English Idioms

Emotions

Understanding idioms related to emotions can greatly improve your ability to express feelings and moods in English. Our collection of emotion idioms features clear definitions, practical examples, and audio pronunciations to support your learning. Mastering these idioms will help you describe and convey emotional states more vividly and accurately. By exploring their origins, you'll gain valuable cultural insights and deepen your understanding. Practice using these idioms to enhance your conversational skills and express yourself more authentically. Start learning emotion idioms today to enrich your English communication and emotional expression.

Idiom	Meaning and Examples
A heavy heart	Meaning: Feeling deeply sad or sorrowful, often due to a personal loss or difficult situation. Examples: Despite his brave face, he carried a heavy heart after hearing the devastating news about his friend. Jane attended the memorial service with a heavy heart, remembering all the good times they had shared. With a heavy heart, he bid farewell to the city that had been his home for over two decades. Meaning and Examples of the "A heavy heart" idiom
All ears	Meaning: When someone is fully focused and ready to listen attentively, they are all ears. It signifies giving someone your complete attention, often to hear important or interesting information. Examples: When the CEO announced the new strategy, the entire room was all ears. During the storytelling session, the children were all ears, captivated by every word. She knew her presentation was crucial, and thankfully, the investors were all ears. Meaning and Examples of the "All ears" idiom
Beside yourself	Meaning: When someone is extremely emotional, often due to anger, excitement, or distress, they are said to be 'beside themselves.' Their intense feelings make it difficult for them to remain calm or composed. Examples: When she found out she had won the lottery, she was beside herself with joy. He was beside himself with rage after hearing the unfair verdict. Upon receiving the tragic news, they were beside themselves with grief. Meaning and Examples of the "Beside yourself" idiom
Butterflies in your stomach	Meaning: Feeling nervous or anxious, especially before a significant event or experience. It's the sensation of fluttering or unease in your stomach that often accompanies anticipation or excitement. Examples: Jane felt butterflies in her stomach as she stepped onto the stage to deliver her speech. Every time he thought about asking her out, he got butterflies in his stomach. The anticipation of the big game gave all the players butterflies in their stomachs. Meaning and Examples of the "Butterflies in your stomach" idiom
Cold feet	Meaning: Feeling nervous or anxious about a significant decision or event, often leading to hesitation or withdrawal. It's a sense of doubt that can occur just before taking a big step. Examples: As the wedding day approached, Sarah began to get cold feet and questioned if she was making the right choice. Even seasoned actors can get cold feet before stepping onto the stage for a big performance. Tom had cold feet about accepting the job offer in a different country, fearing it might be too much of a change. Meaning and Examples of the "Cold feet" idiom
Down in the mouth	Meaning: Feeling very sad or dejected, often visibly so. It's like you're so unhappy that it shows on your face, particularly around your mouth. Examples: After hearing the disappointing news, Maria was visibly down in the mouth. You could tell by his expression that he was down in the mouth after failing the exam. Despite the festive atmosphere, John seemed a bit down in the mouth all evening. Meaning and Examples of the "Down in the mouth" idiom
Green-eyed monster	Meaning: This phrase refers to the feeling of jealousy or envy that someone might experience when they see others possessing things or achieving goals they desire. It suggests that these emotions can take over someone's thoughts, leading them to act in ways they normally wouldn't. Examples: When Sarah saw her colleague receive the promotion she had been eyeing, the green-eyed monster emerged, making her feel resentful. Despite his success, John couldn't help but feel the green-eyed monster when he saw his friend's new luxury car. The green-eyed monster reared its head when Emma noticed her best friend getting more attention at the party. Meaning and Examples of the "Green-eyed monster" idiom
Happy as a clam	Meaning: Someone who is extremely happy or content. This phrase is used to describe a person who is in a state of great joy or satisfaction. Examples: After securing her dream job, Maria was happy as a clam, radiating joy throughout the office. With his children playing safely in the backyard, John sat on his porch, happy as a clam, savoring the serene moment. Jessica felt happy as a clam when she received the news that her manuscript was accepted for publication. Meaning and Examples of the "Happy as a clam" idiom
Head over heels	Meaning: When someone is extremely enthusiastic or infatuated with something or someone. It often describes a state of being completely captivated, usually in a romantic context. Examples: She fell head over heels for the charming new neighbor. He was head over heels about the new job opportunity in New York. After their first date, it was clear they were both head over heels. Meaning and Examples of the "Head over heels" idiom
Heart of gold	Meaning: When someone is exceptionally kind, generous, and caring, they are said to have a heart of gold. This person often goes out of their way to help others and has a naturally compassionate nature. Examples: Despite his tough exterior, everyone knew that the old man had a heart of gold. She may appear strict, but her heart of gold is evident in all the little things she does for her students. Even in challenging circumstances, he never hesitated to help others, showing his heart of gold. Meaning and Examples of the "Heart of gold" idiom
Hot under the collar	Meaning: When someone becomes extremely annoyed or angry, often in a noticeable way, they are considered to be 'hot under the collar.' This reaction can be due to a specific situation or comment that triggers their frustration. Examples: After being falsely accused in the meeting, John was visibly hot under the collar and struggled to keep his composure. Sarah gets hot under the collar every time someone interrupts her during a presentation. Michael was hot under the collar when he found out that his colleagues were spreading rumors about him. Meaning and Examples of the "Hot under the collar" idiom
In seventh heaven	Meaning: Feeling extremely happy or elated, often due to a significant positive event or achievement. Examples: After receiving the job offer from her dream company, Emma was in seventh heaven. When they finally reunited after years of being apart, they felt like they were in seventh heaven. Winning the championship put the entire team in seventh heaven. Meaning and Examples of the "In seventh heaven" idiom
In the dumps	Meaning: Feeling very sad or discouraged, often due to unfortunate events or situations that have recently occurred. Examples: After hearing the bad news, she was in the dumps for the rest of the week. Despite his recent promotion, he's been in the dumps ever since his dog passed away. The rainy weather left everyone in the dumps, longing for sunshine. Meaning and Examples of the "In the dumps" idiom
Jump out of your skin	Meaning: To be extremely surprised or suddenly frightened by something unexpected. It's a reaction that makes you feel like you've physically leaped out of your body. Examples: When the fireworks went off unexpectedly, I nearly jumped out of my skin. The sudden appearance of the clown made the kids jump out of their skins. Hearing a loud bang in the middle of the night made her jump out of her skin. Meaning and Examples of the "Jump out of your skin" idiom
Keep a stiff upper lip	Meaning: To stay strong and not show emotions, especially in difficult situations. It involves maintaining composure and resilience when facing adversity. Examples: Despite the tragic news, she managed to keep a stiff upper lip in front of her children. During the financial crisis, many investors had to keep a stiff upper lip to avoid panic. When faced with harsh criticism, he kept a stiff upper lip and took the feedback constructively. Meaning and Examples of the "Keep a stiff upper lip" idiom
Let off steam	Meaning: To release pent-up energy or emotions by engaging in some activity that helps to reduce stress or frustration. It's often done to prevent oneself from becoming overwhelmed or making rash decisions. Examples: After a long week of meetings and deadlines, she went for a run to let off steam. He decided to let off steam by playing his guitar loudly in the garage. Whenever she feels overwhelmed, painting helps her let off steam. Meaning and Examples of the "Let off steam" idiom
Like a dog with two tails	Meaning: This phrase describes someone who is extremely happy or excited, often to the point of being visibly enthusiastic. Examples: When she found out she had passed her exams, she was like a dog with two tails. After receiving the job offer, he walked around the office like a dog with two tails. Winning the lottery left him feeling like a dog with two tails for weeks. Meaning and Examples of the "Like a dog with two tails" idiom
On the edge of your seat	Meaning: When someone is deeply engrossed in an activity, especially one filled with suspense or excitement, they are highly attentive and eager to see what happens next. Examples: The final moments of the basketball game had everyone on the edge of their seats, waiting to see who would win. The detective novel was so well-written that I found myself on the edge of my seat until the very last page. During the horror movie, I was on the edge of my seat, unable to predict the next terrifying event. Meaning and Examples of the "On the edge of your seat" idiom
Over the moon	Meaning: Feeling extremely happy or delighted to the point where you can't contain your excitement. It's a state of euphoria that makes you feel like you're floating on air. Examples: When she found out she got the job, she was over the moon for days. He was over the moon after winning the marathon, a dream he had cherished for years. The team was over the moon following their unexpected victory in the championship. Meaning and Examples of the "Over the moon" idiom
Piece of mind	Meaning: Having a piece of mind means feeling calm and not being worried about anything. It's a state where you feel secure and confident, knowing everything is in control. Examples: After double-checking all the locks, she finally had a piece of mind before going to bed. He invested in a high-quality security system to ensure a piece of mind when traveling. Knowing his children were safe at school gave him a piece of mind during his workday. Meaning and Examples of the "Piece of mind" idiom
Sad sack	Meaning: A person who consistently appears miserable, unlucky, or generally down on their luck. This individual often seems to attract misfortune and can be seen as a bit of a downer in social settings. Examples: Despite his best efforts, Mike always seems to be the sad sack of the office, with one mishap following another. Elaine felt like a sad sack after her third job interview ended in polite rejection. Whenever we go camping, Daniel turns into a sad sack, complaining about the bugs and the uncomfortable sleeping bags. Meaning and Examples of the "Sad sack" idiom
Sick as a dog	Meaning: Feeling extremely unwell, often to the point of being bedridden or incapacitated. It suggests a severe level of illness that disrupts normal activities. Examples: After eating the questionable seafood, Jenna was sick as a dog for days. During the flu season, half the office was out, each person feeling sick as a dog. Mark felt sick as a dog after the roller-coaster ride, swearing he'd never ride it again. Meaning and Examples of the "Sick as a dog" idiom
Stiff upper lip	Meaning: To maintain composure and hide emotions, especially in challenging situations. It’s about showing strength and not letting difficulties bring you down. Examples: Despite the harsh criticism, she kept a stiff upper lip and continued with her presentation. He had a stiff upper lip even when faced with the devastating news of the company's bankruptcy. During the intense interrogation, the spy maintained a stiff upper lip, revealing nothing. Meaning and Examples of the "Stiff upper lip" idiom
Sweating bullets	Meaning: Feeling extremely nervous, anxious, or stressed about a particular situation. This intense feeling often results in physical reactions like sweating profusely. Examples: During his job interview, John was sweating bullets as he struggled to answer the unexpected questions. The actress was sweating bullets backstage before her big performance, fearing she might forget her lines. When the final exam results were announced, students were sweating bullets in the hallway, waiting for their names to be called. Meaning and Examples of the "Sweating bullets" idiom
Tongue-tied	Meaning: When someone is tongue-tied, they are unable to speak because they are too nervous, shy, or confused. This often happens in situations where one feels pressured or caught off guard. Examples: Despite having rehearsed his speech multiple times, Tom found himself tongue-tied in front of the large audience. When asked about her secret crush, Maria became tongue-tied and couldn't utter a single word. During the job interview, David felt so tongue-tied that he struggled to answer even the simplest questions. Meaning and Examples of the "Tongue-tied" idiom
Walking on air	Meaning: To feel extremely happy or elated, as if you're floating above the ground. This expression conveys a sense of bliss and lightness that comes from a particularly joyful experience. Examples: After receiving the news about her promotion, Jenna felt like she was walking on air for the rest of the week. Winning the championship left the entire team walking on air, celebrating their hard-earned victory. When Peter saw his novel on the bestseller list, he was walking on air, knowing all his hard work had paid off. Meaning and Examples of the "Walking on air" idiom
Wear your heart on your sleeve	Meaning: When someone is very open about their emotions and feelings, showing them openly for everyone to see. This person doesn't hide how they feel and is often very transparent in their emotional expressions. Examples: Despite the criticism, she continued to wear her heart on her sleeve, sharing her true feelings with the world. John's habit of wearing his heart on his sleeve often put him in vulnerable positions, but he valued honesty above all. Even in the midst of a heated debate, Maria wore her heart on her sleeve, making her stance clear to everyone. Meaning and Examples of the "Wear your heart on your sleeve" idiom