We don’t just describe darkness—we speak through it. That’s where idioms for darkness come alive. They paint feelings we can’t always explain: left in the dark, lost in the shadows, under a cloud.
Each idiom is a lantern in language, casting light on fear, mystery, sorrow, or secrets. The words feel familiar. The rhythms repeat. And the images—fog, shadows, closed doors—linger in your mind long after the sentence ends
Best Idioms for Darkness
1. In the dark
Meaning: Not knowing anything about a situation; kept uninformed.
In a Sentence:
They kept me in the dark about the surprise party.
She felt completely in the dark regarding the company’s decisions.
Other Ways to Say: Unaware, Clueless, Left out
2. A shot in the dark
Meaning: A guess made without any real knowledge or information.
In a Sentence:
His answer was a shot in the dark, but it worked.
We took a shot in the dark and called the last number on the list.
Other Ways to Say: Blind guess, Random try, Stab in the dark
3. Left in the dark
Meaning: Being excluded from important information or decisions.
In a Sentence:
She felt left in the dark about the project changes.
He was left in the dark while the deal was being finalized.
Other Ways to Say: Ignored, Uninformed, Shut out
4. Groping in the dark
Meaning: Trying to find or understand something with no clear direction or clue.
In a Sentence:
We’re groping in the dark without clear instructions.
The investigators were groping in the dark during the early days of the case.
Other Ways to Say: Searching blindly, Feeling lost, Without guidance
5. Dark horse
Meaning: A person or thing that is little known but unexpectedly successful.
In a Sentence:
He was a dark horse in the competition, surprising everyone.
No one expected her to win—she was the real dark horse.
Other Ways to Say: Unexpected winner, Hidden talent, Surprise contender
6. Keep it under wraps
Meaning: To keep something secret or hidden from others.
In a Sentence:
They kept the new product under wraps until the launch.
She asked them to keep the news under wraps for now.
Other Ways to Say: Conceal, Keep secret, Hide from view
7. Behind closed doors
Meaning: In private, without the public or others knowing.
In a Sentence:
The deal was made behind closed doors.
They discussed the issue behind closed doors to avoid attention.
Other Ways to Say: Privately, Secretly, Off the record
8. Cloaked in mystery
Meaning: Covered or surrounded by uncertainty and the unknown.
In a Sentence:
Her past is cloaked in mystery, intriguing everyone.
The ancient ruins remained cloaked in mystery for centuries.
Other Ways to Say: Enigmatic, Shrouded in secrecy, Obscure
9. A veil of secrecy
Meaning: A situation where things are deliberately hidden or kept secret.
In a Sentence:
The project was under a veil of secrecy until release.
A veil of secrecy surrounded the investigation.
Other Ways to Say: Hidden behind silence, Wrapped in silence, Concealed deliberately
10. In the shadows
Meaning: Operating unnoticed or in secret, away from public view.
In a Sentence:
He worked in the shadows to plan the event.
The real decisions were being made in the shadows.
Other Ways to Say: Behind the scenes, Covert, Unseen
11. Dark days ahead
Meaning: Refers to an approaching period of hardship, anxiety, or fear.
In a Sentence:
With the economy crashing, there are dark days ahead.
She feared there were dark days ahead after the diagnosis.
Other Ways to Say: Troubled times coming, Hardships on the horizon, and Gloomy future
12. A dark cloud hanging over
Meaning: Describes a lingering sense of sadness or dread overshadowing a person or situation.
In a Sentence:
A dark cloud hung over her after the bad news.
The tragedy left a dark cloud hanging over the entire community.
Other Ways to Say: Ominous feeling, Emotional weight, Foreboding
13. Cast a shadow over
Meaning: To dampen or ruin a joyful moment with worry or negativity.
In a Sentence:
The scandal cast a shadow over the celebration.
The argument casts a shadow over their vacation.
Other Ways to Say: Taint, Spoil the mood, Dampen spirits
14. Afraid of your own shadow
Meaning: Describes someone extremely timid or easily frightened.
In a Sentence:
He’s so timid, he’s afraid of his own shadow.
She jumped at every noise—afraid of her own shadow.
Other Ways to Say: Easily spooked, Extra cautious, Nervous wreck
15. Dark and stormy
Meaning: Evokes a mood or setting that is ominous, unsettling, or frightening.
In a Sentence:
It was a dark and stormy night, perfect for ghost stories.
Her thoughts felt dark and stormy after the fight.
Other Ways to Say: Gloomy, Turbulent, Threatening
Related Post: 50 Idioms for Sadness That Touch the Heart
16. Pitch black
Meaning: Completely dark, often evoking fear or unease.
In a Sentence:
The cave was pitch black, making us nervous.
He stumbled through the pitch-black hallway, heart pounding.
Other Ways to Say: Total darkness, Utterly black, Blindly dark
17. A chill down the spine
Meaning: A sudden, intense feeling of fear or eeriness.
In a Sentence:
The eerie silence sent a chill down my spine.
Her voice gave me the chills down my spine—it felt otherworldly.
Other Ways to Say: Spine-tingling, Creeped out, Shivers of fear
18. Dark waters
Meaning: A dangerous or mysterious situation, often with hidden risks.
In a Sentence:
He ventured into dark waters with that risky deal.
They were in dark waters when they ignored the warnings.
Other Ways to Say: Troubled territory, Risky zone, Unknown danger
19. Under a dark spell
Meaning: Describes someone emotionally trapped or influenced by fear or pain.
In a Sentence:
She was under a dark spell after the betrayal.
His depression felt like he was under a dark spell.
Other Ways to Say: Emotionally cursed, Deeply troubled, Bewitched by grief
20. Lost in the dark
Meaning: Feeling confused, helpless, or directionless in a troubling situation.
In a Sentence:
Without guidance, he was lost in the dark.
She felt lost in the dark after everything fell apart.
Other Ways to Say: Disoriented, Without direction, Struggling blindly
21. A dark mood
Meaning: A deeply negative emotional state, often marked by irritability, sadness, or silence.
In a Sentence:
He’s been in a dark mood since the argument.
The room fell quiet under his dark mood.
Other Ways to Say: Depressed, Brooding, Low-spirited
22. Dark thoughts
Meaning: Negative, troubling, or harmful ideas that weigh heavily on the mind.
In a Sentence:
She was plagued by dark thoughts after the loss.
His journal revealed the depth of his dark thoughts.
Other Ways to Say: Negative mindset, Troubled reflections, Inner turmoil
23. In a dark place
Meaning: A state of emotional or psychological distress, often linked to depression or grief.
In a Sentence:
He’s been in a dark place since the breakup.
She spoke of being in a dark place during those years.
Other Ways to Say: Mentally struggling, Emotionally down, Depressed
24. A black heart
Meaning: Refers to someone perceived as cruel, unkind, or emotionally cold.
In a Sentence:
His cruel actions showed a black heart.
They accused her of having a black heart after the betrayal.
Other Ways to Say: Evil-minded, Cold-hearted, Ruthless
25. Dark side
Meaning: The negative, hidden, or morally ambiguous part of a person or situation.
In a Sentence:
Everyone has a dark side they try to hide.
The fame exposed the dark side of the industry.
Other Ways to Say: Sinister nature, Shadow self, Hidden flaws
26. A shadow of yourself
Meaning: Describes someone who has lost their vitality, energy, or identity.
In a Sentence:
After the illness, she was a shadow of herself.
He returned from war a shadow of himself.
Other Ways to Say: Hollow, Broken, Spiritless
27. Dark despair
Meaning: Intense hopelessness and sorrow, usually following trauma or loss.
In a Sentence:
He sank into dark despair after failing the exam.
The news plunged her into dark despair.
Other Ways to Say: Hopelessness, Deep sorrow, Mental anguish
28. Under a dark cloud
Meaning: Living or functioning under a lasting feeling of sadness, guilt, or bad luck.
In a Sentence:
She’s been under a dark cloud since the tragedy.
The company operated under a dark cloud after the scandal.
Other Ways to Say: Burdened, Gloomy state, Emotional weight
29. A black day
Meaning: A day marked by tragedy, misfortune, or deep regret.
In a Sentence:
It was a black day when they lost the house.
History remembers that date as a black day for the nation.
Other Ways to Say: Tragic day, Dark moment, Day of sorrow
30. Dark depths
Meaning: A metaphor for extreme emotional lows or internal suffering.
In a Sentence:
He plummeted into the dark depths of grief.
She wrote poems from the dark depths of her soul.
Other Ways to Say: Deep sadness, Emotional abyss, Mental darkness
31. Black as night
Meaning: Completely dark, with no visible light—often creating an ominous or eerie feeling.
In a Sentence:
The room was black as night during the power outage.
His coat was black as night, blending into the shadows.
Other Ways to Say: Pitch-black, Midnight-dark, Jet black
32. Dark as a dungeon
Meaning: Extremely dark, like being trapped underground—often unpleasant or suffocating.
In a Sentence:
The basement was dark as a dungeon without lights.
The tunnel felt dark as a dungeon, the deeper they went.
Other Ways to Say: Gloomy, Claustrophobic, Cave-like
33. Blacker than pitch
Meaning: So dark it’s deeper than natural blackness—usually emphasizing fear or danger.
In a Sentence:
The forest was blacker than pitch at midnight.
The sky turned blacker than pitch before the storm.
Other Ways to Say: Void-dark, Beyond black, Ink-dark
34. A blanket of darkness
Meaning: Darkness that covers everything, as if wrapping or smothering the surroundings.
In a Sentence:
A blanket of darkness fell over the village at night.
The fog and clouds created a blanket of darkness by dusk.
Other Ways to Say: Shroud of night, Cloak of gloom, Nightfall curtain
35. Dark as coal
Meaning: Intensely dark, typically with a heavy, dull tone—evokes weight and shadow.
In a Sentence:
The sky was dark as coal before the storm.
His expression turned dark as coal at the mention of her name.
Other Ways to Say: Charcoal-black, Heavy dark, Dense shadow
Related Post: 50 Best Idioms for Crying and Sadness
36. Shrouded in darkness
Meaning: Completely covered or hidden in darkness, often with mysterious or ominous overtones.
In a Sentence:
The castle was shrouded in darkness after sunset.
Their intentions remained shrouded in darkness.
Other Ways to Say: Veiled, Hidden by night, Cloaked
37. Dark as midnight
Meaning: Absolute nighttime darkness—deep, still, and unsettling.
In a Sentence:
The attic was dark as midnight, even in the day.
His eyes were dark as midnight, unreadable and still.
Other Ways to Say: Midnight black, Deep night, Nocturnal shadow
38. A wall of darkness
Meaning: Describes darkness so thick it feels like a barrier or obstruction.
In a Sentence:
We faced a wall of darkness entering the cave.
The storm brought a wall of darkness over the coast.
Other Ways to Say: Opaque blackness, Solid shadow, Lightless barrier
39. Swallowed by darkness
Meaning: To be completely consumed by darkness—either physically or metaphorically.
In a Sentence:
The path was swallowed by darkness as night fell.
The ship disappeared, swallowed by darkness and fog.
Other Ways to Say: Engulfed, Absorbed into shadow, Lost in black
40. Dark as a tomb
Meaning: Describes still, oppressive darkness—often associated with silence and death.
In a Sentence:
The room was dark as a tomb after the lights went out.
It felt dark as a tomb in that forgotten hallway.
Other Ways to Say: Deathly still, Grave-silent, Hauntingly quiet
41. A dark secret
Meaning: A deeply hidden, often disturbing truth someone wants to keep concealed.
In a Sentence:
She carried a dark secret about her past.
His charming smile hid a dark secret no one suspected.
Other Ways to Say: Sinister truth, Hidden shame, Buried past
42. Dark deeds
Meaning: Evil or immoral actions carried out secretly or maliciously.
In a Sentence:
His dark deeds were uncovered by the police.
They feared the house held memories of old, dark deeds.
Other Ways to Say: Wicked acts, Sinful behavior, Malevolent actions
43. A dark agenda
Meaning: A secretive and morally questionable plan or motive behind someone’s actions.
In a Sentence:
He had a dark agenda behind his kind words.
Their so-called charity masked a dark agenda.
Other Ways to Say: Hidden motive, Evil scheme, Deceptive plan
44. Dark intentions
Meaning: Purpose or plans that are harmful, selfish, or evil in nature.
In a Sentence:
Her dark intentions were clear in her actions.
He approached with a smile but with dark intentions in his heart.
Other Ways to Say: Malicious aim, Sinister plan, Cruel purpose
45. A dark path
Meaning: A morally dangerous or destructive course of action or lifestyle.
In a Sentence:
He chose a dark path by joining the gang.
She warned him that revenge would only lead down a dark path.
Other Ways to Say: Corrupt road, Dangerous journey, Fallen course
46. Dark forces
Meaning: Evil or malevolent powers, often mysterious or supernatural.
In a Sentence:
They believed dark forces were behind the tragedy.
The legend spoke of dark forces that haunted the land.
Other Ways to Say: Evil powers, Malevolent entities, Shadowy energy
47. A dark stain
Meaning: A lasting mark of shame, guilt, or corruption on someone’s character or legacy.
In a Sentence:
The scandal left a dark stain on his reputation.
That crime became a dark stain in the town’s history.
Other Ways to Say: Tarnished name, Moral blemish, Indelible shame
48. Dark underbelly
Meaning: The hidden, often immoral, or dangerous side of something that seems good on the surface.
In a Sentence:
The city’s dark underbelly was exposed in the report.
Fame hides a dark underbelly that the public rarely sees.
Other Ways to Say: Hidden rot, Shadow side, Corrupt core
49. A dark presence
Meaning: An ominous or menacing feeling, as if something evil is near.
In a Sentence:
A dark presence seemed to linger in the old house.
They felt a dark presence before anything went wrong.
Other Ways to Say: Menacing force, Evil aura, Sinister energy
50. Dark whispers
Meaning: Mysterious, eerie, or dangerous rumors or voices, often spoken in secrecy.
In a Sentence:
Dark whispers filled the hall as the wind howled.
She heard dark whispers of betrayal before the fall.
Other Ways to Say: Sinister murmurs, Hidden threats, Eerie rumors
Exercise to Practice – Idioms for Darkness
- After the company’s sudden decision, the employees felt completely __________.
- The haunted house was __________, sending chills down our spines.
- That old mansion is __________ ever since the power went out.
- He always acts like he’s hiding something—his motives seem __________.
- Her breakup left her in __________, struggling to get through the day.
- We had no directions or signal—it felt like __________ trying to find the camp.
- The villain was driven by __________ and a hunger for control.
- Don’t leave me __________ about the trip! I want to know the plan.
- The rumor cast __________ over what should’ve been a joyful evening.
- The forest was __________ by the time we started walking back.
Answer
- in the dark
- pitch black
- dark as a dungeon
- dark intentions
- a dark place
- groping in the dark
- dark forces
- left in the dark
- a dark cloud
- swallowed by darkness
Conclusion
When light fades, idioms for darkness step in to speak for the unseen. They whisper of shadows that hide secrets, clouds that cast doubt, and paths shrouded in mystery.
Each idiom pulls us into a quiet, foggy world, where fear, uncertainty, or simply the unknown takes shape. And just like that, words become lanterns. They don’t chase the darkness away—but they help us see through it, feel it, name it.
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.
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