Life is like a big, exciting book filled with stories. Some pages make us laugh, and some make us learn important lessons. There’s a popular saying, “Life is not a bed of roses,” which means life is full of ups and downs, and not always easy or pleasant. But that’s what makes it interesting! This saying helps us remember to be strong and keep going, even when things get tough. Let’s explore more sayings about life that can help us understand it better and make learning English fun!
What Does Life Mean?
Life is the existence that distinguishes living organisms from inorganic matter, including the capacity for growth, reproduction, functional activity, and continual change preceding death. It encompasses the experiences, growth, and emotions encountered by an individual or group over time. Life is a journey filled with lessons, hardships, joys, celebrations, and special moments that ultimately lead to knowledge, growth, and understanding.
Idioms About Life
1. Life’s a beach
Meaning: Easy
- Vacation’s great; life’s a beach.
- Retired early, now life’s a beach.
- Sunny days make life a beach.
2. Bite the bullet
Meaning: Endure
- Just bite the bullet, finish homework.
- She bit the bullet during interviews.
- Sometimes, you must bite the bullet.
3. Break the ice
Meaning: Start
- A joke can break the ice.
- He broke the ice at parties.
- New project, time to break ice.
4. Burn bridges
Meaning: Isolate
- Quitting like that might burn bridges.
- He’s burned bridges with old friends.
- Don’t burn bridges you might need.
5. Caught between two stools
Meaning: Undecided
- He’s caught between two career stools.
- Choosing majors, caught between two stools.
- Caught between two stools, she hesitated.
6. Cross that bridge when you come to it
Meaning: Delay
- Worry later, cross that bridge then.
- She’ll cross that bridge if necessary.
- Decision pending? Cross that bridge later.
7. Cry over spilt milk
Meaning: Regret
- No use crying over spilt milk.
- He cried over spilt milk, pointless.
- Spilt milk isn’t worth the tears.
8. Cut corners
Meaning: Skimp
- Don’t cut corners building your home.
- Cut corners, risk lower quality results.
- Saving time often means cutting corners.
9. Cut the mustard
Meaning: Suffice
- His efforts didn’t cut the mustard.
- Must cut the mustard, or fail.
- Her presentation barely cut the mustard.
10. Don’t count your chickens
Meaning: Presume
- He counted chickens, lost the deal.
- Don’t count chickens before eggs hatch.
- Dream big, but don’t count chickens.
11. Down in the dumps
Meaning: Sad
- Lost her job, down in dumps.
- He feels down in the dumps.
- Bad news left us down dumps.
12. Draw the line
Meaning: Limit
- She drew the line at cheating.
- Must draw the line somewhere, right?
- We drew the line at risks.
13. Every cloud has a silver lining
Meaning: Hopeful
- Job loss? Every cloud has lining.
- Even breakups have a silver lining.
- Failed test, but there’s silver lining.
14. Get a taste of your own medicine
Meaning: Retribution
- Bullies often get their own medicine.
- He got a taste, deservedly so.
- Unkind words? Get your own medicine.
15. Hit the nail on the head
Meaning: Accurate
- His comment hit the nail perfectly.
- She hit the nail on issues.
- Accurate feedback hits the nail head.
16. In the same boat
Meaning: Similar
- We’re all in the same boat.
- Unemployed friends in the same boat.
- Globally, many are in same boat.
17. Jump on the bandwagon
Meaning: Follow
- Everyone’s jumping on the vegan bandwagon.
- He jumped on the latest trend.
- Don’t just jump on every bandwagon.
18. Keep your chin up
Meaning: Encouraged
- Tough times? Keep your chin up.
- She keeps her chin up always.
- Failed? Keep your chin up, retry.
19. Kick the can down the road
Meaning: Postpone
- Just kicking the can on decisions.
- Governments often kick the can, unfortunately.
- Kick the can, face problems later.
20. Let sleeping dogs lie
Meaning: Avoid
- Don’t wake trouble; let dogs lie.
- He let sleeping dogs lie at work.
- Sometimes, it’s best to let lie.
21. Make hay while the sun shines
Meaning: Capitalize
- He made hay, seizing opportunities.
- Summer job? Make hay now!
- Farmers make hay while sun shines.
22. No pain, no gain
Meaning: Sacrifice
- To win, remember: no pain, gain.
- She trains hard, no pain no gain.
- Studying late, he knows no gain without.
23. On thin ice
Meaning: Risky
- He’s on thin ice with boss.
- Their relationship is on thin ice.
- Speak carefully, you’re on thin ice.
24. Once in a blue moon
Meaning: Rarely
- She visits once in a blue moon.
- Happens once in a blue moon.
- Blue moon events are quite rare.
25. Out of the blue
Meaning: Unexpected
- His call came out of the blue.
- News arrived completely out of blue.
- Surprise party was out of blue.
26. Piece of cake
Meaning: Easy
- Math problems? Piece of cake!
- Winning that game was piece cake.
- He found the task a cake.
27. Put all your eggs in one basket
Meaning: Risk
- Investing? Don’t put eggs one basket.
- She put all eggs in risky basket.
- One job application? That’s all eggs.
28. Raining cats and dogs
Meaning: Heavily
- It’s raining cats and dogs outside.
- Bring an umbrella; cats and dogs!
- Stormy weather, raining cats, dogs today.
29. Spill the beans
Meaning: Reveal
- He accidentally spilled the beans early.
- Time to spill the beans, confess!
- At the meeting, she spilled beans.
30. The ball is in your court
Meaning: Responsibility
- Now, the ball’s in your court.
- Decision time; ball is your court.
- She responded, ball in your court now.
Explore More Idioms:
Friendship | Happiness | Health
