Idioms are fun phrases that don’t mean exactly what the words say—they have a special or hidden meaning. For kids, learning idioms is a great way to explore the English language, build vocabulary, and understand how people speak in everyday conversations.
50 Fun Idioms for Kids
Below are the 50 fun and easy idioms for kids, each with a simple meaning and a kid-friendly example. These expressions can make reading, writing, and speaking more exciting—and a lot more colorful!
1. Let the cat out of the bag
Meaning: To accidentally reveal a secret
Example: “We were planning a surprise party, but Mia let the cat out of the bag!”
2. A piece of cake
Meaning: Something that is very easy to do
Example: “The homework was a piece of cake, so I finished it in ten minutes.”
3. Break a leg
Meaning: A way to wish someone good luck
Example: “You’ll do great in the school play—break a leg!”
4. Hit the hay
Meaning: To go to bed or go to sleep
Example: “I’m really tired. I think I’ll hit the hay early tonight.”
5. Under the weather
Meaning: Feeling sick or unwell
Example: “Lily didn’t come to school today because she’s feeling under the weather.”
6. Spill the beans
Meaning: To tell a secret
Example: “Don’t spill the beans about the birthday gift!”
7. Hold your horses
Meaning: Wait or slow down
Example: “Hold your horses! We’re not ready to leave yet.”
8. When pigs fly
Meaning: Something that will never happen
Example: “He said he’d stop playing video games—when pigs fly!”
9. The ball is in your court
Meaning: It’s your turn to make a decision or take action
Example: “I’ve done my part. Now the ball is in your court.”
10. Raining cats and dogs
Meaning: Raining very heavily
Example: “We had to cancel the picnic because it was raining cats and dogs.”
11. Barking up the wrong tree
Meaning: Blaming the wrong person or looking in the wrong place
Example: “If you think I broke your pencil, you’re barking up the wrong tree.”
12. Cry over spilled milk
Meaning: To be upset about something that has already happened and can’t be changed
Example: “It’s just a broken crayon. Don’t cry over spilled milk.”
13. A dime a dozen
Meaning: Very common and easy to find
Example: “Pencils at school are a dime a dozen—you’ll find another one.”
14. Jump on the bandwagon
Meaning: To start doing something because it’s popular
Example: “Now that everyone’s playing the new game, Tim wants to jump on the bandwagon too.”
15. Two peas in a pod
Meaning: Two people who are very similar
Example: “Emma and Zoe are like two peas in a pod—they do everything together!”
16. Cost an arm and a leg
Meaning: Very expensive
Example: “That toy robot costs an arm and a leg!”
17. Walking on eggshells
Meaning: Being very careful not to upset someone
Example: “Ever since the argument, we’ve all been walking on eggshells around Max.”
18. Head in the clouds
Meaning: Not paying attention or daydreaming
Example: “Liam didn’t hear the teacher—he had his head in the clouds again.”
19. Cat got your tongue?
Meaning: Asked when someone is very quiet or not speaking
Example: “You were talking a minute ago. What happened—cat got your tongue?”
20. Hit the nail on the head
Meaning: To say or do something exactly right
Example: “You hit the nail on the head with your answer in class!”
21. In hot water
Meaning: In trouble
Example: “I forgot to do my homework and now I’m in hot water!”
22. Keep your chin up
Meaning: Stay positive during tough times
Example: “I know you didn’t win this time, but keep your chin up—you’ll get it next time!”
23. Out of the blue
Meaning: Something that happens unexpectedly
Example: “Out of the blue, it started snowing during recess!”
24. Pull someone’s leg
Meaning: To joke or tease someone
Example: “Are you serious, or are you just pulling my leg?”
25. Butterflies in my stomach
Meaning: Feeling nervous or excited
Example: “I had butterflies in my stomach before my class presentation.”
26. Cold feet
Meaning: To suddenly feel nervous
Example: “I got cold feet before going on stage!”
27. Beat around the bush
Meaning: To avoid saying something directly
Example: “Stop beating around the bush and just tell me what happened!”
28. Bend over backward
Meaning: To try very hard to help or please someone
Example: “Ms. Green bent over backward to help us finish the project.”
29. Put all your eggs in one basket
Meaning: To rely on only one plan or idea
Example: “Don’t put all your eggs in one basket—apply to more than one team.”
30. Shake a leg
Meaning: Hurry up or get moving
Example: “We’re going to be late—shake a leg!”
31. Healthy as a horse
Meaning: Very healthy and strong
Example: “After resting all weekend, Noah is now healthy as a horse.”
32. Have a whale of a time
Meaning: To have a lot of fun
Example: “We had a whale of a time at the zoo yesterday!”
33. Keep your eyes peeled
Meaning: Watch carefully or stay alert
Example: “Keep your eyes peeled for the school bus—it should be here soon.”
34. Let sleeping dogs lie
Meaning: Don’t bring up old problems
Example: “We already settled the argument—let sleeping dogs lie.”
35. Once in a blue moon
Meaning: Very rarely
Example: “My cousins visit us once in a blue moon.”
36. Knock on wood
Meaning: Said to avoid bad luck
Example: “I’ve never been sick this year—knock on wood!”
37. On cloud nine
Meaning: Very happy
Example: “She was on cloud nine after winning the spelling bee.”
38. Turn over a new leaf
Meaning: To start fresh or change for the better
Example: “Leo promised to turn over a new leaf and stop interrupting in class.”
39. Happy as a clam
Meaning: Very happy and content
Example: “She was happy as a clam playing in the sand.”
40. Full of beans
Meaning: Very energetic and lively
Example: “The kids were full of beans after the birthday cake!”
41. Like a fish out of water
Meaning: Feeling out of place or uncomfortable
Example: “I felt like a fish out of water on my first day at dance class.”
42. Easy as pie
Meaning: Very easy to do
Example: “That science project was easy as pie!”
43. As cool as a cucumber
Meaning: Very calm, especially in a difficult situation
Example: “Even during the quiz, Maya stayed as cool as a cucumber.”
44. Tickled pink
Meaning: Very pleased or happy
Example: “I was tickled pink when my drawing got chosen for the bulletin board!”
45. Zip your lip
Meaning: Be quiet or stop talking
Example: “The teacher asked us to zip our lips during the test.”
46. Out of this world
Meaning: Amazing or excellent
Example: “The chocolate cake was out of this world!”
47. Light as a feather
Meaning: Very light in weight
Example: “This new backpack is light as a feather!”
48. No-brainer
Meaning: Something that’s very easy to decide or understand
Example: “Choosing pizza for dinner was a no-brainer.”
49. Jump for joy
Meaning: To be very happy and excited
Example: “Liam jumped for joy when he got a new puppy!”
50. Blow off steam
Meaning: To do something to release strong feelings
Example: “We played soccer after school to blow off steam.”
Final Thoughts
Idioms make language more colorful, fun, and expressive—especially for kids! By learning these 50 fun idioms, children can improve their understanding of figurative language and enjoy using creative expressions in everyday conversations.
Encourage kids to try using these idioms in stories, role-plays, or even class discussions. The more they use them, the more natural these phrases will feel!