Some people find it hard to stop doing things that feel good. This can be playing video games all night, eating too much candy, or even watching too much TV. When someone can’t stop doing something, even when it causes problems, it may be called an addiction. People sometimes use special phrases, called idioms, to talk about this in a more interesting or softer way.
Idioms are groups of words that mean something different from what they say. They help us explain hard or deep ideas in a way that sounds normal in conversation. In this article, we’ll learn about idioms people use when talking about addiction. These can help us better understand feelings and habits. You may have heard some of them without knowing what they really meant. Let’s explore them together.
Idioms for Addiction
1. Hooked on something
Meaning: Really liking something and not wanting to stop.
Within a Sentence: She’s hooked on her favorite game. / He’s hooked on chocolate milk.
In Other Words: She can’t stop playing. / He always wants more.
2. Can’t get enough
Meaning: Wanting more all the time.
Within a Sentence: I can’t get enough of that song. / She can’t get enough of TikTok.
In Other Words: I want to hear it again. / She keeps watching it.
3. A hard habit to break
Meaning: Something you keep doing even when you try to stop.
Within a Sentence: Biting my nails is a hard habit to break. / Playing before homework is a hard habit to break.
In Other Words: It’s hard to stop doing it.
4. Addicted to something
Meaning: Needing something all the time.
Within a Sentence: He’s addicted to soda. / She’s addicted to video games.
In Other Words: He drinks it a lot. / She plays all day.
5. Can’t put it down
Meaning: Not wanting to stop using something.
Within a Sentence: She can’t put her phone down. / I can’t put down this book.
In Other Words: She keeps using it. / I keep reading.
6. Glued to it
Meaning: Paying attention to one thing and not moving.
Within a Sentence: He’s glued to the TV. / They were glued to their tablets.
In Other Words: He keeps watching. / They won’t stop using them.
7. Chained to it
Meaning: Stuck doing something a lot.
Within a Sentence: He’s chained to his game console. / She’s chained to her phone.
In Other Words: He won’t stop playing. / She uses it all day.
8. Can’t live without it
Meaning: Thinking you need something to be happy.
Within a Sentence: I can’t live without my music. / She says she can’t live without soda.
In Other Words: It’s very important to them.
9. In too deep
Meaning: Too involved in something to easily stop.
Within a Sentence: He’s in too deep with his online games. / She’s in too deep with her snack habit.
In Other Words: It’s hard for him to quit. / She can’t stop easily.
10. Got the bug
Meaning: Starting to really like something.
Within a Sentence: I got the bug for drawing. / She got the bug for skateboarding.
In Other Words: I really enjoy it. / She wants to do it a lot.
11. Can’t stop
Meaning: Doing something again and again.
Within a Sentence: I can’t stop playing that game. / She can’t stop eating chips.
In Other Words: I keep doing it. / She doesn’t want to stop.
12. Always on it
Meaning: Using or doing something all the time.
Within a Sentence: He’s always on his phone. / She’s always on that app.
In Other Words: He uses it a lot. / She opens it many times.
13. Keep coming back
Meaning: Returning to something again and again.
Within a Sentence: He keeps coming back to that candy jar. / I keep coming back to the same video.
In Other Words: He won’t stop eating. / I keep watching.
14. Can’t walk away
Meaning: Finding it hard to stop.
Within a Sentence: She can’t walk away from her favorite show. / I can’t walk away from my snacks.
In Other Words: She keeps watching. / I can’t stop eating.
15. Can’t help it
Meaning: Doing something without meaning to.
Within a Sentence: I can’t help it, I love soda. / He can’t help it, he checks his messages all the time.
In Other Words: I just do it. / He keeps looking.
16. Feeds the craving
Meaning: Gives what you really want.
Within a Sentence: That candy feeds my craving. / Her phone feeds her craving for fun.
In Other Words: It’s what I really want. / It keeps her busy.
17. Has a grip on me
Meaning: Controlling what you do.
Within a Sentence: That game has a grip on me. / Soda has a grip on him.
In Other Words: I can’t stop playing. / He drinks it all the time.
18. Down the rabbit hole
Meaning: Getting too deep into something.
Within a Sentence: I went down the rabbit hole of videos. / She went down the rabbit hole of snacks.
In Other Words: I watched too many. / She kept eating.
19. On a binge
Meaning: Doing too much of something at once.
Within a Sentence: He went on a video binge. / She went on a candy binge.
In Other Words: He watched too much. / She ate a lot.
20. Can’t get away from it
Meaning: Feels stuck with something.
Within a Sentence: I can’t get away from this show. / He can’t get away from that game.
In Other Words: I keep watching. / He keeps playing.
21. Eats up all my time
Meaning: Takes up a lot of your day.
Within a Sentence: That app eats up all my time. / TV eats up her time.
In Other Words: I spend hours on it. / She watches a lot.
22. Under its spell
Meaning: Feeling like you must keep doing it.
Within a Sentence: He’s under the spell of his game. / She’s under the spell of soda.
In Other Words: He can’t stop. / She wants more.
23. It’s my weakness
Meaning: Something hard to resist.
Within a Sentence: Ice cream is my weakness. / Her weakness is popcorn.
In Other Words: I can’t say no. / She eats it a lot.
24. Can’t resist
Meaning: Too tempting to skip.
Within a Sentence: I can’t resist that candy. / He can’t resist his games.
In Other Words: I always want it. / He keeps playing.
25. Drawn to it
Meaning: Always going back to it.
Within a Sentence: I’m drawn to that game every day. / She’s drawn to cookies.
In Other Words: I keep playing. / She keeps eating.
26. Lost in it
Meaning: So focused you forget time.
Within a Sentence: I get lost in my phone. / She gets lost in her music.
In Other Words: I don’t notice time. / She plays forever.
27. Sucked in
Meaning: Pulled into doing something for a long time.
Within a Sentence: I get sucked into videos. / She gets sucked into snacks.
In Other Words: I can’t stop watching. / She keeps eating.
28. Like a magnet
Meaning: Always pulled back to it.
Within a Sentence: That game is like a magnet. / Soda is like a magnet to me.
In Other Words: I keep going to it.
29. Craves it
Meaning: Really wants it a lot.
Within a Sentence: He craves candy. / She craves her phone time.
In Other Words: He always wants some. / She wants to use it.
30. Obsessed with it
Meaning: Thinking about something all the time.
Within a Sentence: She’s obsessed with that show. / I’m obsessed with basketball cards.
In Other Words: She always watches. / I keep collecting.
31. Can’t let go
Meaning: Not able to stop or give something up.
Within a Sentence: He can’t let go of his game controller. / I can’t let go of soda.
In Other Words: He keeps playing. / I keep drinking it.
32. Taken over
Meaning: Controlling someone’s time or actions.
Within a Sentence: The game has taken over his weekend. / Candy has taken over her snacks.
In Other Words: He plays all the time. / She only eats candy now.
33. Eyes glued to it
Meaning: Watching something and not looking away.
Within a Sentence: Her eyes are glued to the screen. / My eyes are glued to cartoons.
In Other Words: She can’t stop watching. / I keep looking.
34. Never puts it down
Meaning: Always holding or using it.
Within a Sentence: He never puts his tablet down. / She never puts her phone down.
In Other Words: He uses it all day. / She’s always texting.
35. Always reaching for it
Meaning: Keeps wanting more.
Within a Sentence: I’m always reaching for cookies. / She’s always reaching for her phone.
In Other Words: I keep grabbing snacks. / She keeps checking it.
36. Has to have it
Meaning: Feeling like you need it.
Within a Sentence: He has to have his soda every lunch. / I have to have my game time.
In Other Words: He can’t skip it. / I won’t miss it.
37. Can’t leave it alone
Meaning: Keeps going back to it.
Within a Sentence: I can’t leave the candy alone. / She can’t leave her playlist alone.
In Other Words: I keep eating. / She keeps playing it.
38. Too into it
Meaning: Doing it too much.
Within a Sentence: He’s too into his video games. / She’s too into phone games.
In Other Words: He spends all day playing. / She plays nonstop.
39. Glued to the screen
Meaning: Watching or using a screen without stopping.
Within a Sentence: They’re glued to the screen during cartoons. / I’m glued to my laptop.
In Other Words: Watching too much. / Can’t stop using it.
40. Runs my life
Meaning: Something you plan your day around.
Within a Sentence: That app runs my life. / Her sweet tooth runs her life.
In Other Words: I use it all the time. / She keeps eating sweets.
41. Goes back for more
Meaning: Always returning to get more.
Within a Sentence: He goes back for more cookies. / She goes back for more game time.
In Other Words: He eats too many. / She plays again and again.
42. Eats me up
Meaning: Can’t stop thinking about it.
Within a Sentence: Not playing eats me up. / Not checking her phone eats her up.
In Other Words: I worry about it. / She has to check it.
43. Tied to it
Meaning: Always stuck with it.
Within a Sentence: He’s tied to his phone. / I feel tied to my favorite show.
In Other Words: He keeps using it. / I watch it all the time.
44. It pulls me in
Meaning: Makes you want to do it again.
Within a Sentence: That game pulls me in every day. / Soda pulls her in at lunch.
In Other Words: I keep playing. / She keeps drinking.
45. Always thinking about it
Meaning: Can’t stop talking or dreaming about it.
Within a Sentence: I’m always thinking about video games. / She’s always thinking about chocolate.
In Other Words: It’s stuck in my mind.
46. Can’t say no
Meaning: Always gives in.
Within a Sentence: I can’t say no to chips. / He can’t say no to cartoons.
In Other Words: I always eat them. / He always watches.
47. It calls my name
Meaning: Feels like it’s waiting for you.
Within a Sentence: That candy bar calls my name. / The game calls his name after school.
In Other Words: I really want it. / He has to play it.
48. Deep in it
Meaning: So into something you don’t want to stop.
Within a Sentence: She’s deep in her show. / I’m deep in this puzzle game.
In Other Words: She won’t stop. / I keep going.
49. On it day and night
Meaning: Using something all the time.
Within a Sentence: He’s on his tablet day and night. / She’s on that app all day.
In Other Words: He never takes a break. / She uses it a lot.
50. Stuck in a loop
Meaning: Doing the same thing again and again.
Within a Sentence: I’m stuck in a game loop. / She’s stuck in a candy-eating loop.
In Other Words: I keep playing. / She keeps eating.
51. It’s all I think about
Meaning: Can’t stop your thoughts from going there.
Within a Sentence: Video games are all I think about. / She says candy is all she thinks about.
In Other Words: I think of it too much.
52. Feels like I need it
Meaning: Can’t go without it.
Within a Sentence: I feel like I need to check my phone. / She feels like she needs soda.
In Other Words: I must do it. / She has to drink it.
53. Can’t break free
Meaning: Hard to stop.
Within a Sentence: He can’t break free from that show. / I can’t break free from snack time.
In Other Words: He keeps watching. / I keep snacking.
54. Keeps pulling me back
Meaning: Makes you return to it.
Within a Sentence: The game keeps pulling me back. / Soda keeps pulling her back.
In Other Words: I go back to it. / She drinks more.
55. It’s got me
Meaning: You feel stuck with it.
Within a Sentence: That app’s got me hooked. / Candy’s got her all day.
In Other Words: I can’t stop. / She eats too much.
56. I need my fix
Meaning: Wanting your favorite thing badly.
Within a Sentence: I need my fix of cartoons. / She needs her fix of candy.
In Other Words: I must watch. / She must eat.
57. Craving hits
Meaning: Suddenly wanting something.
Within a Sentence: The craving hits after dinner. / Her craving hits during lunch.
In Other Words: I want it now.
58. Feels like a habit
Meaning: Doing something so much it becomes normal.
Within a Sentence: Playing after school feels like a habit. / Soda with lunch feels like a habit.
In Other Words: I do it every day.
59. Part of my day
Meaning: Happens every day.
Within a Sentence: That game is part of my day. / Candy is part of her snack time.
In Other Words: It happens often.
60. Can’t say goodbye to it
Meaning: Not ready to stop it.
Within a Sentence: I can’t say goodbye to my favorite app. / She can’t say goodbye to cookies.
In Other Words: I want to keep using it. / She keeps eating them.
Idioms for Addiction – True/False Quiz
- Saying “He’s hooked on games” means he doesn’t like to play much.
True / False - If someone “can’t get enough” of soda, it means they want more.
True / False - “Glued to the screen” means someone is ignoring their device.
True / False - “It’s a hard habit to break” means it’s easy to stop.
True / False - “She’s always reaching for candy” means she rarely eats it.
True / False - “Lost in it” means someone is fully focused and forgets time.
True / False - “Runs my life” means it has a small part in your day.
True / False - If a game “calls my name,” that means you never want to play it.
True / False - “Can’t say no” means the person always avoids doing something.
True / False - “On it day and night” means someone only uses it in the morning.
True / False - “Craving hits” means suddenly wanting something.
True / False - If you “feel like you need it,” that means you don’t care about it.
True / False - “It pulls me in” means you are pushed away from something.
True / False - “Can’t say goodbye to it” means it’s hard to stop doing it.
True / False - “Part of my day” means it’s something you do every day.
True / False
Answers
- False
- True
- False
- False
- False
- True
- False
- False
- False
- False
- True
- False
- 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 help us explain habits in a simple way. When people do something too much, we can use phrases like “hooked on it” or “can’t put it down” to show how strong their feelings are. These sayings don’t say it directly, but they give a clear idea of what’s going on.
By learning idioms about addiction, you can better understand how people talk about habits. You can also use them to talk about your own habits. Keep listening for these idioms in books and conversations, it’s a fun way to learn!
