” every time.
Other Way to Say: Can’t stop at one / Keeps going
54. Can’t turn it off
Meaning: Won’t stop using it.
Sample Sentences: He can’t turn off his tablet. / I can’t turn off the show.
Other Way to Say: Always on / Never stops
55. It runs my day
Meaning: It decides how you spend time.
Sample Sentences: My game runs my day. / Candy choices run my day.
Other Way to Say: Controls me / Takes over everything
Multiple Choice Questions: Idioms for Addiction
1. What does “hooked on” mean?
A) Helping someone else
B) Really liking something and not wanting to stop
C) Getting caught on something sharp
2. What does it mean if someone “can’t kick the habit”?
A) They have a broken leg
B) They enjoy playing sports
C) They can’t stop doing something
3. If someone is a “slave to their phone,” what does that mean?
A) They drop it a lot
B) They use it too much and can’t stop
C) They clean it every day
4. What does “going cold turkey” mean?
A) Eating turkey leftovers
B) Quitting something all at once
C) Feeling cold at lunch
5. If you are “craving candy,” how do you feel?
A) You want it badly
B) You don’t want any more
C) You want to give it away
6. What does “on a sugar high” mean?
A) Sleeping after eating sugar
B) Feeling excited after having sugar
C) Falling down from too much sugar
7. If someone says “can’t help myself,” what are they trying to say?
A) They don’t know the answer
B) They forgot their homework
C) They can’t stop doing something
8. What does “habit you can’t shake” mean?
A) You forgot what it is
B) You always keep doing it
C) It’s something you throw away
9. What does “fell into the trap” mean in a sentence like: He fell into the trap of snacking ll day?
A) He played with his pet trap
B) He stepped in a real trap
C) He started a habit and couldn’t stop
10. What does “can’t put it down” mean when talking about a phone or a book?
A) It’s too heavy
B) You keep using it
C) It’s stuck to your hand
11. What does “need my daily dose” mean?
A) You forgot what time it is
B) You need something every day
C) You want to be a doctor
12. What does “got carried away” mean?
A) Someone picked you up
B) You did more than planned
C) You went on a trip
Answers Key
- B) Really liking something and not wanting to stop
- C) They can’t stop doing something
- B) They use it too much and can’t stop
- B) Quitting something all at once
- A) You want it badly
- B) Feeling excited after having sugar
- C) They can’t stop doing something
- B) You always keep doing it
- C) He started a habit and couldn’t stop
- B) You keep using it
- B) You need something every day
- B) You did more than planned
Scoring Guide
- 12 Correct Answers: Love Idiom Master!
You really understand these idioms and how to use them! - 8–11 Correct Answers: Well on your way to understanding love Idioms.
You’re doing great just a little more practice and you’ll be a pro. - 4–7 Correct Answers: Room for improvement, but you’re getting there!
Keep trying! These idioms will make more sense with use. - 0–3 Correct Answers: Let’s explore the world of love Idioms together.
Don’t worry earning new phrases takes time. You’ll get better!
Conclusion
Understanding idioms about addiction helps us talk about strong habits in a simple way. These phrases show how hard it can be to stop doing something we enjoy too much, like playing games or eating sweets.
By learning these idioms, you can explain feelings or actions more clearly. You’ll also recognize when a habit might be getting out of hand. Keep practicing, and you’ll get better at spotting and using these expressions in your everyday life.
