Trying something new can feel exciting. It might be a new school year, a new game, or a new pair of shoes. People use special phrases, called idioms, to talk about new things in fun or interesting ways. These idioms help us share ideas clearly and sometimes make conversations more fun to listen to.
In this article, you’ll learn some common idioms that use the word “new” or describe something that is new. Each one has a meaning that’s not always clear just by looking at the words. We’ll go over what they mean and how people use them. You’ll also get to try some questions to check your understanding.
Idioms for New
1. Break new ground
Meaning: To do something that has never been done before.
Sample Sentences: The scientist broke new ground with her invention. / Our team is breaking new ground in how we learn math.
Other Way to Say: Start something new / Try something different
2. A new lease on life
Meaning: A fresh start or chance to live better.
Sample Sentences: After moving to a new school, he got a new lease on life. / The puppy gave the family a new lease on life.
Other Way to Say: Fresh start / New beginning
3. Turn over a new leaf
Meaning: To start behaving in a better way.
Sample Sentences: After the talk with his teacher, he turned over a new leaf. / I decided to turn over a new leaf and study more.
Other Way to Say: Start fresh / Change for the better
4. New kid on the block
Meaning: Someone who is new in a place or group.
Sample Sentences: She is the new kid on the block at school. / Being new on the team can be hard at first.
Other Way to Say: New person / Beginner
5. Brand new
Meaning: Completely new and unused.
Sample Sentences: He got a brand new bike for his birthday. / She wore brand new shoes to the party.
Other Way to Say: Completely new / Fresh out of the box
6. New blood
Meaning: New people who bring energy and ideas.
Sample Sentences: The company needs new blood to grow. / New blood joined the soccer team this season.
Other Way to Say: Fresh people / New members
7. New horizons
Meaning: New opportunities or experiences.
Sample Sentences: Moving to a new city opened up new horizons. / College gave her new horizons to explore.
Other Way to Say: New chances / New possibilities
8. Newfangled
Meaning: Something new and often strange or unusual.
Sample Sentences: He didn’t like the newfangled video game. / Some people don’t like newfangled gadgets.
Other Way to Say: Modern / Different
9. Newfound
Meaning: Recently discovered or gained.
Sample Sentences: She has newfound confidence after winning the race. / They have newfound respect for their teacher.
Other Way to Say: Newly found / Recently gained
10. Make a fresh start
Meaning: To begin again in a better way.
Sample Sentences: After summer break, the students made a fresh start. / He wanted to make a fresh start and stop being late.
Other Way to Say: Start over / Begin again
11. New horizons
Meaning: New opportunities or places to explore.
Sample Sentences: Traveling opened new horizons for her. / The job gave him new horizons to look forward to.
Other Way to Say: New possibilities / New chances
12. New blood
Meaning: New people who bring fresh energy.
Sample Sentences: The team got new blood with the new players. / The company hired new blood to improve sales.
Other Way to Say: Fresh faces / New members
13. Out with the old, in with the new
Meaning: Getting rid of old things to welcome new ones.
Sample Sentences: It’s time to clean your room—out with the old, in with the new. / New ideas mean out with the old, in with the new.
Other Way to Say: Replace old with new / Start fresh
14. New trick
Meaning: A new skill or way of doing something.
Sample Sentences: He learned a new trick on his skateboard. / The dog showed off a new trick to the family.
Other Way to Say: New skill / New method
15. New face
Meaning: A new person in a group or place.
Sample Sentences: There was a new face at the school play. / The club welcomed a new face this week.
Other Way to Say: New person / Stranger
16. Start from scratch
Meaning: Begin again with nothing.
Sample Sentences: After losing the project, they had to start from scratch. / Baking a cake means starting from scratch with ingredients.
Other Way to Say: Begin again / Start fresh
17. New wave
Meaning: A recent trend or style.
Sample Sentences: The new wave of music is very popular. / New wave ideas are changing the school.
Other Way to Say: New trend / Fresh style
18. New blood
Meaning: New members who bring energy.
Sample Sentences: The team got new blood this season. / We need new blood to help with the project.
Other Way to Say: Fresh members / New people
19. Fresh off the boat
Meaning: Someone who just arrived from a different place.
Sample Sentences: The new student was fresh off the boat from another country. / The family was fresh off the boat last year.
Other Way to Say: Newly arrived / Just came
20. New shoes to fill
Meaning: To take over an important role from someone else.
Sample Sentences: After the teacher retired, the new one had big shoes to fill. / The new captain has big shoes to fill.
Other Way to Say: Big job ahead / Important role to take
21. Brand spanking new
Meaning: Very new and fresh.
Sample Sentences: She bought a brand spanking new phone. / The car is brand spanking new.
Other Way to Say: Completely new / Just bought
22. New kid in town
Meaning: A person who is new in a place.
Sample Sentences: The new kid in town made friends quickly. / Everyone noticed the new kid in town.
Other Way to Say: Newcomer / Fresh arrival
23. New leaf
Meaning: A new beginning or change for the better.
Sample Sentences: He turned over a new leaf and started studying. / After the mistake, she turned a new leaf.
Other Way to Say: Fresh start / New beginning
24. New day
Meaning: A chance to start again.
Sample Sentences: Every morning is a new day to do better. / After a bad day, a new day brings hope.
Other Way to Say: Fresh start / New beginning
25. New ground
Meaning: Trying something new and different.
Sample Sentences: The team is breaking new ground with their ideas. / The artist is exploring new ground in painting.
Other Way to Say: New territory / Fresh start
26. New blood
Meaning: New people who bring energy.
Sample Sentences: The club welcomed new blood this semester. / New blood helps make the team stronger.
Other Way to Say: Fresh people / New members
27. New money
Meaning: People who recently got rich.
Sample Sentences: The new money spent a lot on a big house. / Some people say new money acts different from old money.
Other Way to Say: Recently rich / Fresh wealth
28. New horizons
Meaning: New chances and possibilities.
Sample Sentences: Going to college opened new horizons for her. / The job gave him new horizons to explore.
Other Way to Say: New opportunities / Fresh chances
29. Newcomer
Meaning: Someone who just arrived.
Sample Sentences: The newcomer joined the school band. / We welcomed the newcomer to our group.
Other Way to Say: New person / Fresh face
30. New blood
Meaning: New people who bring energy.
Sample Sentences: The project needs new blood to succeed. / New blood in the class means fresh ideas.
Other Way to Say: Fresh members / Newcomers
31. Fresh start
Meaning: A chance to begin again.
Sample Sentences: After moving, she got a fresh start. / The new year is a fresh start for everyone.
Other Way to Say: New beginning / Start over
32. New lease on life
Meaning: A fresh chance to live happily or successfully.
Sample Sentences: After the surgery, he had a new lease on life. / The job gave her a new lease on life.
Other Way to Say: Fresh chance / New beginning
33. New face
Meaning: A person who is new in a place or group.
Sample Sentences: The school has many new faces this year. / She’s a new face in the neighborhood.
Other Way to Say: Newcomer / Fresh person
34. New blood
Meaning: New members who bring energy.
Sample Sentences: The team was excited to have new blood join. / We need new blood in the club.
Other Way to Say: Fresh members / New people
35. New tricks
Meaning: New skills or ways of doing things.
Sample Sentences: The puppy learned new tricks quickly. / She’s always ready to learn new tricks at school.
Other Way to Say: New skills / Fresh methods
36. New day, new chance
Meaning: Each day gives you a fresh opportunity.
Sample Sentences: Don’t worry about yesterday—new day, new chance. / A new day, new chance to try again.
Other Way to Say: Fresh start / New opportunity
37. New blood
Meaning: New people with energy.
Sample Sentences: New blood on the team helped win the game. / The club needs new blood to grow.
Other Way to Say: Fresh people / New members
38. New chapter
Meaning: A new part of your life or story.
Sample Sentences: Starting high school is a new chapter for her. / Moving to a new city is a new chapter in his life.
Other Way to Say: New beginning / Fresh start
39. New kid
Meaning: Someone who is new in a place.
Sample Sentences: The new kid made friends quickly. / Being the new kid is sometimes hard.
Other Way to Say: Newcomer / Fresh face
40. New wave
Meaning: A recent trend or style.
Sample Sentences: The new wave of music is fun. / New wave ideas are changing the school.
Other Way to Say: New trend / Fresh style
41. New blood
Meaning: New people who bring energy.
Sample Sentences: New blood is good for a team. / We need new blood to help us.
Other Way to Say: Fresh members / New people
42. New look
Meaning: A different appearance.
Sample Sentences: She got a new look with a haircut. / The store has a new look this season.
Other Way to Say: Different style / Fresh appearance
43. New face
Meaning: A new person in a group.
Sample Sentences: The new face at school is very nice. / We welcomed the new face to our club.
Other Way to Say: Newcomer / Fresh person
44. New blood
Meaning: New people with energy.
Sample Sentences: The team needs new blood to win. / New blood joined the class this year.
Other Way to Say: Fresh members / Newcomers
45. New start
Meaning: To begin something new.
Sample Sentences: After the move, she had a new start. / The new school year is a new start.
Other Way to Say: Fresh beginning / Start over
46. New blood
Meaning: New people with fresh ideas.
Sample Sentences: New blood in the group brought new ideas. / The club welcomed new blood.
Other Way to Say: Fresh members / Newcomers
47. New gear
Meaning: New equipment or clothes.
Sample Sentences: He bought new gear for football practice. / She showed off her new gear at school.
Other Way to Say: New equipment / Fresh clothes
48. New blood
Meaning: New people who bring energy.
Sample Sentences: The team looks better with new blood. / We need new blood in the band.
Other Way to Say: Fresh members / New people
49. New face
Meaning: Someone new in a group or place.
Sample Sentences: The new face in class is very friendly. / New face at work means new friends.
Other Way to Say: Newcomer / Fresh person
50. New day
Meaning: A fresh start or chance.
Sample Sentences: Today is a new day to do well. / A new day brings new chances.
Other Way to Say: Fresh start / New beginning
51. New blood
Meaning: New people with energy.
Sample Sentences: The sports team got new blood this season. / New blood helps make the team stronger.
Other Way to Say: Fresh people / New members
52. New path
Meaning: A different way or choice.
Sample Sentences: She chose a new path in life. / Starting a new job was a new path for him.
Other Way to Say: New way / Different choice
53. New blood
Meaning: New members who bring energy.
Sample Sentences: New blood joined the choir. / The club is stronger with new blood.
Other Way to Say: Fresh members / Newcomers
54. New step
Meaning: A new action or stage.
Sample Sentences: Starting middle school is a new step. / The project’s new step is to finish the report.
Other Way to Say: New stage / New move
55. New blood
Meaning: New people who bring energy.
Sample Sentences: The team is excited about new blood. / We need new blood in the drama club.
Other Way to Say: Fresh members / Newcomers
Multiple Choice Questions: idioms for new
1. What does “a fresh start” mean?
A. Starting again in a better way
B. Cleaning something
C. Making a new friend
2. What does “new kid on the block” mean?
A. Someone who just moved into the neighborhood
B. A famous person
C. A person who lives next door
3. If you “break new ground,” what are you doing?
A. Digging a hole in the ground
B. Starting something exciting and different
C. Walking on new dirt
4. What does it mean if something is “like new”?
A. It is old and broken
B. It works just like something brand new
C. It’s made from recycled parts
5. What does “out with the old, in with the new” mean?
A. Get rid of old clothes
B. Change something old for something better
C. Forget about people
6. If someone says “turn over a new leaf,” what are they planning to do?
A. Pick up leaves
B. Change their behavior for the better
C. Start gardening
7. What does “a breath of fresh air” describe?
A. A cold wind
B. Something new and nice
C. A person sneezing
8. What does “clean slate” mean?
A. A clean chalkboard
B. A fresh start without past mistakes
C. A book without any writing
9. If something is a “brand new day,” what does that suggest?
A. It’s going to rain
B. It’s a new chance to do well
C. You are going to be late
10. What does “hit the reset button” mean in a sentence?
A. Start over again
B. Turn off a computer
C. Pause a video
11. If you are “taking a leap into the unknown,” what are you doing?
A. Jumping on a trampoline
B. Trying something new without knowing what will happen
C. Going to a place you’ve been before
12. What does “try something new” usually mean?
A. Do something for the first time
B. Copy someone
C. Finish homework early
Answer Key
1. A. Starting again in a better way
2. A. Someone who just moved into the neighborhood
3. B. Starting something exciting and different
4. B. It works just like something brand new
5. B. Change something old for something better
6. B. Change their behavior for the better
7. B. Something new and nice
8. B. A fresh start without past mistakes
9. B. It’s a new chance to do well
10. A. Start over again
11. B. Trying something new without knowing what will happen
12. A. Do something for the first time
Scoring Guide
12 Correct Answers:
Love Idiom Master! You know your “new” idioms really well.
8–11 Correct Answers:
Well on your way to understanding new idioms. Just a little more practice!
4–7 Correct Answers:
Room for improvement, but you’re getting there! Keep learning.
0–3 Correct Answers:
Let’s explore the world of “new” idioms together. Try reviewing the meanings again.
Conclusion
Learning idioms about “new” helps us talk about fresh starts, new people, and trying different things in a fun way. These phrases are often used in real life, at school, home, or with friends.
Now that you know what these idioms mean, you can use them when talking about changes or beginnings. Keep listening for them in books, shows, or conversations. The more you hear and use them, the more natural they will feel.
