Feelings are a big part of being human. We feel happy, sad, angry, scared, and many things in between. Sometimes it’s hard to explain how we feel with just one word. That’s why people use idioms. Idioms are special phrases that don’t mean exactly what the words say, but they help us talk about our emotions in fun and colorful ways.
This article will show you idioms about feelings. These are expressions people use when they want to share how they feel in a more interesting way. You’ll learn what each idiom means and how to use it. By the end, you’ll be able to use them in your own writing and speech too. Let’s explore how words can help us understand feelings better.
Idioms about Feelings
1. Over the moon
Meaning: Very happy
Within a Sentence: I was over the moon when I got a puppy. / She was over the moon about her birthday party.
In Other Words: Super happy / Full of joy
2. Down in the dumps
Meaning: Feeling very sad
Within a Sentence: He was down in the dumps after losing his toy. / She felt down in the dumps when her best friend moved.
In Other Words: Really sad / Feeling low
3. Walking on air
Meaning: Feeling very excited and happy
Within a Sentence: I was walking on air after getting an A. / She felt like walking on air when her team won.
In Other Words: Super excited / Very joyful
4. In a pickle
Meaning: In a tricky or hard situation
Within a Sentence: I was in a pickle when I forgot my homework. / He was in a pickle at lunch with no sandwich.
In Other Words: In trouble / Stuck
5. On cloud nine
Meaning: Very happy
Within a Sentence: She was on cloud nine after the school play. / I felt on cloud nine during the field trip.
In Other Words: Really happy / Feeling great
6. Butterflies in my stomach
Meaning: Feeling nervous
Within a Sentence: I had butterflies in my stomach before the test. / He felt butterflies before going on stage.
In Other Words: Nervous / A little scared
7. Like a fish out of water
Meaning: Feeling out of place
Within a Sentence: I felt like a fish out of water at the new school. / She looked like a fish out of water at the party.
In Other Words: Uncomfortable / Not fitting in
8. In hot water
Meaning: In trouble
Within a Sentence: I was in hot water after breaking the lamp. / He got in hot water for not listening.
In Other Words: In trouble / In a bad spot
9. Head over heels
Meaning: Very much in love
Within a Sentence: He’s head over heels for his dog. / She’s head over heels for her new kitten.
In Other Words: Deeply in love / Loving a lot
10. A lump in my throat
Meaning: Feeling like crying
Within a Sentence: I had a lump in my throat during the goodbye. / She had a lump in her throat watching the sad movie.
In Other Words: About to cry / Very emotional
11. All smiles
Meaning: Very happy
Within a Sentence: He was all smiles after recess. / She was all smiles when she saw her grandma.
In Other Words: Very cheerful / Looking happy
12. Green with envy
Meaning: Feeling jealous
Within a Sentence: I was green with envy when I saw his new bike. / She was green with envy about her friend’s dress.
In Other Words: Jealous / Wishing you had what someone else has
13. A face like thunder
Meaning: Looking very angry
Within a Sentence: Dad had a face like thunder after the mess. / She walked in with a face like thunder.
In Other Words: Very mad / Angry look
14. Cry over spilled milk
Meaning: Upset over something small or done
Within a Sentence: Don’t cry over spilled milk, just clean it up. / She cried over spilled milk when her drawing ripped.
In Other Words: Don’t worry about the past / It’s too late
15. Bent out of shape
Meaning: Very upset about something small
Within a Sentence: He got bent out of shape over the wrong pizza. / Don’t get bent out of shape it’s just a game.
In Other Words: Overreact / Too upset
16. Cool as a cucumber
Meaning: Very calm
Within a Sentence: She stayed cool as a cucumber during the storm. / He was cool as a cucumber before the test.
In Other Words: Calm / Not worried
17. Heart in your mouth
Meaning: Very scared or nervous
Within a Sentence: My heart was in my mouth when the ball came near. / She had her heart in her mouth during the rollercoaster.
In Other Words: Really scared / Very nervous
18. All choked up
Meaning: Too emotional to speak
Within a Sentence: He was all choked up during the goodbye. / She got all choked up at the sad part.
In Other Words: Couldn’t speak / About to cry
19. Blowing off steam
Meaning: Letting out anger or stress
Within a Sentence: I ran to blow off steam after school. / She danced to blow off steam.
In Other Words: Calming down / Releasing emotions
20. A roller coaster of emotions
Meaning: Many feelings at once
Within a Sentence: I felt a roller coaster of emotions on the first day. / The game was a roller coaster of emotions.
In Other Words: Mixed feelings / Many ups and downs
21. In high spirits
Meaning: Feeling cheerful
Within a Sentence: We were in high spirits at the fair. / She was in high spirits after winning.
In Other Words: Happy / Feeling good
22. Scared stiff
Meaning: Very scared
Within a Sentence: I was scared stiff during the thunder. / He stood scared stiff at the haunted house.
In Other Words: Frozen in fear / Very afraid
23. Heartbroken
Meaning: Deeply sad
Within a Sentence: She was heartbroken after her pet ran away. / He felt heartbroken after saying goodbye.
In Other Words: Very sad / Hurt inside
24. Feeling blue
Meaning: Feeling sad
Within a Sentence: I was feeling blue on a rainy day. / He felt blue after the movie.
In Other Words: Sad / Not happy
25. Jump for joy
Meaning: Be very happy
Within a Sentence: I jumped for joy when I saw the gift. / She jumped for joy when it snowed.
In Other Words: So happy / Couldn’t stop smiling
26. Lose your cool
Meaning: Get angry
Within a Sentence: I lost my cool when my game froze. / She lost her cool during the fight.
In Other Words: Got mad / Yelled
27. Take it to heart
Meaning: Feel hurt by words
Within a Sentence: He took it to heart when they laughed. / She took the comment to heart.
In Other Words: Felt hurt / Took seriously
28. Tearing your hair out
Meaning: Very frustrated
Within a Sentence: I was tearing my hair out over the puzzle. / She was tearing her hair out with homework.
In Other Words: Very stressed / Couldn’t take it
29. Sick to your stomach
Meaning: Feeling upset or nervous
Within a Sentence: I felt sick to my stomach before the test. / He was sick to his stomach after the bad news.
In Other Words: Nervous / Worried
30. Not yourself
Meaning: Acting different because of feelings
Within a Sentence: She was not herself after the argument. / He seemed not himself today.
In Other Words: Feeling off / Not normal
31. Fuming
Meaning: Very angry
Within a Sentence: He was fuming after his bike got stolen. / She was fuming when her phone broke.
In Other Words: Really mad / Boiling inside
32. Over the edge
Meaning: Too emotional to handle things
Within a Sentence: She went over the edge after her pet ran away. / He felt over the edge with all the homework.
In Other Words: Couldn’t take it / Very upset
33. Lose your temper
Meaning: Get angry suddenly
Within a Sentence: I lost my temper when I got blamed. / He lost his temper over the broken toy.
In Other Words: Got mad / Snapped
34. Heart skips a beat
Meaning: Feeling shocked or excited
Within a Sentence: My heart skipped a beat when I saw the test score. / Her heart skipped a beat when the lights went out.
In Other Words: Big surprise / Sudden feeling
35. A weight off my shoulders
Meaning: Feeling relief
Within a Sentence: It was a weight off my shoulders to finish the project. / She felt a weight off her shoulders after the talk.
In Other Words: Relieved / Felt better
36. Feel ten feet tall
Meaning: Feeling proud
Within a Sentence: I felt ten feet tall after helping my friend. / She felt ten feet tall when her art was picked.
In Other Words: Proud / Happy with yourself
37. On edge
Meaning: Nervous or ready to snap
Within a Sentence: I was on edge before the game. / He was on edge waiting for his turn.
In Other Words: Nervous / Tense
38. Keep a stiff upper lip
Meaning: Stay strong and not cry
Within a Sentence: She kept a stiff upper lip at the goodbye. / He tried to keep a stiff upper lip after falling.
In Other Words: Stay strong / Don’t cry
39. In seventh heaven
Meaning: Extremely happy
Within a Sentence: I was in seventh heaven with my new puppy. / She was in seventh heaven after the concert.
In Other Words: So happy / Joyful
40. Torn up
Meaning: Deeply sad
Within a Sentence: He was torn up after losing his book. / She was torn up when her pet got sick.
In Other Words: Very sad / Heartbroken
41. Grin from ear to ear
Meaning: Big smile from happiness
Within a Sentence: He grinned from ear to ear after scoring a goal. / She grinned from ear to ear when she got a gift.
In Other Words: Big smile / Very happy
42. Shake like a leaf
Meaning: Very scared
Within a Sentence: I was shaking like a leaf during the scary story. / She shook like a leaf before her speech.
In Other Words: Really scared / Nervous
43. Hit hard
Meaning: Affect someone emotionally
Within a Sentence: The news hit her hard. / It hit me hard when the trip got canceled.
In Other Words: Felt strong feelings / Very emotional
44. Eyes filled with tears
Meaning: About to cry
Within a Sentence: Her eyes filled with tears during the movie. / His eyes filled with tears at the goodbye.
In Other Words: Sad / About to cry
45. A knot in your stomach
Meaning: Feeling very worried
Within a Sentence: I had a knot in my stomach before the test. / She had a knot in her stomach at the dentist.
In Other Words: Nervous / Worried
46. Blown away
Meaning: Surprised in a good way
Within a Sentence: I was blown away by her singing. / He was blown away by the fireworks.
In Other Words: Very impressed / Amazed
47. Feeling under the weather
Meaning: Not feeling well
Within a Sentence: I felt under the weather and missed school. / She was under the weather with a cold.
In Other Words: Not feeling good / A bit sick
48. Beaming
Meaning: Smiling with pride or joy
Within a Sentence: She was beaming after the award. / He was beaming when his name was called.
In Other Words: Proud / Very happy
49. Put on a brave face
Meaning: Pretend to be okay when you’re not
Within a Sentence: She put on a brave face at the goodbye. / He put on a brave face after falling.
In Other Words: Act strong / Hide sadness
50. Turned red
Meaning: Feeling shy or embarrassed
Within a Sentence: I turned red when I made a mistake. / She turned red when everyone clapped.
In Other Words: Shy / Embarrassed
51. Eyes lit up
Meaning: Showed happiness or excitement
Within a Sentence: His eyes lit up when he saw the toy. / Her eyes lit up at the good news.
In Other Words: Excited / Happy
52. Brokenhearted
Meaning: Very sad after losing something or someone
Within a Sentence: She was brokenhearted after her pet died. / He felt brokenhearted at the end of the movie.
In Other Words: Very sad / Full of pain
53. At peace
Meaning: Feeling calm inside
Within a Sentence: I felt at peace by the lake. / She was at peace after talking to her mom.
In Other Words: Calm / Okay
54. Boiling inside
Meaning: Very angry but not showing it
Within a Sentence: I was boiling inside when he lied. / She was boiling inside at the unfair rule.
In Other Words: Very mad / Quietly angry
55. Stuck in a funk
Meaning: Feeling low or not in a good mood
Within a Sentence: I was stuck in a funk all day. / She’s in a funk since the test.
In Other Words: Feeling off / Not happy
56. Let your feelings out
Meaning: Talk or cry about your feelings
Within a Sentence: I let my feelings out by writing. / She let her feelings out with a friend.
In Other Words: Share emotions / Express how you feel
57. Smile through the tears
Meaning: Try to be happy while sad
Within a Sentence: She smiled through the tears at her farewell. / He smiled through the tears after losing.
In Other Words: Sad but trying to stay happy / Being brave
58. Light as a feather
Meaning: Feeling free or happy
Within a Sentence: I felt light as a feather after the test. / She felt light as a feather after the hug.
In Other Words: Happy / Free from worry
59. Weighed down
Meaning: Feeling very sad or worried
Within a Sentence: He felt weighed down after the bad grade. / She was weighed down with too many thoughts.
In Other Words: Sad / Worried a lot
60. A heart of stone
Meaning: Showing no emotions
Within a Sentence: He had a heart of stone during the sad movie. / She looked like she had a heart of stone.
In Other Words: Cold / Didn’t show feelings
Idioms About Feelings – True/False Quiz
- “Over the moon” means someone is feeling very sad.
True / False - If someone has “butterflies in their stomach,” they are probably nervous about something.
True / False - Saying “in a pickle” means someone is very happy.
True / False - “Green with envy” means you’re feeling jealous.
True / False - If your “eyes are filled with tears,” you are laughing really hard.
True / False - “Cool as a cucumber” means someone is calm even when things go wrong.
True / False - When someone is “on edge,” they feel relaxed and sleepy.
True / False - “Jump for joy” means to get upset over something small.
True / False - Saying “my heart skipped a beat” can mean someone was surprised.
True / False - If a friend is “grinning from ear to ear,” they are probably angry.
True / False - “Boiling inside” means someone is feeling very angry but not showing it.
True / False - “Let your feelings out” means you should keep everything inside and not talk about it.
True / False - “Smile through the tears” means you’re pretending to be happy even when you feel sad.
True / False - If someone feels “weighed down,” they are feeling light and free.
True / False - A person with a “heart of stone” doesn’t show their feelings easily.
True / False
Answer Key
- False
- True
- False
- True
- False
- True
- False
- False
- True
- False
- True
- False
- True
- False
- 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 help us talk about feelings in fun and creative ways. Instead of saying “I’m happy” or “I’m sad,” you can use expressions like “on cloud nine” or “feeling blue.” These phrases make speaking and writing more colorful.
The more you hear and use idioms, the easier it becomes to understand how others feel. They help you say big feelings with just a few words. Try using these idioms in your stories or conversations. It’s a great way to grow as a writer and speaker.
