120 Plus Idioms for Home With Example

Idioms for Home With Example

Idioms are colorful expressions that add vibrancy and depth to the English language. Understanding idioms related to the home is crucial for grasping everyday conversations, literature, and media. This article provides a comprehensive guide to common idioms about the house, explaining their meanings, origins, and usage. Whether you’re an ESL learner or a native speaker looking to enrich your vocabulary, this article will help you confidently use and understand these expressions.

By exploring these idioms, you’ll gain a deeper insight into the cultural nuances associated with the concept of “home” and improve your overall fluency in English. Get ready to unlock the secrets behind these intriguing phrases and make your conversations more engaging and expressive.

Table of Contents

What are Idioms?

An idiom is a phrase or expression whose meaning cannot be understood from the literal meanings of the individual words within it. Instead, the idiom’s meaning is figurative and culturally specific. Idioms are a critical part of any language, providing a shortcut for expressing complex ideas or emotions in a concise and evocative way. They often reflect the history, customs, and values of a particular culture.

Idioms can be classified in various ways, such as phrasal verbs (kick the bucket), proverbs (absence makes the heart grow fonder), and clichés (raining cats and dogs). Understanding idioms requires recognizing the underlying concept they represent rather than focusing on the literal interpretation of the words. Mastering idioms enhances comprehension and allows for more natural and nuanced communication.

The function of idioms is to add color and expressiveness to language. They allow speakers to convey emotions, attitudes, and experiences in a more engaging and memorable way. Idioms can also create a sense of camaraderie and shared understanding among speakers of the same language, as they signal a familiarity with the culture and its nuances. They are frequently used in both formal and informal contexts, although some idioms may be more appropriate in certain situations than others.

Structural Breakdown of Idioms

Idioms do not follow standard grammatical rules because their meaning is not derived from the individual words. Instead, idioms function as single units of meaning. The structure of an idiom is fixed, meaning that you usually cannot change the words or their order without altering or destroying the idiom’s meaning. This rigidity is a key characteristic that distinguishes idioms from regular phrases.

Some idioms contain grammatical structures that are archaic or non-standard when viewed outside the context of the idiom. For example, the idiom “by and large” uses a structure (“by and…”) that is rarely used in modern English outside of this specific phrase. This adds to the challenge of learning idioms, as their structure may not align with the typical rules of grammar.

Analyzing the structure of idioms can involve identifying the different parts of speech they contain (nouns, verbs, adjectives, etc.) and how these parts interact to create the figurative meaning. However, it’s important to remember that the grammatical function of the words within the idiom is often less important than the overall conceptual meaning of the phrase. Understanding the context in which an idiom is used is crucial for interpreting its meaning correctly. Even if you can identify the individual words, you need to understand the cultural context to understand the idiom.

Types of Home-Related Idioms

Home-related idioms can be categorized based on the specific aspects of home life they relate to. These categories include general home idioms, cleaning and maintenance idioms, family and relationships idioms, financial idioms related to homes, and comfort and security idioms.

General Home Idioms

These idioms refer to the general concept of home, often expressing feelings of belonging, comfort, or familiarity. They might describe the physical structure of a house or the abstract idea of “home” as a place of security and identity.

Cleaning and Maintenance Idioms

These idioms use the imagery of cleaning, repairing, or maintaining a house to represent other kinds of actions or situations. They might describe efforts to improve something, get rid of something unwanted, or keep things in good condition.

Family and Relationships Idioms

These idioms focus on the relationships between family members and the dynamics within a household. They can describe the bonds of kinship, the challenges of living together, or the roles that different family members play.

Financial Idioms Related to Homes

These idioms relate to the financial aspects of owning or maintaining a home, such as mortgages, rent, property values, and home improvements. They often use the imagery of houses and buildings to represent financial stability or risk.

Comfort and Security Idioms

These idioms emphasize the feelings of comfort, safety, and security that are associated with home. They may describe the sense of being protected from danger or the feeling of being at ease and relaxed.

Examples of Home-Related Idioms

The following sections provide examples of home-related idioms, organized by the categories described above. Each example includes the idiom, its meaning, and a sentence illustrating its usage.

General Home Idioms

This table provides several examples of general home idioms. The table includes the idiom, its meaning, and a sentence using the idiom.

Idiom Meaning Example Sentence
Home sweet home A phrase expressing happiness at being back home. After a long trip, it’s good to be back; home sweet home!
Make yourself at home Feel comfortable and relaxed as if you were in your own house. Come in, make yourself at home, and I’ll get you a drink.
Hit home To affect someone deeply or to be understood clearly. His words really hit home, and I realized I needed to change my behavior.
A home away from home A place where you feel comfortable and relaxed. This little cafe is like a home away from home for me.
Home truth An unpleasant fact about yourself that someone tells you. Sometimes, your friends need to tell you a few home truths.
Bring home the bacon To earn a living; to be the breadwinner. My father works long hours to bring home the bacon.
Behind closed doors In private; secretly. The negotiations took place behind closed doors.
Through the roof Extremely high; exceeding expectations. The demand for the new product went through the roof.
On the house Free of charge; paid for by the establishment. Your first drink is on the house.
Clean house To make major changes or get rid of unwanted elements. The new CEO decided to clean house and replace several managers.
Get your house in order To organize and prepare for something. Before the audit, we need to get our house in order.
Like a house on fire Quickly and enthusiastically. They got along like a house on fire.
A house of cards A structure or plan that is weak and likely to collapse. Their business plan was like a house of cards; it fell apart quickly.
Home is where the heart is Your true home is wherever you feel most happy and comfortable. I may travel the world, but home is where the heart is.
Nothing to write home about Not particularly exciting or special. The movie was good, but nothing to write home about.
Settle down To start living a more quiet and routine life, often in one place. It’s time for me to settle down and start a family.
Put down roots To establish oneself in a place. After years of traveling, they decided to put down roots in a small town.
Under one roof Living in the same house. All five of us live under one roof.
As safe as houses Very safe and secure. Investing in government bonds is as safe as houses.
Keep house To take care of a home, including cleaning and cooking. She keeps house while her husband works.
Make a house a home To make a place feel comfortable and welcoming. They worked hard to make their house a home.
Empty nest The feeling of loneliness parents get when their children leave home. She experienced the empty nest syndrome when her youngest child went to college.

Cleaning and Maintenance Idioms

This table provides examples of cleaning and maintenance idioms. These idioms often use household chores and repairs as metaphors for dealing with problems or improving situations.

Idiom Meaning Example Sentence
Sweep under the rug To hide or ignore a problem or mistake. They tried to sweep the scandal under the rug, but it was too late.
Dust yourself off To recover from a setback or mistake. After the failed project, he had to dust himself off and start again.
Spick and span Very clean and tidy. The kitchen was spick and span after she finished cleaning.
Clean as a whistle Completely innocent or free from wrongdoing. His record is clean as a whistle, so he’s unlikely to be involved.
Fixer-upper A house that needs repairs and renovation. They bought a fixer-upper with the intention of renovating it.
Patch things up To repair a relationship or situation. They managed to patch things up after their argument.
Tidy up To make a place neat and organized. Please tidy up your room before dinner.
Air your dirty laundry To discuss private or embarrassing matters in public. They shouldn’t air their dirty laundry in front of the neighbors.
Mend fences To repair a relationship after a disagreement. He tried to mend fences with his neighbor after their argument.
Keep the home fires burning To maintain a household while someone is away. She kept the home fires burning while her husband was deployed overseas.
As good as new In excellent condition, like it has just been bought. After the repairs, the car was as good as new.
From the ground up From the very beginning. They built the company from the ground up.
Renovate Restore (something old, especially a building) to a good state of repair. They decided to renovate the old house.
Spring cleaning A thorough cleaning done in the spring. It’s time for some spring cleaning.
Make over Improve something by cleaning, repairing, or remodeling it. They decided to make over the living room.
Touch up Improve something by making small, quick changes or additions. She decided to touch up the paint on the walls.
Spruce up To make something look neater and more attractive. They decided to spruce up the garden.
Declutter Remove unnecessary items from (an untidy or overcrowded place). It’s time to declutter the attic.
Clear out Remove all the contents of a place. They decided to clear out the garage.
Wipe the slate clean To make a fresh start, forgetting past mistakes. Let’s wipe the slate clean and start over.

Family and Relationships Idioms

This table provides examples of idioms related to family and relationships within the home. These idioms often describe family dynamics, roles, and experiences.

Idiom Meaning Example Sentence
Run in the family A trait or characteristic that is common among family members. A talent for music seems to run in the family.
Wear the trousers To be the dominant person in a relationship or household. In their family, she’s the one who wears the trousers.
Like two peas in a pod Very similar or close to each other. The sisters are like two peas in a pod; they do everything together.
Birds of a feather flock together People who are similar tend to associate with each other. Birds of a feather flock together, so it’s no surprise they’re friends.
Rule the roost To be in charge; to have control over a situation. In that company, the marketing department rules the roost.
Home bird Someone who prefers to stay at home. She’s a real home bird and rarely goes out.
Apple of one’s eye Someone who is cherished or adored. His granddaughter is the apple of his eye.
Blood is thicker than water Family relationships are stronger than other relationships. Despite their disagreements, blood is thicker than water, and they always support each other.
Leave the nest To leave one’s parents’ home to live independently. It’s time for him to leave the nest and start his own life.
Tie the knot To get married. They decided to tie the knot after dating for five years.
Skeletons in the closet Embarrassing or damaging secrets about the past. Every family has a few skeletons in the closet.
Like father, like son Sons tend to resemble their fathers in character. He’s a talented musician, like father, like son.
Keep it in the family To keep something private within the family. Let’s keep it in the family and not tell anyone else.
Bad blood Feelings of hatred or animosity. There’s a lot of bad blood between the two families.
Follow in someone’s footsteps To do the same job or activity as someone else, especially a parent. He decided to follow in his father’s footsteps and become a doctor.
Fly the coop To escape or leave a confined situation. She decided to fly the coop and travel the world.
Wear the pants in the family To be the dominant person in a relationship or household. She’s the one who wears the pants in the family.
Turn the tables To reverse a situation to one’s advantage. They turned the tables on their opponents and won the game.
Rock the boat To cause trouble or disrupt a stable situation. He didn’t want to rock the boat, so he kept his opinions to himself.
Get along with Have a good relationship with someone. I get along with my brother very well.

Financial Idioms Related to Homes

This table provides examples of financial idioms related to owning or maintaining a home. These idioms often describe the financial aspects of housing, such as mortgages, rent, and property values.

Idiom Meaning Example Sentence
Pay through the nose To pay a very high price. They had to pay through the nose for their new house.
Nest egg Savings set aside for the future. They’ve been saving for a nest egg to buy a house.
Mortgage your life away To commit to a long-term debt, such as a mortgage. Buying that expensive property would mean mortgaging your life away.
Cash cow A business or asset that generates a steady income. The rental property turned out to be a real cash cow.
Foot the bill To pay for something. He had to foot the bill for the repairs to the house.
Cost an arm and a leg To be very expensive. The renovations to the house cost an arm and a leg.
Make ends meet To have just enough money to cover expenses. It’s hard to make ends meet with the rising cost of living.
Break the bank To cost too much money. The new furniture shouldn’t break the bank.
Money to burn To have a lot of money to spend. They seem to have money to burn, judging by their lavish lifestyle.
Tighten your belt To spend less money due to financial difficulties. We need to tighten our belts and cut back on expenses.
Live within your means To spend only as much money as you earn. It’s important to live within your means to avoid debt.
Rainy day fund Money saved for unexpected expenses. It’s wise to have a rainy day fund in case of emergencies.
In the red Operating at a loss; in debt. The company has been in the red for the past year.
In the black Operating at a profit; not in debt. The company is finally in the black after the restructuring.
Put a price on To estimate the value of something. It’s hard to put a price on the value of that antique.
Worth its weight in gold Extremely valuable or useful. That old tool is worth its weight in gold.
Pay off To complete the payment of a debt. It will take years to pay off the mortgage.
Property ladder The process of buying increasingly expensive homes. They’re hoping to climb the property ladder.
Upside down Owing more than something is worth. They are upside down on their mortgage.
Cut your losses To stop doing something that is losing money. It’s time to cut your losses and sell the property.

Comfort and Security Idioms

This table provides examples of idioms that relate to the feelings of comfort, safety, and security associated with home.

Idiom Meaning Example Sentence
Safe haven A place of safety and security. The shelter provides a safe haven for those in need.
Comfort zone A situation where one feels safe and comfortable. She decided to step out of her comfort zone and try something new.
At ease Relaxed and comfortable. He felt at ease in his own home.
Peace of mind A feeling of calmness and security. Having insurance gives me peace of mind.
Haven A place of safety or refuge. The library is a haven for students seeking quiet.
Snug as a bug in a rug Very comfortable and cozy. She was snug as a bug in a rug by the fireplace.
Home away from home A place where you feel comfortable and relaxed. This hotel is like a home away from home.
Well-grounded Emotionally stable and secure. Despite his success, he remains well-grounded.
Feel at home To feel comfortable and relaxed in a new environment. I quickly felt at home in my new apartment.
A sanctuary A place of refuge or safety. His garden was his sanctuary.

Usage Rules for Home Idioms

Using idioms correctly requires understanding their specific meanings and contexts. Here are some key rules to follow:

  • Context is crucial: Always consider the context in which you are using an idiom. The same idiom can have different meanings in different situations.
  • Don’t mix idioms: Avoid combining parts of different idioms, as this can create nonsensical or confusing statements.
  • Know your audience: Be aware of your audience and their familiarity with idioms. Some idioms may be less common or appropriate in certain settings.
  • Pay attention to tone: Idioms can convey different tones, from humorous to serious. Choose idioms that match the tone of your communication.
  • Practice regularly: The best way to master idioms is to practice using them in conversation and writing.

Idioms are not always interchangeable with their literal equivalents. For instance, you can’t simply replace “bring home the bacon” with “earn a living” without losing the idiomatic flavor and cultural connotation. Understanding the nuances of each idiom is key to using them effectively.

Be cautious when translating idioms from one language to another. Direct translations often don’t make sense, as idioms are culturally specific. Instead, try to find an equivalent idiom in the target language that conveys a similar meaning.

Common Mistakes with Home Idioms

One of the most common mistakes is taking idioms literally, which can lead to misunderstandings and humorous errors. For example, someone might imagine actual bacon being brought home when hearing the phrase “bring home the bacon.”

Another common mistake is changing the words or structure of an idiom. Idioms are fixed expressions, so altering them can destroy their meaning. For instance, saying “take home the bacon” instead of “bring home the bacon” is incorrect.

Here are some examples of common mistakes and their corrections:

Incorrect Correct Explanation
Make you at home Make yourself at home The reflexive pronoun “yourself” is required.
Hit the house Hit home The idiom is “hit home,” not “hit the house.”
Bring the bread Bring home the bacon The idiom is “bring home the bacon,” not “bring the bread.”
Sweep the dirt under the rug Sweep it under the rug “It” is used to refer to the problem or mistake.
Air your clean laundry Air your dirty laundry The idiom is “air your dirty laundry,” referring to embarrassing secrets.

It’s also important to avoid using idioms in inappropriate contexts. For example, using a casual idiom in a formal presentation could undermine your credibility. Always consider your audience and the purpose of your communication when choosing idioms.

Practice Exercises

Test your understanding of home idioms with these exercises. Fill in the blanks with the correct idiom from the list provided.

Idiom List: home sweet home, make yourself at home, hit home, a home away from home, bring home the bacon, sweep under the rug, patch things up, like two peas in a pod, blood is thicker than water, cost an arm and a leg

Question Answer
1. After months of traveling, it’s good to be back; __________. home sweet home
2. Come in, __________, and let’s catch up. make yourself at home
3. His words really __________, and I knew I had to change. hit home
4. This coffee shop is __________, where I can relax and work. a home away from home
5. My father works hard every day to __________. bring home the bacon
6. They tried to __________ the company’s financial problems, but it was too late. sweep under the rug
7. After the argument, they tried to __________ and restore their friendship. patch things up
8. The sisters are __________, always together and sharing everything. like two peas in a pod
9. Despite their disagreements, __________ and they always support each other. blood is thicker than water
10. The renovations to the old house __________ . cost an arm and a leg

Exercise 2: Choose the correct idiom to complete each sentence.

Question Options Answer
1. The demand for the new product went __________. a) through the door, b) through the roof, c) through the floor b) through the roof
2. Your first drink is __________. a) on the house, b) in the house, c) by the house a) on the house
3. They got along __________. a) like a house on fire, b) like a tree on fire, c) like a car on fire a) like a house on fire
4. Investing in government bonds is __________. a) as safe as cars, b) as safe as houses, c) as safe as trees b) as safe as houses
5. She __________ while her husband works. a) keeps car, b) keeps tree, c) keeps house c) keeps house
6. They tried to __________ with his neighbor after their argument. a) mend houses, b) mend fences, c) mend cars b) mend fences
7. She decided to __________ and travel the world. a) fly the tree, b) fly the fence, c) fly the coop c) fly the coop
8. It’s hard to __________ with the rising cost of living. a) make tree meet, b) make ends meet, c) make house meet b) make ends meet
9. They seem to have __________, judging by their lavish lifestyle. a) money to burn, b) money to fly, c) money to swim a) money to burn
10. She was __________ by the fireplace. a) snug as a bug in a car, b) snug as a bug in a tree, c) snug as a bug in a rug c) snug as a bug in a rug

Advanced Topics: The Nuances of Home Idioms

For advanced learners, exploring the etymology and historical context of home idioms can provide a deeper understanding of their meanings and cultural significance. Many idioms have origins in historical events, social customs, or literary works.

For example, the idiom “bring home the bacon” is believed to have originated in medieval England, where a pig (bacon) was awarded as a prize to the most faithful husband. This historical context adds a layer of meaning to the idiom, suggesting not only financial success but also marital fidelity.

Another advanced topic is the use of idioms in literature and media. Authors and filmmakers often use idioms to create vivid imagery, develop characters, and convey themes. Analyzing how idioms are used in different contexts can enhance your comprehension and appreciation of these works.

Furthermore, exploring regional variations in home idioms can be fascinating. Different regions or dialects may have their own unique idioms related to home life. Learning these variations can broaden your understanding of the English language and its cultural diversity.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some frequently asked questions about home idioms:

  1. What is the best way to learn idioms?
    The best way to learn idioms is through consistent exposure and practice. Read widely, listen to native speakers, and actively try to use idioms in your own conversations and writing. Flashcards, online resources, and language exchange partners can also be helpful.
  2. Are idioms the same in all English-speaking countries?
    No, idioms can vary significantly between different English-speaking countries and regions. Some idioms may be common in one country but completely unknown in another. Be aware of these regional differences when using idioms.
  3. Can I create my own idioms?
    While it’s possible to create new phrases, they won’t
    necessarily be understood as idioms unless they gain widespread use. Idioms become established through common usage and cultural acceptance over time.
  4. How can I avoid misusing idioms?
    Pay close attention to the context in which you encounter idioms and make sure you understand their specific meanings. Use idioms sparingly and appropriately, and don’t be afraid to ask for clarification if you’re unsure about their usage.
  5. Are there any idioms that should be avoided?
    Some idioms may be considered offensive or outdated, so it’s important to be aware of their connotations and potential impact on your audience. Avoid using idioms that perpetuate stereotypes or could be interpreted as insensitive.

Conclusion

Mastering home idioms is a valuable skill that can significantly enhance your understanding and fluency in English. By learning the meanings, origins, and usage rules of these colorful expressions, you can communicate more effectively and connect with native speakers on a deeper level.

Remember to practice regularly, pay attention to context, and be mindful of your audience. With consistent effort, you’ll be able to confidently use home idioms in your conversations and writing, adding richness and authenticity to your language skills. So, dive in, explore these fascinating phrases, and make yourself at home in the world of English idioms!

Jasper Langford
Jasper Langford
Articles: 60

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