Vacations are a special time when people take a break from school or work. They may travel to new places, visit family, or just relax at home. People often feel excited, happy, or even a little tired after a trip. To talk about vacations in fun ways, many people use idioms. An idiom is a group of words that means something different than what the words say.
In this article, we will learn some common idioms that people use when talking about vacations. These sayings can make stories about trips more interesting. You may hear them in movies, read them in books, or even use them with your friends. Let’s look at what these phrases mean and how you can use them when talking about your own vacation experiences.
Idioms for Vacation
1. Hit the road
Meaning: Start a journey.
Within a Sentence: We hit the road early for our beach trip. / Dad said, “Let’s hit the road before traffic starts.”
In Other Words: Start driving / Begin the trip
2. Travel light
Meaning: Bring only a few things.
Within a Sentence: I like to travel light, just a backpack. / She traveled light for the weekend trip.
In Other Words: Pack small / Bring less stuff
3. Off the beaten path
Meaning: A place not many people go.
Within a Sentence: We found a park off the beaten path. / The beach was quiet and off the beaten path.
In Other Words: Hidden spot / Not crowded
4. Just what the doctor ordered
Meaning: Something perfect for you.
Within a Sentence: This vacation is just what the doctor ordered. / A nap in the sun was just what the doctor ordered.
In Other Words: Exactly what I needed / Felt perfect
5. A change of scenery
Meaning: Going somewhere new.
Within a Sentence: We needed a change of scenery after a busy school year. / Going to Grandma’s gave us a change of scenery.
In Other Words: New place / Different surroundings
6. Pack in
Meaning: Do many things in a short time.
Within a Sentence: We packed in four places in two days. / She packed in lots of fun before the flight.
In Other Words: Do a lot / Busy schedule
7. Raring to go
Meaning: Very excited to start.
Within a Sentence: The kids were raring to go to the amusement park. / I was raring to go on our road trip.
In Other Words: Super ready / Very excited
8. Call it a day
Meaning: Stop and rest.
Within a Sentence: We saw two museums and called it a day. / After swimming, we called it a day.
In Other Words: Stop for now / Done for today
9. In the middle of nowhere
Meaning: A place far from everything.
Within a Sentence: Our cabin was in the middle of nowhere. / The trail led us to the middle of nowhere.
In Other Words: Very far away / Remote place
10. Live it up
Meaning: Enjoy yourself a lot.
Within a Sentence: We lived it up at the water park. / They lived it up on their beach vacation.
In Other Words: Have fun / Enjoy fully
11. Get away from it all
Meaning: Leave your busy life behind.
Within a Sentence: We went camping to get away from it all. / She needed to get away from it all after finals.
In Other Words: Take a break / Escape stress
12. On the road
Meaning: Traveling by car or bus.
Within a Sentence: We were on the road by sunrise. / The family is on the road again.
In Other Words: Traveling / Driving
13. Rest and relaxation
Meaning: Time to rest and feel better.
Within a Sentence: The weekend was full of rest and relaxation. / I need some rest and relaxation after school.
In Other Words: Time to chill / Take it easy
14. It’s a small world
Meaning: You meet someone you know far away.
Within a Sentence: We saw our neighbors in Hawaii, it’s a small world! / Mom saw her friend in Florida what a small world!
In Other Words: What a surprise / Funny to meet here
15. Travel bug
Meaning: A strong wish to travel more.
Within a Sentence: After our trip, I caught the travel bug. / She’s got the travel bug now!
In Other Words: Wants to travel more / Loves trips
16. Home away from home
Meaning: A place that feels like home.
Within a Sentence: Grandma’s house is my home away from home. / That hotel felt like a home away from home.
In Other Words: Cozy place / Feels like your own
17. Take a hike
Meaning: Go for a walk in nature.
Within a Sentence: We took a hike through the woods. / Dad said, “Let’s take a hike before lunch.”
In Other Words: Nature walk / Go exploring
18. Catch some rays
Meaning: Sit in the sun.
Within a Sentence: I caught some rays by the pool. / We went outside to catch some rays.
In Other Words: Sunbathe / Get sunlight
19. Break the routine
Meaning: Do something different than normal.
Within a Sentence: The vacation helped us break the routine. / She broke the routine by going on a trip.
In Other Words: Try something new / Do things differently
20. Travel broadens the mind
Meaning: Seeing new places helps you learn.
Within a Sentence: Travel broadens the mind and helps you grow. / We believe travel broadens the mind.
In Other Words: Travel teaches / Learn by going places
21. Off to a flying start
Meaning: Begin something successfully.
Within a Sentence: Our trip got off to a flying start with a sunny day. / We were off to a flying start with no delays.
In Other Words: Great beginning / Started well
22. Make good time
Meaning: Travel faster than expected.
Within a Sentence: We made good time and reached by noon. / They made good time on the highway.
In Other Words: Quick trip / Reached fast
23. Get the show on the road
Meaning: Start a plan or trip.
Within a Sentence: Let’s get the show on the road! / Mom said it’s time to get the show on the road.
In Other Words: Let’s go / Start moving
24. Soak up the sun
Meaning: Enjoy sitting in the sun.
Within a Sentence: We soaked up the sun at the lake. / She loves to soak up the sun in the backyard.
In Other Words: Sunbathe / Relax in sunlight
25. Road trip
Meaning: A long car journey.
Within a Sentence: Our road trip to Texas was fun. / We planned a summer road trip.
In Other Words: Car vacation / Driving trip
26. Under the weather
Meaning: Feeling sick or tired.
Within a Sentence: I felt under the weather on the second day. / He was under the weather after the flight.
In Other Words: Not feeling well / A little sick
27. Hit the beach
Meaning: Go to the beach.
Within a Sentence: We hit the beach early in the morning. / Time to hit the beach!
In Other Words: Go to the ocean / Beach time
28. Take in the sights
Meaning: Look around and enjoy a place.
Within a Sentence: We took in the sights of the city. / She wanted to take in the sights before dinner.
In Other Words: Sightsee / Look around
29. Off the grid
Meaning: No phones, no internet.
Within a Sentence: We were off the grid at the cabin. / It felt good to be off the grid for a while.
In Other Words: Disconnected / Away from tech
30. Jet lag
Meaning: Feeling tired after flying across time zones.
Within a Sentence: I had jet lag after flying to Europe. / She was sleepy from jet lag.
In Other Words: Travel tired / Time zone sleepy
31. Travel blues
Meaning: Feeling sad during or after a trip.
Within a Sentence: I had the travel blues after coming home. / She missed the fun and got the travel blues.
In Other Words: Sad after vacation / Miss the trip
32. Back to the grind
Meaning: Return to work or school.
Within a Sentence: Vacation’s over, back to the grind. / Monday means back to the grind.
In Other Words: Back to normal / Return to work
33. Blow off steam
Meaning: Relax after stress.
Within a Sentence: We went to the mountains to blow off steam. / Swimming helps me blow off steam.
In Other Words: Chill out / Let go of stress
34. Beach bum
Meaning: Someone who loves staying at the beach.
Within a Sentence: I’m a beach bum in the summer. / She acts like a beach bum all break.
In Other Words: Loves the beach / Always at the shore
35. Booked solid
Meaning: No free time or space.
Within a Sentence: The hotel was booked solid. / Our schedule is booked solid today.
In Other Words: Full / No room
36. Take the scenic route
Meaning: Travel the long, pretty way.
Within a Sentence: We took the scenic route through the hills. / Dad always takes the scenic route.
In Other Words: Long way / Pretty view
37. Pit stop
Meaning: A short break while traveling.
Within a Sentence: We made a pit stop for snacks. / Let’s take a pit stop for gas.
In Other Words: Short stop / Quick break
38. Travel light
Meaning: Bring only what you need.
Within a Sentence: I like to travel light. / He packed just one bag to travel light.
In Other Words: Small bags / Less stuff
39. Take a detour
Meaning: Go a different way.
Within a Sentence: We took a detour to see the waterfall. / The road was closed, so we took a detour.
In Other Words: New path / Change direction
40. Go with the flow
Meaning: Be flexible with plans.
Within a Sentence: We went with the flow and had fun. / She goes with the flow on vacations.
In Other Words: Stay easy / Be chill
41. Recharge your batteries
Meaning: Rest and feel better.
Within a Sentence: Vacation helped me recharge my batteries. / He needed to recharge after exams.
In Other Words: Get energy back / Rest up
42. The great outdoors
Meaning: Nature, forests, or parks.
Within a Sentence: We explored the great outdoors. / Camping lets us enjoy the great outdoors.
In Other Words: Nature time / Outside fun
43. Take five
Meaning: Take a short rest.
Within a Sentence: Let’s take five before hiking again. / We took five under a shady tree.
In Other Words: Quick break / Rest a little
44. Travel down memory lane
Meaning: Remember old trips or times.
Within a Sentence: We traveled down memory lane at the cabin. / That photo took me down memory lane.
In Other Words: Remember past / Think of old times
45. Beat the heat
Meaning: Stay cool in hot weather.
Within a Sentence: We went to the pool to beat the heat. / Cold drinks help beat the heat.
In Other Words: Stay cool / Avoid heat
46. Catch the travel bug
Meaning: Want to travel more and more.
Within a Sentence: I caught the travel bug after our cruise. / She caught the travel bug last summer.
In Other Words: Love to travel / Keep planning trips
47. On a shoestring
Meaning: Traveling with little money.
Within a Sentence: We traveled on a shoestring but had fun. / Their trip was fun, even on a shoestring.
In Other Words: Low budget / Not much money
48. Travel light
Meaning: Carry just a few things.
Within a Sentence: I always travel light with a backpack. / She travels light on short trips.
In Other Words: Light packing / Few bags
49. Off-season
Meaning: Not the busy time to travel.
Within a Sentence: We went to the beach in the off-season. / Prices are lower in the off-season.
In Other Words: Not peak time / Less crowded
50. Packed like sardines
Meaning: Very crowded.
Within a Sentence: The bus was packed like sardines. / We were packed like sardines on the ride.
In Other Words: Too full / Squished
51. Like a kid in a candy store
Meaning: Super excited.
Within a Sentence: I felt like a kid in a candy store at the theme park. / He was like a kid in a candy store at the zoo.
In Other Words: Very happy / Super excited
52. Sit back and relax
Meaning: Do nothing and enjoy.
Within a Sentence: Sit back and relax by the pool. / We sat back and relaxed on the porch.
In Other Words: Chill / Take it easy
53. The trip of a lifetime
Meaning: An amazing, unforgettable trip.
Within a Sentence: Our cruise was the trip of a lifetime. / That trip to Yellowstone was the trip of a lifetime.
In Other Words: Best trip / Very special
54. To each their own
Meaning: Everyone likes different things.
Within a Sentence: She loves camping; I prefer hotels to each their own. / Not everyone likes beaches, to each their own.
In Other Words: People like different things
55. A breath of fresh air
Meaning: Something new and pleasant.
Within a Sentence: The quiet town was a breath of fresh air. / A break from chores felt like a breath of fresh air.
In Other Words: Nice change / Feels good
56. Off on an adventure
Meaning: Starting an exciting trip.
Within a Sentence: We’re off on an adventure to the mountains. / They left the city, off on an adventure.
In Other Words: Starting a fun trip / On our way
57. The world is your oyster
Meaning: You can go anywhere and do anything.
Within a Sentence: With a map and time, the world is your oyster. / After school ends, the world is your oyster.
In Other Words: Go explore / Many choices
58. Get carried away
Meaning: Get too excited or overdo something.
Within a Sentence: I got carried away buying souvenirs. / We got carried away and stayed up too late.
In Other Words: Got too excited / Went too far
59. A full plate
Meaning: A busy schedule.
Within a Sentence: Our vacation had a full plate of activities. / We had a full plate every day.
In Other Words: Lots to do / Busy day
60. A wild ride
Meaning: A fun or crazy experience.
Within a Sentence: That trip was a wild ride! / The roller coaster was a wild ride.
In Other Words: Fun and wild / Crazy and exciting
Idioms for Vacation – True/False Quiz
- “Hit the road” means to stop traveling and go home.
True / False - If someone likes to “travel light,” they only bring a few things.
True / False - “Off the beaten path” means a place that is popular and crowded.
True / False - If a vacation is “just what the doctor ordered,” it is not helpful at all.
True / False - Saying “raring to go” means someone is very excited to start.
True / False - “Call it a day” means to keep doing more things.
True / False - A “pit stop” is a short break during a trip.
True / False - “Catch some rays” means to look at the stars at night.
True / False - When someone is “off the grid,” they usually have no internet or phone.
True / False - “Back to the grind” means vacation just started.
True / False - “Take the scenic route” means to choose the fastest way to get somewhere.
True / False - “A home away from home” feels like your real home.
True / False - Saying “blow off steam” means you get more stressed.
True / False - “Packed like sardines” means there’s lots of space around.
True / False - “The world is your oyster” means you can explore many options.
True / False
Answers
- False
- True
- False
- False
- True
- False
- True
- False
- True
- False
- False
- True
- False
- False
- True
Scoring Guide
- 15 Correct Answers: Vacation Idioms Master!
- 10–14 Correct Answers: You really get Vacation Idioms, nice work!
- 6–9 Correct Answers: You’re learning, keep going!
- 0–5 Correct Answers: Let’s learn about Vacation Idioms together!
Conclusion
Vacations give us time to relax, explore, and have fun. Using idioms makes talking about trips more colorful and fun. These phrases help describe how we feel and what we do when we travel.
Now that you know many vacation idioms, try using them when you talk about your own trips. Whether you’re packing light, hitting the road, or taking in the sights, idioms make your stories easier to understand and more fun to hear. Keep practicing and enjoy your next adventure!
