What are the most common idioms and phrases for describing feelings? How should we use them in our conversation? Stay with us in this article to get the answers to these questions!
One of the most important aspects of our daily conversation is describing our feelings. We might feel sad, surprised, angry, happy, or exhausted. However, it does not seem natural to always use these adjectives for showing our emotions. In this lesson, we are going to learn some idioms which can be used alternatively for expressing your feelings beautifully.
What is the idiom for feeling sad? | Sadness phrases in English
feel low/blue / out of sorts: not feel very strong emotionally; feel a little depressed
Example: After the exam John felt blue because he thought he will fail the test.
have a lump in your throat: feel like you are about to cry
Example: After their team lost the game Liverpool’s fans had a lump in their throat
be cut up about something/somebody: be very upset about something/somebody
Example: He was very cut up about his grandmother’s death.
What are the idioms for surprise ? | Phrases for surprise
Lets learn more about idioms and phrases for describing feelings in this section:
To do a double-take: to check something back quickly after your first look
Example: He glanced at her, then did a double take
Out of the blue: without warning; unexpectedly
Example: We were camping in a beautiful location. It started raining out of the blue. (Refer to the video colorful expressions)
Learn more: What are the idioms with colors in English?
Happiness idioms and phrases
On cloud nine: to feel extremely happy.
Example: When he finally proposed to her, she was on cloud nine.
Grin from ear to ear: to be so excited about good news you have gotten or an important life event you are going to experience.
Example: He was grinning from ear to ear so we knew he had good news to tell us.
In Good Spirits / In High Spirits: to be in a particularly energetic and lively mood.
Example: All the children were in high spirits on the last day of school.
To be thrilled to bits: to be really happy or excited about something
Example: He was thrilled to bits because he got 8 on the IELTS test.
Now let’s use some of the mentioned idioms and phrases for describing feelings in a conversation:
A: Have you seen Adam recently?
B: Yes. I met him last night at the party. He was in a good spirit.
A: Really? I thought he might feel blue. He broke up with Jenny a month ago.
B: You don’t know him?? He immediately found another partner! He is on cloud nine these days!
A: Really? He had a lump in his throat for some days.
B: Yes. But he was thrilled to bits and danced with his partner all night. In the end, he proposed to her out of the blue. We were all shocked! We did a double take but we were right! He had a ring in his hand while he was bending a knee!
Learn more: Read the article about the idioms about cats
Anger idioms and phrases
Bent out of shape: to feel very annoyed or angry.
Example: Jack got bent out of shape because his flight was canceled
To blow the fuse/To lose your temper: to become angry extremely and suddenly
Example: My father blew the fuse when that boy broke our window with a ball.
Fly off handle: lose one’s temper suddenly and unexpectedly
Example: Stop playing a joke on Jack. He flies off the handle easily
Learn more: What are the idioms about people’s appearance ?
Exhaustion idioms and phrases
To be worn out: to feel completely tired
Example: She was totally worn out after that long test.
To be dead tired: Very tired; completely exhausted.
Example: He was dead tired after working 20 hours without taking a rest for a minute!
Fed up: to feel really frustrated about something and no longer want to deal with it
Example: I’ve had a terrible day at work and I’m feeling completely fed up!
Isn’t the time to put these idioms into practice?! So, let’s do it!
A: I am really fed up with working in this company! We work for long hours and are paid so low.
B: I am worn out as well. The boss also behaves us so badly. He blows the fuse for unimportant issues.
A: Yes! Last week when I was dead tired after 10 hours of work he expected me to stay even more. I did not accept and he got bent out of shape.
B: I think we should leave this work.
