Common Idioms To Describe Emotions:Explanation + How to Use

English Idioms & Phrases for Describing Emotions

Understanding the origins of idioms can indeed make learning them more engaging and memorable.

These origins give a fascinating insight into how language evolves and reflects cultural, historical, and physical experiences.

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15 Common Idioms & Phrases to Describe Emotions

Idiom / Meaning / Origin / Example Sentence

1️⃣ Be On Cloud Nine

🟰Extremely happy and joyful.

🎬Origin: This expression is believed to come from the categorisation of clouds.

In the 1950s classification, the highest cloud, known as cloud nine, was the cumulonimbus, which is linked to intense joy because of its lofty and impressive nature.

Example Usage:

🗣️She was on cloud nine after hearing about her promotion.

2️⃣ Have the Blues

🟰Feeling sad or depressed.

🎬 Origin: The term "blue" has been associated with sadness for centuries.

One theory is that it comes from old seafaring customs where a ship would fly blue flags and paint a blue band along her hull if the captain or an officer perished during the voyage.

Example:

🗣️He's been having the blues since his best friend moved away.

3️⃣ In Seventh Heaven

🟰Extremely happy and content.

🎬Origin: This idiom has roots in various religious and mythological traditions. In Islamic and Jewish teachings, the seventh heaven is the highest and most exalted, representing a state of perfect happiness.

Example:

🗣️When she finally published her novel, she was in seventh heaven.

4️⃣ A Bitter Pill to Swallow

🟰Something that is difficult or unpleasant to accept.

🎬Origin: This expression likely comes from the unpleasant experience of taking bitter-tasting medicine, symbolising something difficult to accept.

Example:

🗣️Losing the championship game was a bitter pill to swallow.

5️⃣ Jump for Joy

🟰Be extremely happy and excited.

🎬Origin: This idiom has been used since at least the 19th century and comes from the literal action of jumping to express extreme happiness.

🗣️Example: When he saw his exam results, he jumped for joy.

6️⃣ Down in the Dumps

🟰Feeling sad and depressed.

🎬Origin: The word "dumps" has been used to describe a state of depression since the 16th century. It likely comes from the Dutch word "domp," meaning haze or mist.

🗣️Example: She’s been down in the dumps since her pet passed away.

7️⃣ On Edge (phrase)

🟰Nervous or anxious.

🎬Origin: This phrase comes from the feeling of being precariously balanced or in a tense situation, similar to standing on the edge of a precipice.

🗣️Example: He’s been on edge all day waiting for the job interview results.

8️⃣ Heartbroken (adjective)

🟰Extremely sad and emotionally distressed.

🎬Origin: The concept of heartbreak has been around for centuries and is linked to the physical pain that emotional distress can cause, often described as a "broken heart."

🗣️Example: She was heartbroken after the end of her long-term relationship.

9️⃣ Be Walking on Air

🟰Feeling very happy and elated.

🎬Origin: This idiom likely comes from the light, floating feeling associated with extreme happiness, as if one is defying gravity.

🗣️Example: She’s been walking on air since she got engaged.

🔟 Be Over the Moon

🟰 Extremely pleased or happy.

🎬 Origin: This phrase has been popularised by the nursery rhyme "Hey Diddle Diddle," where "the cow jumped over the moon." It conveys an extraordinary level of happiness.

🗣️Example: They were over the moon when they found out they were expecting a baby.

𝟏𝟏 Hot Under the Collar (informal use)

🟰 Angry or agitated.

🎬Origin: This idiom dates back to the 19th century and refers to the physical sensation of heat around the neck and face that often accompanies anger or agitation.

🗣️Example: He got hot under the collar when he saw someone had scratched his car.

𝟏𝟮 Be Beside Oneself

🟰Overwhelmed with emotion

(usually negative like anger or sadness).

🎬 Origin: This phrase dates back to the 14th century and originally meant to be out of one’s wits. It conveys being so overwhelmed by emotion that one feels almost as if they are outside their own body.

🗣️Example: She was beside herself with worry when her dog went missing.

𝟏𝟑 🫘Be Full of Beans (informal use - UK English)

🟰Very lively and energetic.

🎬 Origin: This phrase may come from the energetic behavior of horses fed on beans. It has been used since the 19th century to describe someone who is lively and full of energy.

🗣️Example: The kids were full of beans after eating all that candy.

𝟏𝟰 Be In the Pink

(informal use, old fashioned)

🟰In very good health and spirits.

🎬 Origin: This phrase originates from the 16th century, where "pink" referred to the pinnacle of something. It was used to denote the peak of health and well-being.

🗣️Example: After her vacation, she returned feeling in the pink.

𝟏𝟱 A Bundle of Nerves (informal use)

🟰 Very nervous and anxious.

🎬 Origin: This idiom has been used since the early 20th century and refers to the way the nervous system can make one feel tense and anxious, as if they are a bundle of raw nerves.

🗣️Example: She was a bundle of nerves before her big presentation.

The 15 Feelings & Emotions Idioms & Phrases we've just covered are:

1. be on cloud nine

2. have the blues

3. in seventh heaven

4. a bitter pill to swallow

5. jump for joy

6. down in the dumps

7. on edge (phrase)

8. heartbroken (adjective)

9. be walking on air

10. be over the moon

11. hot under the collar (informal use)

12. be beside oneself

13. be full of beans (informal use, UK)

14. be in the pink (old-fashioned)

15. a bundle of nerves (informal use)

🙇‍♂️Practice Exercises and Quiz

✏️Exercise 1: Match the Idiom to the Meaning

1.On Cloud Nine

2.Feeling Blue

3. In Seventh Heaven

4. Bitter Pill to Swallow

5. Jump for Joy

a. Extremely happy and content

b. Be extremely happy and excited

c. Extremely happy and joyful

d. Feeling sad or depressed

e. Something that is difficult or unpleasant to accept

✏️Exercise 2: Fill in the Blanks

1. She was __________ after winning the lottery.

2. He’s been __________ ever since his cat went missing.

3. Losing the game was a __________ for the team.

4. When he got the news, he __________.

5. She’s been __________ since her project got approved.

✏️Exercise 3: Use the Idiom in a Sentence

1. On Edge

2. Heartbroken

3. Walking on Air

4. Over the Moon

5. Hot Under the Collar

✏️Quiz:

1.Which idiom means “very lively and energetic”?

a) Down in the Dumps

b) Full of Beans

c) Bitter Pill to Swallow

2.If someone is “beside themselves,” they are:

a) feeling very happy

b) overwhelmed with emotion

c) in good health

3.True or False: "In the Pink" means feeling sad and depressed.

🔑Answer Key

Exercise 1:

1. c

2. d

3. a

4. e

5. b

Exercise 2:

1. on cloud nine

2. feeling blue

3. bitter pill to swallow

4. jumped for joy

5. in seventh heaven

Exercise 3:

1. He’s been on edge waiting for the results.

2. She was heartbroken when she heard the news.

3. After the concert, she was walking on air.

4. They were over the moon with their new house.

5. He got hot under the collar when the waiter was rude to him.

Quiz:

1. b) Full of Beans

2. b) Overwhelmed with emotion

3. False (In the Pink means in very good health and spirits)
   

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