Life can feel like a big journey. Sometimes it’s fun, and sometimes it’s hard. People have come up with special ways to talk about life. These are called idioms. Idioms are short sayings that don’t mean exactly what the words say. Instead, they give a bigger or deeper meaning. For example, if someone says, “Life is a roller coaster,” they don’t mean they are on a real ride. They mean life has ups and downs, just like a roller coaster.
Idioms help us understand and talk about life in an easy and fun way. We hear them in stories, songs, and even at school or at home. They help explain how we feel or what we think. In this article, you’ll learn 60 idioms about life, what they mean, and how to use them. You’ll also get a short quiz to test what you know. Let’s get started.
Idioms for Life
1. Life is a roller coaster
Meaning: Life has many ups and downs.
Within a Sentence: Middle school is like a roller coaster; some days are great, some are hard. / Life with a puppy is a roller coaster of fun and mess.
In Other Words: Life can be fun and tough at the same time. / Things change a lot.
2. Take life one day at a time
Meaning: Don’t worry about the future, just focus on today.
Within a Sentence: After my surgery, I had to take life one day at a time. / I’m not ready for next year yet, so I just take life one day at a time.
In Other Words: Don’t rush. / Handle today first.
3. Life is what you make it
Meaning: Your choices shape your life.
Within a Sentence: She studies hard because she knows life is what you make it. / He smiles every day. Life is what you make it.
In Other Words: You decide how good life can be.
4. Live and learn
Meaning: We learn from our mistakes.
Within a Sentence: I forgot my homework again, live and learn. / He didn’t wear a coat and got cold. Live and learn.
In Other Words: Mistakes help us grow.
5. The time of your life
Meaning: A really fun or happy experience.
Within a Sentence: I had the time of my life at the school fair. / She had the time of her life at the beach.
In Other Words: It was so much fun.
6. Life isn’t a bed of roses
Meaning: Life isn’t always easy.
Within a Sentence: Sometimes I feel sad. Life isn’t a bed of roses. / He found out that life isn’t a bed of roses when he moved schools.
In Other Words: Life can be hard sometimes.
7. That’s life
Meaning: Things don’t always go the way we want.
Within a Sentence: I lost the game, oh well, that’s life. / It started to rain on our picnic, but that’s life.
In Other Words: Bad things happen sometimes.
8. Life of the party
Meaning: A person who makes the party fun.
Within a Sentence: Sam danced all night; he was the life of the party. / She made everyone laugh, she’s the life of the party.
In Other Words: The most fun person.
9. Make a new start
Meaning: Begin again.
Within a Sentence: After moving to a new town, I made a new start. / She got a new notebook and made a new start.
In Other Words: Begin fresh.
10. Born with a silver spoon
Meaning: Born into a rich family.
Within a Sentence: He was born with a silver spoon, so he always had the best toys. / She never had to worry, born with a silver spoon.
In Other Words: Born lucky or rich.
11. Get a second wind
Meaning: Feel energy again after being tired.
Within a Sentence: I was tired during soccer, but then I got a second wind. / She got a second wind and finished her project.
In Other Words: Got more energy. / Felt ready to keep going.
12. The spice of life
Meaning: Variety makes life fun.
Within a Sentence: We tried a new game, change is the spice of life. / Different friends bring the spice of life.
In Other Words: New things make life interesting.
13. A new lease on life
Meaning: A fresh start.
Within a Sentence: After the surgery, he had a new lease on life. / She felt happy again, a new lease on life.
In Other Words: A fresh chance.
14. Life goes on
Meaning: Keep moving forward after hard times.
Within a Sentence: My fish died, but life goes on. / She lost her race, but life goes on.
In Other Words: We keep living.
15. Live life to the fullest
Meaning: Enjoy every moment.
Within a Sentence: We go hiking and laugh, living life to the fullest. / Grandma says to live life to the fullest.
In Other Words: Enjoy your time.
16. Have a life
Meaning: Do fun or meaningful things.
Within a Sentence: He plays outside a lot; he really has a life. / Don’t just play video games, have a life.
In Other Words: Do something fun or important.
17. Life’s no picnic
Meaning: Life can be tough.
Within a Sentence: Tests are hard, life’s no picnic. / Chores all day, life’s no picnic.
In Other Words: It’s not always easy.
18. Get a life
Meaning: Stop being boring or annoying.
Within a Sentence: All he does is watch TV, get a life! / She said, “Get a life,” when he kept bugging her.
In Other Words: Do something better.
19. Larger than life
Meaning: Very exciting or impressive.
Within a Sentence: That superhero is larger than life. / Her story sounded larger than life.
In Other Words: Big and bold.
20. In the prime of life
Meaning: At your best age.
Within a Sentence: She’s strong and happy, in the prime of life. / He runs fast, in the prime of life.
In Other Words: At your best time.
21. Lighten up
Meaning: Relax and don’t worry.
Within a Sentence: Don’t be so mad, lighten up. / The teacher told us to lighten up and smile.
In Other Words: Chill out. / Don’t be serious.
22. Buckle down
Meaning: Work hard.
Within a Sentence: I have to buckle down for the big test. / Time to buckle down and finish my chores.
In Other Words: Focus. / Get to work.
23. Turn over a new leaf
Meaning: Start behaving better.
Within a Sentence: He stopped lying and turned over a new leaf. / She turned over a new leaf after summer.
In Other Words: Start fresh.
24. Better late than never
Meaning: Doing something late is still good.
Within a Sentence: I finally cleaned my room, better late than never. / He said Sorry, better late than never.
In Other Words: It’s okay if it’s late.
25. Face the music
Meaning: Accept the results of your actions.
Within a Sentence: He broke the rule and had to face the music. / I didn’t study, and now I must face the music.
In Other Words: Take the blame.
26. Call it a day
Meaning: Stop working for now.
Within a Sentence: We finished our homework, let’s call it a day. / I’m tired, calling it a day.
In Other Words: Done for now.
27. Live and let live
Meaning: Let others live how they want.
Within a Sentence: I don’t agree, but live and let live. / She likes strange clothes, live and let live.
In Other Words: Let people be themselves.
28. Every dog has its day
Meaning: Everyone gets a chance.
Within a Sentence: He finally won, every dog has its day. / I’ll win too, every dog has its day.
In Other Words: My time will come.
29. Burn the candle at both ends
Meaning: Work too hard without rest.
Within a Sentence: She stayed up late and got up early, burning the candle at both ends. / I’m too tired, burned the candle at both ends.
In Other Words: Too busy. / Not enough rest.
30. Make ends meet
Meaning: Have just enough money.
Within a Sentence: We cut back to make ends meet. / They work two jobs to make ends meet.
In Other Words: Enough to get by.
31. The circle of life
Meaning: Life goes through stages, from birth to death.
Within a Sentence: Babies grow up, that’s the circle of life. / Leaves fall and new ones grow; it’s the circle of life.
In Other Words: Life keeps moving in cycles.
32. Put your life on the line
Meaning: Take a big risk.
Within a Sentence: Firefighters put their lives on the line. / She put her life on the line to save the dog.
In Other Words: Risk a lot.
33. Life’s too short
Meaning: Enjoy life and don’t waste time.
Within a Sentence: Let’s forgive, life’s too short. / Life’s too short to stay mad.
In Other Words: Don’t waste time on bad stuff.
34. It’s a small world
Meaning: We often run into people we know.
Within a Sentence: I saw my teacher at the store, it’s a small world! / We met in another city, what a small world.
In Other Words: Surprising to see someone again.
35. The story of my life
Meaning: Something always happens to you, often in a bad way.
Within a Sentence: Late again? That’s the story of my life. / Forgot my lunch, story of my life.
In Other Words: This happens all the time to me.
36. March to the beat of your own drum
Meaning: Do things your own way.
Within a Sentence: She wears different clothes, she marches to the beat of her own drum. / He paints how he likes.
In Other Words: Be yourself.
37. Life is no joke
Meaning: Life is serious sometimes.
Within a Sentence: Paying bills is hard; life is no joke. / She said, “Life’s no joke when things get tough.”
In Other Words: Life can be serious.
38. Life comes at you fast
Meaning: Things change quickly.
Within a Sentence: One day I was in 4th grade, life comes at you fast. / We moved again. Life comes at you fast.
In Other Words: Things change suddenly.
39. Make the most of it
Meaning: Enjoy or use time well.
Within a Sentence: We only had 30 minutes, so we made the most of it. / Let’s make the most of summer break.
In Other Words: Use time wisely.
40. A fact of life
Meaning: Something true we have to accept.
Within a Sentence: Growing up is a fact of life. / Bad days happen; it’s a fact of life.
In Other Words: You can’t change it.
41. Bring to life
Meaning: Make something feel real or exciting.
Within a Sentence: Her drawing brought the story to life. / The teacher brought math to life.
In Other Words: Made something exciting.
42. Breathe new life into
Meaning: Make something better or exciting again.
Within a Sentence: We painted the room and breathed new life into it. / A new teacher breathed new life into the class.
In Other Words: Made it fresh again.
43. Get a life-changing experience
Meaning: Have something happen that changes you.
Within a Sentence: Visiting the mountains was life-changing. / Helping others gave me a life-changing moment.
In Other Words: Something big happened.
44. Cost an arm and a leg
Meaning: Very expensive.
Within a Sentence: That toy costs an arm and a leg! / The trip cost an arm and a leg.
In Other Words: Super pricey.
45. The time of your life
Meaning: A really fun time.
Within a Sentence: I had the time of my life at the concert. / We had the time of our lives camping.
In Other Words: It was amazing.
46. All walks of life
Meaning: All kinds of people.
Within a Sentence: At the park, you see people from all walks of life. / Our team has kids from all walks of life.
In Other Words: Everyone is different.
47. A slice of life
Meaning: A simple moment from everyday living.
Within a Sentence: The comic shows a slice of life. / This painting is a slice of life from school.
In Other Words: A real-life scene.
48. A matter of life and death
Meaning: Very serious or important.
Within a Sentence: Don’t act like missing lunch is a matter of life and death. / For doctors, some things really are.
In Other Words: Very serious.
49. The good life
Meaning: A happy and easy life.
Within a Sentence: On vacation, we lived the good life. / Grandpa says retirement is the good life.
In Other Words: A nice, easy life.
50. Put some life into it
Meaning: Show more energy or excitement.
Within a Sentence: Your dance needs more pep, put some life into it! / This song could use some life.
In Other Words: Be more lively.
51. Not on your life
Meaning: Never.
Within a Sentence: Will I eat broccoli? Not on your life! / Not on your life will I wear that hat.
In Other Words: No way.
52. Life is short
Meaning: Don’t waste time.
Within a Sentence: Go to the party, life is short. / Say kind words, life is short.
In Other Words: Use time wisely.
53. For dear life
Meaning: Holding on or trying very hard.
Within a Sentence: I held the rope for dear life. / He ran for dear life from the dog.
In Other Words: Try really hard.
54. The best things in life are free
Meaning: Love and joy don’t cost money.
Within a Sentence: Hugs don’t cost anything; the best things in life are free. / Playing with friends is free and fun.
In Other Words: Joy doesn’t need money.
55. Lead a double life
Meaning: Live two very different lives.
Within a Sentence: He’s a student by day and gamer by night; he leads a double life. / She acts different at school and home.
In Other Words: Be two people in one.
56. It’s your life
Meaning: You make your choices.
Within a Sentence: Want to be an artist? It’s your life. / Do what makes you happy, it’s your life.
In Other Words: You choose.
57. Save someone’s life
Meaning: Help someone a lot.
Within a Sentence: You saved my life with that pencil! / That snack saved my life. I was starving.
In Other Words: Helped me a lot.
58. Take your life into your hands
Meaning: Do something risky.
Within a Sentence: Climbing that tree is taking your life into your hands. / Don’t take your life into your hands, wear a helmet.
In Other Words: Be careful.
59. Between life and death
Meaning: Very close to dying.
Within a Sentence: The rescue dog was between life and death. / The doctor said he was between life and death.
In Other Words: Very sick or hurt.
60. Life’s a journey
Meaning: Life is a long adventure.
Within a Sentence: Every day is different, life’s a journey. / We don’t know what’s next, life’s a journey.
In Other Words: Life is always changing.
True/False Quiz: Idioms for Life
- Saying “Life is a roller coaster” means life stays the same every day.
True / False - “Take life one day at a time” means don’t stress about tomorrow.
True / False - If someone says “That’s life,” they mean everything always goes perfectly.
True / False - “Born with a silver spoon” means someone had a hard life growing up.
True / False - “Live and learn” means we can grow by learning from mistakes.
True / False - “Life of the party” means someone who is boring at events.
True / False - If someone says “Get a life,” they might think you’re not doing anything fun or useful.
True / False - “In the prime of life” means someone is at a strong and healthy time in life.
True / False - “Lighten up” is something you say when someone is too serious.
True / False - “Every dog has its day” means only lucky people ever get good chances.
True / False - “Make ends meet” means having more than enough money to buy anything.
True / False - If someone “burns the candle at both ends,” they might be very tired.
True / False - “It’s a small world” can be said when you meet someone you know in a surprising place.
True / False - “March to the beat of your own drum” means to copy others so you don’t stand out.
True / False - “The best things in life are free” means we need money to enjoy everything.
True / False
Answer Key
- False
- True
- False
- False
- True
- False
- True
- True
- True
- False
- False
- True
- True
- False
- False
Scoring Guide
- 15 Correct Answers: Life Idioms Master!
- 10–14 Correct Answers: You really get Life Idioms, nice work!
- 6–9 Correct Answers: You’re learning, keep going!
- 0–5 Correct Answers: Let’s learn about Life Idioms together!
Conclusion
Life is full of change, fun, and even tough moments. Idioms help us talk about all these things in a simple and colorful way. Instead of always saying “life is hard” or “life is great,” we can use phrases like “life is a roller coaster” or “the best things in life are free.” These sayings make our words more fun and easier to understand.
Now that you know these idioms, try using them when you talk or write. They can help you share how you feel and what you think. Just like life, language can be exciting. Keep learning and using these idioms; they’re great tools for everyday talking.
