Studying can be hard sometimes. Maybe you are getting ready for a test, or trying to finish your homework before dinner. People often talk about school in fun or smart ways using special phrases. These are called idioms. Idioms don’t mean exactly what the words say. They have a hidden meaning that helps explain a feeling or idea.
In this article, we will learn idioms that talk about studying. These expressions make it easier to talk about school in a more interesting way. You’ll see what each idiom means and how to use it. Some of them might sound silly, but people really use them. Let’s take a look and see how they can help describe the way we study and learn.
Idioms about Studying
1. Hit the books
Meaning: Start studying seriously
Within a Sentence: I need to hit the books before the big math test. / She hits the books every night after dinner.
In Other Words: Start learning hard. / Begin to study a lot.
2. Learn by heart
Meaning: Memorize something
Within a Sentence: I learned the poem by heart. / We have to learn the state capitals by heart.
In Other Words: Remember without looking. / Know it without help.
3. Crack the books
Meaning: Open books and begin to study
Within a Sentence: He didn’t crack the books all weekend. / I’ll crack the books after dinner.
In Other Words: Start reading to learn. / Begin homework.
4. Hit the sack after hitting the books
Meaning: Sleep after studying
Within a Sentence: I hit the sack after hitting the books all night. / She always hits the sack after study time.
In Other Words: Sleep after working. / Rest after homework.
5. Ace a test
Meaning: Get a very good grade
Within a Sentence: I aced my spelling test today. / She studied hard and aced the quiz.
In Other Words: Did really well. / Got all the answers right.
6. Brush up on
Meaning: Review something you learned before
Within a Sentence: I need to brush up on my multiplication. / She brushed up on history before the quiz.
In Other Words: Go over again. / Practice old lessons.
7. Pull an all-nighter
Meaning: Stay awake all night studying
Within a Sentence: He pulled an all-nighter for the science test. / I don’t like pulling all-nighters.
In Other Words: Didn’t sleep to study. / Stayed up late for school.
8. Study up on
Meaning: Learn about something
Within a Sentence: I’m studying up on planets. / She studied up on U.S. presidents.
In Other Words: Learn more. / Read and understand.
9. Make the grade
Meaning: Do well enough to succeed
Within a Sentence: She made the grade in reading class. / I hope I make the grade this semester.
In Other Words: Passed. / Did a good job.
10. Burn the midnight oil
Meaning: Stay up late studying
Within a Sentence: I burned the midnight oil to finish my paper. / He always burns the midnight oil before tests.
In Other Words: Study late. / Work at night.
11. Pass with flying colors
Meaning: Pass with a very high score
Within a Sentence: I passed my spelling test with flying colors. / She passed the quiz with flying colors.
In Other Words: Got a great score. / Did very well.
12. On the same page
Meaning: Understanding something the same way
Within a Sentence: The teacher and I are on the same page. / We’re all on the same page for our group project.
In Other Words: Agree. / Understand alike.
13. Learn the ropes
Meaning: Learn how to do something
Within a Sentence: I’m still learning the ropes at my new school. / She learned the ropes of math class quickly.
In Other Words: Figuring things out. / Learning how it works.
14. Get the hang of
Meaning: Begin to understand how to do something
Within a Sentence: I finally got the hang of long division. / She got the hang of her new class routine.
In Other Words: Starting to get it. / Know how to do it.
15. In hot water over grades
Meaning: In trouble because of poor grades
Within a Sentence: I’m in hot water over my math test. / He was in hot water for not studying.
In Other Words: Got in trouble. / Parents are upset.
16. Know something inside out
Meaning: Know very well
Within a Sentence: I know my spelling list inside out. / She knows the school map inside out.
In Other Words: Know everything about it. / Fully understand.
17. Test the waters
Meaning: Try something out before going all in
Within a Sentence: I tested the waters in art class. / We tested the waters with a new study plan.
In Other Words: Try first. / See how it goes.
18. Go back to square one
Meaning: Start again
Within a Sentence: I had to go back to square one with the math problem. / She went back to square one on her science fair.
In Other Words: Begin over. / Start from the top.
19. School of hard knocks
Meaning: Learning by experience
Within a Sentence: I learned from the school of hard knocks after failing my first quiz. / She says life is the school of hard knocks.
In Other Words: Learn the hard way. / Learn by doing.
20. Brainstorm ideas
Meaning: Think of different ideas
Within a Sentence: We brainstormed ideas for our project. / He likes to brainstorm before writing.
In Other Words: Think together. / Come up with plans.
21. Bookworm
Meaning: Someone who reads a lot
Within a Sentence: My sister is a bookworm. / He’s a bookworm who loves reading history.
In Other Words: Loves books. / Always reading.
22. At the top of the class
Meaning: One of the best students
Within a Sentence: She’s at the top of the class in science. / He works hard to stay at the top of the class.
In Other Words: A top student. / One of the best.
23. Make the honor roll
Meaning: Get very good grades
Within a Sentence: I made the honor roll last semester. / She made the honor roll again.
In Other Words: High grades. / Did very well.
24. Teacher’s pet
Meaning: A student who tries hard to please the teacher
Within a Sentence: He’s the teacher’s pet. / People think I’m the teacher’s pet because I help a lot.
In Other Words: Teacher’s helper. / Favorite student.
25. Know the drill
Meaning: Understand the routine
Within a Sentence: We know the drill when the bell rings. / She knows the drill for the morning work.
In Other Words: Know what to do. / It’s familiar.
26. Bury your head in a book
Meaning: Read or study very hard
Within a Sentence: She buried her head in a book all weekend. / I buried my head in a book to study.
In Other Words: Focus hard. / Read deeply.
27. A quick study
Meaning: Learn things fast
Within a Sentence: He’s a quick study in math. / She’s a quick study with new lessons.
In Other Words: Learns fast. / Gets it quickly.
28. In one ear and out the other
Meaning: Not remembered
Within a Sentence: The rules went in one ear and out the other. / My brother’s advice goes in one ear and out the other.
In Other Words: Forgot fast. / Didn’t listen.
29. Pick your brain
Meaning: Ask someone for ideas or help
Within a Sentence: I picked her brain about science projects. / He picked my brain about book ideas.
In Other Words: Ask for help. / Get ideas.
30. Jump to conclusions
Meaning: Decide too quickly without all the facts
Within a Sentence: Don’t jump to conclusions about the grade. / She jumped to conclusions before reading.
In Other Words: Guess too fast. / Not sure yet.
31. Put on your thinking cap
Meaning: Get ready to think hard
Within a Sentence: Put on your thinking cap for the riddle. / I had to put on my thinking cap during the test.
In Other Words: Think deeply. / Use your brain.
32. Sharpen your skills
Meaning: Get better at something
Within a Sentence: I’m sharpening my writing skills. / She sharpens her math skills with practice.
In Other Words: Practice more. / Improve.
33. Doodle in class
Meaning: Draw instead of paying attention
Within a Sentence: I doodled in class by mistake. / He always doodles in his notebook.
In Other Words: Draw for fun. / Not paying full attention.
34. Learn the hard way
Meaning: Learn by making mistakes
Within a Sentence: I learned the hard way to check my homework. / She learned the hard way about studying late.
In Other Words: Found out by mistake. / Learned from trouble.
35. Think outside the box
Meaning: Come up with new ideas
Within a Sentence: We thought outside the box for our project. / He likes to think outside the box in art class.
In Other Words: Be creative. / Try new ideas.
36. The bell rings a bell
Meaning: Something sounds familiar
Within a Sentence: That lesson rings a bell. / Her name rings a bell from class.
In Other Words: Sounds familiar. / I think I know it.
37. Fall behind
Meaning: Not keep up
Within a Sentence: I fell behind on my reading. / He’s falling behind in math.
In Other Words: Slowed down. / Didn’t keep up.
38. Keep up with
Meaning: Stay at the same level
Within a Sentence: I’m keeping up with my homework. / She keeps up with her reading list.
In Other Words: Stay on track. / Don’t fall back.
39. Think on your feet
Meaning: Think fast
Within a Sentence: I had to think on my feet during the quiz. / She thinks on her feet in class.
In Other Words: Quick thinking. / Act fast.
40. Back to basics
Meaning: Start with simple things
Within a Sentence: We went back to basics in math. / He needs to go back to basics with writing.
In Other Words: Start simple. / Review the easy stuff.
41. Do your homework
Meaning: Prepare well
Within a Sentence: I did my homework before the field trip. / She always does her homework before projects.
In Other Words: Get ready. / Be prepared.
42. Make sense
Meaning: Be clear and easy to understand
Within a Sentence: This lesson makes sense now. / It didn’t make sense at first, but now it does.
In Other Words: Understand it. / Got it.
43. Draw a blank
Meaning: Can’t remember
Within a Sentence: I drew a blank during the quiz. / She drew a blank on her speech.
In Other Words: Forgot. / Nothing came to mind.
44. Take notes
Meaning: Write down important things
Within a Sentence: I took notes in science class. / He takes notes during stories.
In Other Words: Write facts. / Copy what matters.
45. Ask questions
Meaning: Ask to understand better
Within a Sentence: I always ask questions in class. / She asked questions to learn more.
In Other Words: Be curious. / Find answers.
46. Study buddy
Meaning: A friend you study with
Within a Sentence: My study buddy helped me with spelling. / We are study buddies for math.
In Other Words: Study partner. / Learn together.
47. Ahead of the class
Meaning: Learn faster than others
Within a Sentence: He’s ahead of the class in reading. / She’s ahead of the class in science.
In Other Words: Learns quickly. / Doing very well.
48. Go over
Meaning: Review something
Within a Sentence: I went over my answers twice. / She goes over her notes after school.
In Other Words: Check again. / Review.
49. Hand in
Meaning: Give your work to the teacher
Within a Sentence: I handed in my homework on time. / He handed in his project early.
In Other Words: Turned it in. / Gave it to the teacher.
50. Get it
Meaning: Understand something
Within a Sentence: I get it now! / She didn’t get it at first.
In Other Words: Know what it means. / Understand.
51. Give it a shot
Meaning: Try something
Within a Sentence: I gave it a shot and joined the quiz. / He gave spelling a shot.
In Other Words: Try it out. / Just try.
52. Pick it up
Meaning: Learn quickly
Within a Sentence: I picked up typing fast. / She picked up science well.
In Other Words: Learned fast. / Got it quickly.
53. Go blank
Meaning: Can’t think of anything
Within a Sentence: I went blank during the test. / He went blank in class.
In Other Words: Forgot. / Mind went empty.
54. Look over
Meaning: Review or check
Within a Sentence: I looked over my answers. / She looked over her notebook.
In Other Words: Checked again. / Reviewed.
55. Turn in
Meaning: Submit work
Within a Sentence: I turned in my paper today. / He turned in his book report.
In Other Words: Handed it in. / Submitted.
56. Work something out
Meaning: Solve a problem
Within a Sentence: I worked out the math puzzle. / We worked out the answer together.
In Other Words: Solved it. / Found the answer.
57. Come prepared
Meaning: Bring what you need
Within a Sentence: I came prepared with my supplies. / She came prepared for the quiz.
In Other Words: Ready to work. / Had everything.
58. Know your stuff
Meaning: Be good at something
Within a Sentence: She knows her stuff in history. / I know my stuff in spelling.
In Other Words: Knows a lot. / Good at it.
59. Keep track of
Meaning: Remember or follow progress
Within a Sentence: I keep track of my homework. / She keeps track of her grades.
In Other Words: Watch closely. / Remember things.
60. Go the extra mile
Meaning: Do more than expected
Within a Sentence: I went the extra mile on my project. / She always goes the extra mile in class.
In Other Words: Try extra hard. / Do more work.
Idioms about Studying – True/False Quiz
- “Hit the books” means you are starting to study.
- If you “learn by heart,” it means you forgot what you read.
- “Pulling an all-nighter” means you went to bed early.
- If you “ace a test,” it means you failed it.
- “A bookworm” is someone who loves to read.
- “Bury your head in a book” means you are focusing on reading.
- “Go back to square one” means you get to skip steps.
- “Sharpen your skills” means you are trying to improve.
- “Fall behind” means you are staying ahead.
- “Study buddy” means someone you like to play sports with.
- “Pass with flying colors” means you did very well.
- If something “rings a bell,” it means it sounds familiar.
- “Take notes” means you are playing games in class.
- “Pick your brain” means to ask someone for ideas.
- “Go the extra mile” means you do more than what is needed.
Answers
- True
- False
- False
- False
- True
- True
- False
- True
- False
- False
- True
- True
- False
- True
- True
Scoring Guide
- 15 Correct Answers: Idioms Master!
- 10–14 Correct Answers: You really get idioms, nice work!
- 6–9 Correct Answers: You’re learning, keep going!
- 0–5 Correct Answers: Let’s learn about idioms together!
Conclusion
Idioms make learning more fun and interesting. Instead of just saying “I studied,” you can say “I hit the books.” These phrases help explain school life in a smart way. Some may sound silly, but they are often used.
Now that you’ve learned 60 idioms about studying, try using a few with your friends or in class. When you use idioms, your words sound more natural and clear. It helps people understand what you mean in a fun way. Keep learning and practicing, there’s always more to discover.
