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Idioms Exercises: Idioms for Feelings and Moods

Fill in the blanks to form an idiom about feelings, moods, or temporary states. The idioms used in this exercise are listed after the practice activity. It may be a good idea to study the list of idioms before trying the exercise.

Also see the Idioms Builder for practice with hundreds of idioms (including the idioms in this exercise).

 

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Idioms for Feelings and Moods

Idioms about sickness

under the weather
Someone under the weather feels a little bit sick.

as sick as a dog
Someone as sick as a dog is very sick.

 

Idioms about anger

fly off the handle
To fly off the handle means to lose one’s temper very suddenly.

give someone a piece of one’s mind
To give someone a piece of one’s mind means to to angrily speak or yell at someone who has done something wrong.

bite one’s head off
To bite someone’s head off means to yell at someone for no reason.

try one’s patience
To try one’s patience means to make someone annoyed or lose their patience.

make one’s blood boil
To make one’s blood boil means to anger someone.

jump down one’s throat
To jump down one’s throat means to yell at or strongly criticize someone.

up in arms
Someone up in arms is upset and outraged.

get all bent out of shape
To get all bent out of shape means to get angry.

have a bone to pick with someone
If someone has a bone to pick with someone, it means they need to talk to someone about something the person has done wrong.

 

Idioms about being uncomfortable or nervous

shaken up
Someone shaken up is troubled or distressed.
fish out of water
If someone is like a fish out of water, it means they are in an unfamiliar or uncomfortable situation.
on edge
Someone on edge is tense and nervous.
sinking feeling
A sinking feeling is a feeling that something bad is about to happen.
butterflies in one’s stomach
If someone has butterflies in their stomach, it means that they have a funny feeling in their stomach due to nervousness.
on pins and needles
Someone on pins and needles is nervous or anxious, usually due to a suspenseful situation.

 

Idioms about sadness

bummed out
Someone bummed out is sad about a specific issue.
hang one’s head
Someone who is hanging their head feels ashamed.

 

Idioms about happiness, enjoyment, and other positive feelings

get a kick out of something
To get a kick out of something means to really enjoy something.
make someone’s day
To make someone’s day means to make someone happy by saying or doing something that is the best moment of that person’s day.
in high spirits
Someone in high spirits is very happy.
on top of the world
Someone feeling on top of the world feels extremely happy, often as a result of a great accomplishment.
walking on air
Someone walking on air feels extreme pride, happiness, and optimism.
on cloud nine
Someone on cloud nine feels euphoric.

 

Other Idioms about feelings and moods

let/blow off a little steam
To let or blow off a little steam means to do something to release pent up energy or emotions.
spaced out
Someone spaced out is in a disoriented stupor.
keep one’s chin up
To keep one’s chin up means to stay positive in the face of adversity.
turn over a new leaf
To turn over a new leaf means to make an important change for the better.
have one’s heart set on something
To have one’s heart set on something means to greatly desire something.
sitting pretty
Someone sitting pretty is in a very good, secure position.
get up on the wrong side of the bed
If someone has gotten up on the wrong side of the bed, it means they are in a bad mood, often for no reason.
off one’s game
Someone off their game is performing below their normal level.
in the zone
Someone in the zone is in a focused state that results in good performance.
bored to tears/death
Someone bored to tears/death is extremely bored.
in the mood for
To be in the mood for something means to want something at the moment (a  certain food, an activity, etc.).
give someone the cold shoulder
To give someone the cold shoulder means to ignore someone.
on the fence
Someone on the fence about something is unable to make up their mind.
happy camper
If someone is a happy camper, they are content and satisfied. We often use this idiom in the negative form. (Ex. He’s not a happy camper right now.)

Also see the Idioms Builder for practice with hundreds of idioms (including the idioms in this exercise).