Emotion Idioms
English has colorful ways to express emotions. These idioms help you communicate feelings more vividly!
Happiness and Joy
Over the moon
Meaning: Extremely happy
- She was over the moon when she got the job.
- We’re over the moon about the new baby!
- I’d be over the moon if I won!
On top of the world
Meaning: Feeling wonderful, very happy
- After the promotion, I felt on top of the world.
- She’s on top of the world since meeting him.
- Graduating made me feel on top of the world.
Walking on air
Meaning: Extremely happy, euphoric
- She’s been walking on air since the engagement.
- I felt like I was walking on air after the concert.
Tickled pink
Meaning: Very pleased
- Grandma was tickled pink by the surprise visit.
- He was tickled pink to receive the award.
- We’re tickled pink that you could come!
Have a whale of a time
Meaning: To have a great time, lots of fun
- We had a whale of a time at the party!
- The kids are having a whale of a time at the beach.
Cultural note: English has many idioms for happiness, probably because talking about emotions indirectly feels more comfortable!
Sadness and Disappointment
Down in the dumps
Meaning: Sad, depressed
- He’s been down in the dumps since the breakup.
- I’m feeling down in the dumps today.
- When she’s down in the dumps, chocolate helps.
Have a long face
Meaning: To look sad or disappointed
- Why the long face? What happened?
- She had such a long face after the exam.
- No long faces - it’s a party!
Cry your heart out / Cry your eyes out
Meaning: To cry a lot
- She cried her heart out at the funeral.
- After the movie, I cried my eyes out.
Feeling blue
Meaning: Feeling sad
- I’ve been feeling blue lately.
- Why are you feeling blue? Talk to me.
- Rainy days make some people feel blue.
Hit someone hard
Meaning: To affect emotionally (usually negatively)
- The news hit him hard.
- Her death hit the community hard.
- Losing the championship hit the team hard.
Anger and Frustration
See red
Meaning: To become extremely angry
- When he insulted her, she saw red.
- Don’t make me see red!
- I saw red when I read that email.
Blow your top / Blow a fuse
Meaning: To suddenly become very angry
- Dad blew his top when he saw the broken window.
- She’s going to blow a fuse when she finds out.
- Don’t blow your top - there’s a good explanation.
Fly off the handle
Meaning: To suddenly become very angry
- He flew off the handle over a small mistake.
- Try not to fly off the handle when you hear this.
- She flies off the handle at the slightest provocation.
Similar idioms: “Blow your top,” “blow a fuse,” “fly off the handle” all mean sudden anger, but “see red” suggests intense rage.
At the end of your rope / At the end of your tether
Meaning: Extremely frustrated, unable to cope anymore
- I’m at the end of my rope with this project.
- Parents of toddlers often feel at the end of their rope.
- After three hours of troubleshooting, I was at the end of my rope.
Drive someone up the wall
Meaning: To annoy someone greatly
- That noise is driving me up the wall!
- Her constant questions drive me up the wall.
- Stop it! You’re driving me up the wall!
Get on someone’s nerves
Meaning: To irritate someone
- His whistling really gets on my nerves.
- Stop tapping - it gets on my nerves.
- Sorry if my questions get on your nerves.
Fear and Worry
Scared stiff / Scared to death
Meaning: Very frightened
- I was scared stiff during the horror movie.
- Heights make me scared to death.
- She was scared stiff before her speech.
Butterflies in your stomach
Meaning: Nervous excitement
- I have butterflies in my stomach before every performance.
- First dates give everyone butterflies.
- The butterflies in my stomach won’t go away!
Break out in a cold sweat
Meaning: To suddenly become very anxious
- I broke out in a cold sweat when I saw the police.
- Just thinking about the test makes me break out in a cold sweat.
Be a bundle of nerves
Meaning: To be very nervous
- Before the interview, she was a bundle of nerves.
- I’m always a bundle of nerves on exam day.
Mixed Emotions
Mixed feelings
Meaning: Having both positive and negative emotions
- I have mixed feelings about moving abroad.
- She left with mixed feelings.
- The reviews were mixed - some loved it, some hated it.
Bittersweet
Meaning: Both happy and sad at the same time
- Graduation was bittersweet - excited but sad to leave.
- It was a bittersweet victory after all the losses.