Excitement is one of the most energizing emotions, yet it can be surprisingly hard to put into words. Using idioms for excitement helps turn those feelings into images you can hear, feel, and even laugh through. These expressions capture the intensity, joy, and anticipation that make moments unforgettable.
In this article, you’ll find 50 idioms that bring energy and emotion into everyday language.
Top Idioms for Excitement
The list below covers some of the most expressive idioms for excitement—each one full of energy, and emotion, and perfect for bringing your words to life.
1. On Cloud Nine
Meaning: Feeling extremely happy, like floating high above everything.
In a Sentence:
“She’s been on cloud nine since the concert.”
“After the big win, he walked around like he was on cloud nine.”
Other Ways to Say: In the seventh heaven, walking on air, over the moon
2. In Seventh Heaven
Meaning: Experiencing pure, blissful joy—complete happiness.
In a Sentence:
“When she got the job offer, she was in seventh heaven.”
“He held his baby for the first time and felt like he was in seventh heaven.”
Other Ways to Say: Overjoyed, blissed out, on top of the world
3. Over the Moon
Meaning: Extremely excited or delighted—feeling beyond happy.
In a Sentence:
“They were over the moon about the engagement.”
“I was over the moon when my favorite team won.”
Other Ways to Say: Thrilled, beaming, ecstatic
4. Top of the World
Meaning: Feeling confident, proud, and completely happy.
In a Sentence:
“She felt on top of the world after finishing her degree.”
“Winning that award put him on top of the world.”
Other Ways to Say: Riding high, feeling unstoppable, completely fulfilled
5. Walking on Air
Meaning: Feeling so happy and light that it’s like you’re floating.
In a Sentence:
“He was walking on air after their first date.”
“She left the meeting walking on air—it went so well.”
Other Ways to Say: Floating with joy, light-hearted, elated
6. Beaming from Ear to Ear
Meaning: Smiling widely because of pure happiness.
In a Sentence:
“He was beaming from ear to ear after hearing the good news.”
“Her face lit up, beaming from ear to ear.”
Other Ways to Say: Grinning, glowing with joy, smiling nonstop
7. Tickled Pink
Meaning: Genuinely delighted or pleased, often in a playful or unexpected way.
In a Sentence:
“I was tickled pink by the thoughtful gift.”
“She looked tickled pink when they sang her name.”
Other Ways to Say: Delighted, pleased as punch, joyfully surprised
8. Burst with Joy
Meaning: Feeling so much joy that it almost can’t be contained.
In a Sentence:
“I was bursting with joy when I saw my friends waiting for me.”
“She burst with joy as the music started.”
Other Ways to Say: Overflowing with happiness, couldn’t hold it in, full of light
9. A Spring in Your Step
Meaning: Feeling cheerful and energetic, which shows in the way you move.
In a Sentence:
“He had a spring in his step after the good news.”
“Her voice and walk had that spring in her step again.”
Other Ways to Say: Energized, peppy, walking with joy
10. Bright-Eyed and Bushy-Tailed
Meaning: Lively, alert, and ready to take on the day or challenge.
In a Sentence:
“She showed up bright-eyed and bushy-tailed for her new job.”
“He was bright-eyed and bushy-tailed despite barely sleeping.”
Other Ways to Say: Energetic, fresh and ready, cheerfully alert
11. Full of Beans
Meaning: Feeling very lively, energetic, and full of enthusiasm.
In a Sentence:
“The kids were full of beans after the birthday cake.”
“She’s always full of beans in the morning, ready to go.”
Other Ways to Say: Full of energy, lively, bursting with excitement
12. Ants in Your Pants
Meaning: Feeling overly restless or unable to stay still, usually from excitement.
In a Sentence:
“He had ants in his pants waiting for the trip to start.”
“She couldn’t sit still—like she had ants in her pants.”
Other Ways to Say: Fidgety, overexcited, jittery with anticipation
13. Raring to Go
Meaning: Eager, excited, and fully ready to begin something.
In a Sentence:
“We’ve packed the car and we’re raring to go!”
“She’s raring to go before the others even wake up.”
Other Ways to Say: Eager, excited, all set
14. Champ at the Bit
Meaning: Impatient to start or take action—barely holding back energy.
In a Sentence:
“He was champing at the bit to make his first move.”
“She was champing at the bit to show her project.”
Other Ways to Say: Can’t wait, itching to start, ready and restless
15. Jump Out of One’s Seat
Meaning: So surprised or excited that you physically react or can’t stay still.
In a Sentence:
“The announcement made me jump out of my seat!”
“He practically jumped out of his seat when the doorbell rang.”
Other Ways to Say: Leapt with excitement, sprang up, full of adrenaline
Related Post: 50 Idioms for Confusion to Describe Any Mental Fog
16. Bounce Off the Walls
Meaning: Overflowing with energy to the point of being uncontrollable or wild.
In a Sentence:
“The kids were bouncing off the walls after the party.”
“She was bouncing off the walls from pure excitement.”
Other Ways to Say: Hyperactive, buzzing, can’t calm down
17. Buzzing With Energy
Meaning: Feeling a strong, exciting energy inside—ready to move or talk.
In a Sentence:
“He was buzzing with energy before the concert.”
“She’s been buzzing with energy since she got the call.”
Other Ways to Say: Electrified, thrilled, charged up
18. On Pins and Needles
Meaning: Feeling tense, anxious, or highly alert due to excitement or nervousness.
In a Sentence:
“I was on pins and needles waiting for the results.”
“Everyone sat on pins and needles before the big reveal.”
Other Ways to Say: Anxious, eager, tense with anticipation
19. Like a Firecracker Ready to Go
Meaning: So full of energy that you’re about to explode into action.
In a Sentence:
“He’s like a firecracker ready to go—just waiting for the signal.”
“She stood by the stage, like a firecracker ready to burst.”
Other Ways to Say: Ready to explode, packed with energy, high-strung excitement
20. Wired Up and Ready
Meaning: Highly alert, full of energy, and fully prepared to act.
In a Sentence:
“After that coffee, I’m wired up and ready to go.”
“He stayed up all night but was still wired up and ready.”
Other Ways to Say: Hyper, switched on, buzzing and prepared
21. Jump for Joy
Meaning: To be so happy that you literally or figuratively leap with excitement.
In a Sentence:
“She jumped for joy when she got the good news.”
“The kids jumped for joy when the vacation was announced.”
Other Ways to Say: Leap with happiness, burst with excitement, bounce in delight
22. Paint the Town Red
Meaning: To go out and celebrate in a big, lively way—usually with friends or music.
In a Sentence:
“After graduation, we went out to paint the town red.”
“They’re planning to paint the town red on New Year’s Eve.”
Other Ways to Say: Go out partying, celebrate loudly, hit the town
23. Blow the Roof Off
Meaning: To create a loud, energetic celebration or reaction—usually in a crowd.
In a Sentence:
“The band blew the roof off the venue with that final song.”
“The crowd blew the roof off when the team scored.”
Other Ways to Say: Bring down the house, make some noise, cheer wildly
24. Go Wild
Meaning: To lose control in the best way—cheering, dancing, or reacting with excitement.
In a Sentence:
“The crowd went wild when the fireworks started.”
“She went wild when her favorite song came on.”
Other Ways to Say: Let loose, cheer like crazy, get loud
25. Let Your Hair Down
Meaning: To relax and enjoy yourself without holding back—especially in a fun setting.
In a Sentence:
“She finally let her hair down and danced with everyone.”
“After a long week, he just wanted to let his hair down.”
Other Ways to Say: Unwind, loosen up, cut loose
26. Party Like There’s No Tomorrow
Meaning: To celebrate with full energy and no hesitation, as if nothing else matters.
In a Sentence:
“They partied like there’s no tomorrow at the wedding.”
“Let’s party like there’s no tomorrow—this is our night!”
Other Ways to Say: Go all out, live it up, celebrate big
27. Raise the Roof
Meaning: To cheer, dance, or make noise in celebration—usually in a group.
In a Sentence:
“The team raised the roof after the final goal.”
“Let’s raise the roof tonight—it’s your birthday!”
Other Ways to Say: Celebrate loud, stir the crowd, turn it up
28. Kick Up Your Heels
Meaning: To have fun by dancing, laughing, or letting loose—often at a party.
In a Sentence:
“She kicked up her heels at the reunion like old times.”
“They kicked up their heels after closing the big deal.”
Other Ways to Say: Dance freely, have a blast, enjoy the moment
29. Dance in the Streets
Meaning: To express joy publicly and energetically, often in big celebrations.
In a Sentence:
“Fans danced in the streets after the championship win.”
“People were dancing in the streets like it was a festival.”
Other Ways to Say: Celebrate openly, party outside, joyful gathering
30. Make a Big Splash
Meaning: To stand out or celebrate in a way that grabs attention.
In a Sentence:
“He made a big splash at the launch party with his outfit.”
“Their wedding made a big splash on social media.”
Other Ways to Say: Turn heads, cause a scene (positively), get noticed
31. Blow Someone Away
Meaning: To impress or amaze someone so much that they’re left speechless or overwhelmed.
In a Sentence:
“Her performance blew everyone away—it was unforgettable.”
“I was blown away by the surprise party they planned.”
Other Ways to Say: Stun, amaze, leave speechless
32. Knock Your Socks Off
Meaning: To surprise or impress someone greatly with excitement or intensity.
In a Sentence:
“That roller coaster ride will knock your socks off!”
“His kind words really knocked my socks off.”
Other Ways to Say: Wow, astonish, thrill completely
33. Set Your Heart Racing
Meaning: To excite or overwhelm you in a way that makes your pulse quicken.
In a Sentence:
“Her smile set his heart racing.”
“The news set my heart racing—I couldn’t believe it.”
Other Ways to Say: Feel thrilled, feel alive, get your adrenaline up
34. Your Jaw Hits the Floor
Meaning: To be completely shocked or amazed by something unexpected.
In a Sentence:
“My jaw hit the floor when I saw the wedding venue.”
“Everyone’s jaw hit the floor when he walked in with the trophy.”
Other Ways to Say: Left stunned, completely shocked, blown away
35. Go Bananas
Meaning: To become wildly excited or act in an over-the-top way due to joy or surprise.
In a Sentence:
“The fans went bananas when the final goal was scored.”
“She went bananas when she saw the concert tickets.”
Other Ways to Say: Freak out (positively), go crazy, go wild
Related Post: 50 Best Idioms for Anger and Frustration
36. All Fired Up
Meaning: Feeling excited, energized, or emotionally charged.
In a Sentence:
“He was all fired up before the big match.”
“She gets all fired up when talking about her dreams.”
Other Ways to Say: Pumped, energized, raring to go
37. Hit the Jackpot
Meaning: To get or experience something extremely good or lucky—pure joy or success.
In a Sentence:
“Finding that apartment felt like hitting the jackpot.”
“She hit the jackpot with her new job and coworkers.”
Other Ways to Say: Strike gold, luck out, get everything you wanted
38. A Dream Come True
Meaning: Something wonderful that happens, often after hoping or waiting for it.
In a Sentence:
“Getting accepted into that school was a dream come true.”
“Meeting him felt like a dream come true for her.”
Other Ways to Say: Wish granted, long-awaited joy, perfect moment
39. Feel Electric
Meaning: To experience a powerful rush of excitement or energy in the moment.
In a Sentence:
“The crowd felt electric as the band took the stage.”
“Her presence made the entire room feel electric.”
Other Ways to Say: Buzzing, alive, supercharged
40. Pop With Excitement
Meaning: To visibly show bubbling or bouncing joy, like something ready to burst.
In a Sentence:
“He was popping with excitement before the event.”
“The kids popped with excitement on Christmas morning.”
Other Ways to Say: Bubble with joy, burst with energy, shine with anticipation
41. On the Edge of Your Seat
Meaning: Feeling excited or nervous while waiting for something to happen.
In a Sentence:
“I was on the edge of my seat during the final scene.”
“She watched the interview on the edge of her seat.”
Other Ways to Say: Full of suspense, holding your breath, intensely focused
42. Counting Down the Days
Meaning: Eagerly waiting for an upcoming event and tracking time closely.
In a Sentence:
“He’s been counting down the days until his birthday.”
“I started counting down the days the moment we booked the trip.”
Other Ways to Say: Can’t wait, eagerly waiting, watching the calendar
43. Holding Your Breath
Meaning: Waiting anxiously and silently for a result or moment to arrive.
In a Sentence:
“We were all holding our breath as the results loaded.”
“She held her breath waiting for his response.”
Other Ways to Say: In suspense, silently waiting, emotionally tense
44. Waiting With Bated Breath
Meaning: Waiting in nervous anticipation, often with hope or anxiety.
In a Sentence:
“They waited with bated breath for the judge’s decision.”
“Everyone was waiting with bated breath to hear the winner.”
Other Ways to Say: Anxiously waiting, breathless with anticipation, hoping hard
45. Can’t-Wait
Meaning: Feeling so excited that waiting feels almost impossible.
In a Sentence:
“I can’t wait to see her again!”
“We can’t wait for the concert next weekend.”
Other Ways to Say: Eager, super excited, counting the minutes
46. Like a Kid in a Candy Store
Meaning: So excited and overwhelmed by joy that you don’t know where to look first.
In a Sentence:
“He was like a kid in a candy store at the tech expo.”
“She looked like a kid in a candy store when she saw the surprise.”
Other Ways to Say: Overjoyed, filled with wonder, dazzled
47. Like a Dog With Two Tails
Meaning: Extremely and visibly happy, often wagging, jumping, or buzzing with energy.
In a Sentence:
“He was like a dog with two tails when the package arrived.”
“She smiled like a dog with two tails after hearing the news.”
Other Ways to Say: Beaming with joy, excited beyond words, can’t stop smiling
48. Show Up With Bells On
Meaning: Arriving somewhere very excited, cheerful, and fully prepared to enjoy.
In a Sentence:
“She showed up with bells on, ready for the party.”
“He’ll show up with bells on—you know how he loves weddings.”
Other Ways to Say: Cheerfully present, all in, pumped for the moment
49. All Geared Up
Meaning: Fully prepared and excited to begin something.
In a Sentence:
“We’re all geared up for the big race this weekend.”
“She was geared up and ready to go as soon as the doors opened.”
Other Ways to Say: Ready and waiting, packed with excitement, prepped and pumped
50. Dying to Know
Meaning: Extremely eager or curious to find out something.
In a Sentence:
“I’m dying to know what happened next!”
“She was dying to know the secret behind the surprise.”
Other Ways to Say: Can’t wait to find out, desperate to hear, buzzing with curiosity
Exercise to Practice – Idioms for Excitement
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She was __________ when she got accepted into her dream university.
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The kids were __________ after eating all that cake at the party.
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I’m __________ to hear what happened on your trip!
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They went __________ when their team scored the winning goal.
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He’s been __________ all week, waiting for the concert.
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After the good news, she was __________ and couldn’t stop smiling.
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We’re all __________ for the big event tomorrow—everything is ready.
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He was __________ with joy when he saw his surprise birthday party.
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Everyone was __________ as they waited for the winner to be announced.
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She danced around the room like a __________, unable to hold back her excitement.
Answers
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on cloud nine
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bouncing off the walls
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dying to know
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wild / bananas
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counting down the days
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beaming from ear to ear
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all geared up
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bursting with joy
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on pins and needles
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kid in a candy store
Conclusion
Excitement adds a spark to our lives—and idioms for excitement help us capture that spark with vivid, relatable language. As we’ve seen, joy comes in many forms: from subtle butterflies to wild, celebratory bursts.
These expressions aren’t just phrases—they reflect how we experience emotion, movement, and anticipation. And in choosing the right words, we don’t just describe excitement—we relive it and invite others to feel it with us.
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.
