The road of life becomes easier to talk about when we use idioms about life—phrases that capture emotion, experience, and change.
They turn abstract ideas into real scenes: climbing mountains, sailing through rough waters, or dancing in the rain. These idioms make deep thoughts feel simple and true, helping us connect, reflect, and relate through language.
Best Idioms About Life
1. A dog’s life
Meaning: A life full of hardship, discomfort, or lack of freedom.
In a Sentence:
He’s been living a dog’s life since losing his job.
For many during the war, it was truly a dog’s life.
Other Ways to Say: Hard knock life, Tough existence, Life of Struggle
2. Weather the storm
Meaning: To endure a difficult period with strength and resilience.
In a Sentence:
Their relationship managed to weather the storm.
We had to weather the storm when the business nearly collapsed.
Other Ways to Say: Get through tough times, Ride it out, Stay strong
3. Life in the fast lane
Meaning: A busy, glamorous, and often risky lifestyle.
In a Sentence:
He loves life in the fast lane—always traveling and partying.
Life in the fast lane can be thrilling, but it’s exhausting.
Other Ways to Say: High-paced life, All-go, Fast-track lifestyle
4. Bite the dust
Meaning: To fail, fall, or come to an end—sometimes fatally.
In a Sentence:
Another startup bites the dust.
That old laptop finally bit the dust.
Other Ways to Say: Come to an end, Fail badly, Collapse
5. Life and limb
Meaning: Facing danger that risks one’s safety or life.
In a Sentence:
He risked life and limb to save the child.
Many workers put life and limb on the line every day.
Other Ways to Say: At great risk, In harm’s way, Risk it all
6. Every cloud has a silver lining
Meaning: There is hope or something positive even in difficult situations.
In a Sentence:
Losing that job was hard, but it led to better things—every cloud has a silver lining.
Even after the breakup, she believed every cloud has a silver lining.
Other Ways to Say: Look on the bright side, Hope in hardship, There’s light ahead
7. Hit rock bottom
Meaning: To reach the lowest point emotionally, financially, or personally.
In a Sentence:
After the divorce, he hit rock bottom.
She hit rock bottom before seeking help.
Other Ways to Say: At your lowest, In despair, Down and out
8. Through thick and thin
Meaning: To stay loyal and committed during both good and bad times.
In a Sentence:
She stayed with him through thick and thin.
True friends are there through thick and thin.
Other Ways to Say: No matter what, Through it all, Loyal always
9. On the ropes
Meaning: Struggling to survive or almost defeated.
In a Sentence:
The company is on the ropes financially.
After several failures, he was on the ropes but kept going.
Other Ways to Say: Barely hanging on, At risk of losing, In trouble
10. Out of the frying pan into the fire
Meaning: To escape one difficult situation only to land in something worse.
In a Sentence:
She left her stressful job, only to go out of the frying pan into the fire.
Changing teams turned out to be out of the frying pan into the fire.
Other Ways to Say: Worse off, Escalating trouble, Bad to worse
11. Live and learn
Meaning: We gain knowledge and wisdom through experiences, especially mistakes.
In a Sentence:
I didn’t know you couldn’t microwave that—live and learn.
He trusted the wrong person but chalked it up to live and learn.
Other Ways to Say: Learn from experience, That’s how we grow, Lesson learned
12. Curiosity killed the cat
Meaning: Being overly curious can lead to trouble or danger.
In a Sentence:
You don’t need to dig into her personal life—curiosity killed the cat.
He got caught snooping around—curiosity killed the cat.
Other Ways to Say: Don’t poke your nose in, Stay out of it, Mind your business
13. Cry over spilled milk
Meaning: To waste time feeling bad about something that has already happened and can’t be changed.
In a Sentence:
Yes, the deal fell through, but don’t cry over spilled milk.
She regrets quitting, but it’s no use crying over spilled milk.
Other Ways to Say: Let it go, Move on, What’s done is done
14. Facts of life
Meaning: Harsh or basic truths about how life works.
In a Sentence:
He learned the facts of life when his startup failed.
Growing older comes with the facts of life—nothing stays the same.
Other Ways to Say: Harsh reality, Life truths, Reality check
15. A life of its own
Meaning: Something that grows or changes independently beyond your control.
In a Sentence:
The rumor took on a life of its own.
What started as a small hobby gained a life of its own.
Other Ways to Say: Out of control, Evolving freely, Took off unexpectedly
Related Post: 50 Idioms for Trees That Grow with Wisdom
16. You can’t teach an old dog new tricks
Meaning: It’s hard to get someone set in their ways to change or learn something new.
In a Sentence:
He won’t switch to digital—can’t teach an old dog new tricks.
Don’t expect her to change careers now—you can’t teach an old dog new tricks.
Other Ways to Say: Set in their ways, Stuck in old habits, Resistant to change
17. What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger
Meaning: Difficult experiences help you grow and become more resilient.
In a Sentence:
She came out of that breakup stronger—what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.
The injury was tough, but he learned that what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.
Other Ways to Say: Strength through struggle, Pain builds resilience, Grow from hardship
18. Learn the hard way
Meaning: To understand something by experiencing pain, difficulty, or failure.
In a Sentence:
He learned the hard way not to trust strangers online.
She learned the hard way how tough starting a business can be.
Other Ways to Say: Lesson through pain, Trial and error, Tough lesson
19. The school of hard knocks
Meaning: Gaining life knowledge through real-world hardships rather than formal education.
In a Sentence:
He didn’t go to college, but the school of hard knocks taught him well.
She’s tough because she graduated from the school of hard knocks.
Other Ways to Say: Life experience, Rough lessons, Learned on the streets
20. Live to fight another day
Meaning: Sometimes it’s better to step back temporarily and save your strength for the future.
In a Sentence:
We had to give up the project for now—live to fight another day.
He walked away from the argument, choosing to live to fight another day.
Other Ways to Say: Retreat wisely, Pick your battles, Wait for your moment
21. Bite the bullet
Meaning: To bravely face a difficult or unpleasant situation you can’t avoid.
In a Sentence:
He finally bit the bullet and went to the dentist.
Sometimes you just have to bite the bullet and apologize.
Other Ways to Say: Face it head-on, Tough it out, Get it over with
22. Burn bridges
Meaning: To destroy relationships or opportunities in a way that makes it impossible to return.
In a Sentence:
She burned bridges when she left the company on bad terms.
Think before you act—you don’t want to burn any bridges.
Other Ways to Say: Sever ties, Cut off options, End things badly
23. The ball is in your court
Meaning: It’s now your responsibility to take action or make a decision.
In a Sentence:
I’ve done my part—the ball is in your court.
He gave her the offer, so now the ball is in her court.
Other Ways to Say: Your move, Your decision, Up to you now
24. Do unto others
Meaning: Treat people the way you want to be treated.
In a Sentence:
He believes in doing unto others as you’d want them to do unto you.
Before judging her, remember—do unto others.
Other Ways to Say: Golden rule, Show mutual respect, Treat fairly
25. Take the bull by the horns
Meaning: To confront a challenge boldly and directly.
In a Sentence:
She took the bull by the horns and asked for a raise.
It’s time we take the bull by the horns and fix this mess.
Other Ways to Say: Face the problem, Step up, Be bold
26. Make your bed and lie in it
Meaning: You must accept the consequences of your choices.
In a Sentence:
He chose to quit school—now he has to make his bed and lie in it.
You started this argument, so don’t complain—you made your bed.
Other Ways to Say: Own your decisions, Face the results, Deal with it
27. Cross that bridge when you come to it
Meaning: Don’t worry about future problems until they actually happen.
In a Sentence:
We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it.
No use stressing now—cross that bridge when it comes.
Other Ways to Say: Don’t overthink, Worry later, Deal with it when needed
28. Go for broke
Meaning: Take a big risk to achieve something great.
In a Sentence:
He went broke and invested all his savings in the business.
Sometimes you just have to go broke and chase the dream.
Other Ways to Say: All or nothing, Take a leap, Risk it all
29. Put all your eggs in one basket
Meaning: Relying completely on one plan or opportunity, which is risky.
In a Sentence:
She put all her eggs in one basket by applying to just one school.
Don’t put all your eggs in one basket—diversify your options.
Other Ways to Say: Risk everything on one thing, No backup plan, Overdependence
30. Seize the day
Meaning: Take full advantage of the present moment; don’t wait.
In a Sentence:
He seized the day and asked her out.
Life is short—seize the day and travel while you can.
Other Ways to Say: Live now, Make the most of it, Don’t hold back
31. Life is a bowl of cherries
Meaning: Life is sweet, pleasant, and full of small joys.
In a Sentence:
For her, retirement proved life is a bowl of cherries.
When everything is going well, life feels like a bowl of cherries.
Other Ways to Say: Life is sweet, Enjoy the ride, Life is good
32. Life of Riley
Meaning: A carefree and luxurious life without worries.
In a Sentence:
He’s living the life of Riley on his yacht.
She retired early and now enjoys the life of Riley.
Other Ways to Say: Easy life, Worry-free living, Living large
33. Live high off the hog
Meaning: To live in luxury, spending freely and enjoying the best of life.
In a Sentence:
After the big deal, he was living high off the hog.
They live high off the hog with fancy cars and big vacations.
Other Ways to Say: Lavish lifestyle, Indulge in luxury, Spend freely
34. Larger than life
Meaning: Someone or something exceptionally impressive or unforgettable.
In a Sentence:
Her personality was larger than life—everyone remembered her.
He played the role with a larger-than-life energy.
Other Ways to Say: Unforgettable, Grand presence, Powerful image
35. Life goes on
Meaning: No matter what happens, time and life continue to move forward.
In a Sentence:
She was heartbroken, but life goes on.
After losing the job, he reminded himself that life goes on.
Other Ways to Say: Keep going, Move forward, Carry on
Related Post: 50 Common Idioms for Hope and Positivity
36. The light of my life
Meaning: Someone who brings joy, meaning, and love into your life.
In a Sentence:
My daughter is the light of my life.
He calls his wife the light of his life.
Other Ways to Say: My everything, Deep love, Source of joy
37. Live life to the fullest
Meaning: Embrace every opportunity and enjoy every moment without holding back.
In a Sentence:
She travels, learns, and laughs—truly living life to the fullest.
He believes in living life to the fullest every single day.
Other Ways to Say: Embrace the moment, Savor life, Make the most of it
38. A new lease on life
Meaning: A chance to start over or live better, often after a hard time.
In a Sentence:
After her recovery, she felt a new lease on life.
The move gave him a new lease on life.
Other Ways to Say: Fresh start, Second chance, Renewed purpose
39. The spice of life
Meaning: Variety and change are what make life interesting and exciting.
In a Sentence:
She loves traveling—variety is the spice of life.
Trying new things keeps the spice of life alive.
Other Ways to Say: Life’s flavor, Keep it fresh, Change brings joy
40. Life is what you make it
Meaning: Your choices shape your experience; you control your own happiness.
In a Sentence:
He always says life is what you make it—so make it count.
She turned setbacks into opportunities—proof that life is what you make it.
Other Ways to Say: Create your path, Own your life, You’re in charge
41. Break the ice
Meaning: To start a conversation or interaction that helps people feel more comfortable.
In a Sentence:
He told a funny joke to break the ice at the meeting.
Games are a great way to break the ice at parties.
Other Ways to Say: Start things off, Warm things up, Ease the tension
42. Not on your life
Meaning: A strong and definite refusal; absolutely not.
In a Sentence:
Join their plan? Not on your life.
He asked if I’d forgive him—ha, not on your life.
Other Ways to Say: No way, Absolutely not, Over my dead body
43. Lead a double life
Meaning: To secretly live two very different lives, often hiding one from others.
In a Sentence:
The detective discovered he had been leading a double life.
She seemed normal, but she was leading a double life.
Other Ways to Say: Living in secret, Two-faced existence, Hidden identity
44. Build bridges
Meaning: To create or restore good relationships between people or groups.
In a Sentence:
The two communities are working to build bridges.
She made an effort to build bridges with her estranged brother.
Other Ways to Say: Reconnect, Mend ties, Strengthen bonds
45. Bury the hatchet
Meaning: To make peace and end a conflict or disagreement.
In a Sentence:
They decided to bury the hatchet after years of silence.
Let’s bury the hatchet and start fresh.
Other Ways to Say: Make amends, End the feud, Let go of resentment
46. Give someone the benefit of the doubt
Meaning: To trust someone’s intentions or words, even if you have doubts.
In a Sentence:
I didn’t believe him at first, but I gave him the benefit of the doubt.
She made mistakes, but I chose to give her the benefit of the doubt.
Other Ways to Say: Assume the best, Trust anyway, Stay open-minded
47. Walk in someone’s shoes
Meaning: To understand someone else’s feelings or situation by imagining yourself in their place.
In a Sentence:
Try walking in her shoes before judging her.
It’s hard, but he learned to walk in his father’s shoes.
Other Ways to Say: Empathize, Put yourself in their place, See from their view
48. Live and let live
Meaning: To respect other people’s choices and lifestyles without interfering.
In a Sentence:
She disagreed with their views but chose to live and let live.
I don’t get his habits but live and let live.
Other Ways to Say: Respect differences, Let it be, You do you
49. Turn over a new leaf
Meaning: To make a positive change in one’s behavior or way of life.
In a Sentence:
After the arrest, he turned over a new leaf.
She promised to turn over a new leaf and be more responsible.
Other Ways to Say: Start fresh, Make a change, Begin again
50. Give life your all
Meaning: To devote yourself fully to your goals, passions, or relationships.
In a Sentence:
He gives life his all—every project, every relationship.
If you love something, give life your all.
Other Ways to Say: Pour your heart into it, Live wholeheartedly, Go all in
Exercise to Practice – Idioms About Life
- After losing her job and her apartment, she really felt like she had __________.
- He was terrified of change but decided to __________ and move abroad anyway.
- Don’t worry too much now—we’ll __________ when the problem actually comes.
- Even after all these years, they’ve stuck together __________.
- The moment was awkward until she cracked a joke to __________.
- His curiosity got him into trouble again—proof that __________.
- That trip to the countryside gave me a __________. I feel refreshed and full of hope.
- If you always __________, you might end up with nothing if it fails.
- Their wedding was a huge celebration—people were saying it was __________!
- He realized he needed to change and decided to __________ with his life.
Answer
- hit rock bottom
- bite the bullet
- cross that bridge when you come to it
- through thick and thin
- break the ice
- curiosity killed the cat
- a new lease on life
- put all your eggs in one basket
- larger than life
- turn over a new leaf
Conclusion
The way we speak about experience feels more real when we use idioms about life to express what we go through. They help us share joy, struggle, and growth in ways that are easy to picture and remember.
By using these phrases, you add warmth, meaning, and honesty to your conversations. Over time, idioms about life become more than words—they become reflections of the journey itself.
Danny Weber is a language enthusiast and freelance writer with a passion for unpacking the beauty of idioms and metaphors. Through years of research and creative exploration, Danny helps readers understand the deeper meanings behind familiar phrases—making figurative language feel accessible, engaging, and alive. Whether he’s decoding classic sayings or crafting new twists on old expressions, Danny’s work invites you to see language with fresh eyes.
