30+ Popular Idioms to Express Feelings and Emotions in English

Learn useful Idioms to Express Feelings and Emotions in English with meaning and examples.

Contents

List of Idioms to Express Feelings and Emotions

All the Rage

Meaning: Very much in fashion
Example: Yoga pants are all the rage in North America right now, but in two years probably nobody will be wearing them.

Meeting of the Minds

Meaning: Strong instinctive agreement on something
Example: At first the negotiations weren’t going well, but when the president of the company and I sat down over drinks, we had a real meeting of the minds.

Scare the Living Daylights out of Someone

Meaning: Frighten someone severely
Example: I know my boyfriend was just trying to be nice, but when I opened the door to my apartment and everyone yelled “Surprise!” it scared the living daylights out of me.

Out of Sight, Out of Mind

Meaning: When you don’t see something or someone, you tend to forget about that thing or person.
Example: When I broke up with Jake, I was heartbroken. But since he moved away, I hardly ever think about him. Out of sight, out of mind!

Tear-Jerker

Meaning: A film or book that makes you cry
Example: The film “Love Story,” with its story of young love cut short by death, was one of the most successful tear-jerkers of all time.

Pet Peeve

Meaning: A small thing that you find particularly annoying
Example: My pet peeve is people who bring large numbers of items to the express checkout at the supermarket.

Pull Yourself Together

Meaning: Control your emotions; recover from a strong emptional upset
Example: I know it was hard seeing your ex-boyfriend at the bar, but you need to pull yourself together so we can go home.

Get Carried Away

Meaning: Become overly enthusiastic
Example: Sure, you can invest a little money, but don’t get carried away – people lose lots of money on the stock market.

Think Big

Meaning: Consider ambitious plans; avoid becoming overly concerned with details
Example: Sales this year have been good. Caitlin said we should think big and consider whole new product lines.

Not Playing with a Full Deck

Meaning: Stupid, mentally deficient or impaired
Example: John’s suggestions in the meeting were ridiculous. Sometimes I think he’s not playing with a full deck.

Note: “A few bricks short of a load” is one of many variants.

Under the Impression

Meaning: Believing something, perhaps mistakenly
Example: I was under the impression that you were going to pick me up at the airport.

Out of Sorts

Meaning: Slightly ill; not feeling well
Example: Sorry I was so quiet during the meeting. I’ve been out of sorts all day.

Short Fuse

Meaning: A quick temper; a tendency to anger quickly
Example: Brandon has a short fuse, but he calms down as quickly as he gets angry.

Off One’s Rocker

Meaning: Crazy, nuts, insane
Example: Have you heard Dmitri is going to try to climb Mt. Rinjani in the rainy season? He must be off his rocker.

Bang One’s Head Against the Wall (Against a Brick Wall)

Meaning: Try repeatedly to do something without making progress
Example: Susana has been working on the data for three hours, but she says she’s just banging her head against the wall.

Young at Heart

Meaning: Having a youthful outlook, regardless of age
Example: Jack is young at heart. He’s 84 years old, but he’s always willing to go out dancing.

Take It Easy

Meaning: Don’t hurry; relax; don’t get angry
Example: I’ve been working too hard. I just want to head for the islands and take it easy for a few days.

Passing Fancy

Meaning: A temporary interest or attraction
Example: Many people thought Uggs were just a passing fancy, but they’ve been popular for several years now.

… Useful Idioms to Express Feelings and Emotions …

On the Ball

Meaning: Prepared, alert, competent
Example: Ralph is on the ball. I think we can leave the office under his supervision for a few days.

On the Fence

Meaning: Undecided between two choices
Example: I’m on the fence about the election – both candidates have their good and bad points.

Living in Cloud Cuckooland

Meaning: Having unrealistic or foolish beliefs or plans.
Example: Norma thinks she’s going to be making $100,000 euros by next year. She’s living in cloud cuckooland.

Mad as a Hatter

Meaning: Mentally ill, psychotic
Example: Gerald used to be one of the most logical people I know. Now he’s mad as a hatter.

Note: This is rare in the USA.

Freudian Slip

Meaning: Accidental use of an incorrect word; a revealing slip of the tongue
Example: That was a real Freudian slip when Jane referred to her boyfriend as her father.

Fly off the Handle

Meaning: To become suddenly enraged
Example: How was I to know Tom would fly off the handle when I asked him about his father?

Draw a Blank

Meaning: Be unable to remember something
Example: I drew a blank when she asked me to name all of her sisters.

Drive Someone Up the Wall

Meaning: Deeply irritate someone
Example: When Marie hums at her desk, it drives up up the wall.

Note: Some people also say “drives me up a wall.”

Down in the Dumps

Meaning: Depressed, sad
Example: You’ve been down in the dumps all week. Let’s go to the football game – that’ll cheer you up.

Chuck a Wobbly

Meaning: To act in an emotional way
Example: I know you’re upset. But don’t chuck a wobbly in your meeting with the boss; he won’t like it.

Note: You can also say “throw a wobbly.”

Cock-A-Hoop

Meaning: Elated, excited
Example: Fans are cock-a-hoop about the team’s acquisition of the new striker.

Blow One’s Stack

Meaning: To lose one’s temper and explode in anger
Example: I swear, if Cindy asks me about the tickets one more time, I’m going to blow my stack.

At the End of One’s Rope (Tether)

Meaning: Running out of endurance or patience
Example: Amber keeps whistling in the office. She doesn’t even realize she’s doing it, but I’m at the end of my rope.

At Wit’s End

Meaning: Frustrated because all measures to deal with something have failed
Example: I’m at my wit’s end trying to deal with the insect infestation – nothing I’ve tried has worked.

Air Rage

Meaning: Angry behavior inside an airplane
Example: Most people are calm on long plane flights, but once in a while you have to deal with air rage, usually fueled by alcohol.

Act One’s Age