With idioms for having a good time, words don’t just speak — they sparkle. A night can fly by in the blink of an eye, laughter can roll like thunder, and memories can shine like stars.
These idioms wrap simple moments in music, color, and motion. They turn a fun time into something you can see, hear, and feel, making every story more vivid, and every memory more alive.
Best Idioms for Having a Good Time
1. Paint the town red
Meaning: To go out and have a lively, exciting night, as if you’re turning the whole town into a celebration.
In a Sentence:
We decided to paint the town red after getting the promotion.
They painted the town red on New Year’s Eve.
Other Ways to Say: Party hard. Go wild. Live it up.
2. Have a blast
Meaning: To have an extremely fun and thrilling time, like an explosion of joy.
In a Sentence:
We had a blast at the music festival.
She had a blast on her birthday trip.
Other Ways to Say: Have the time of your life. Enjoy to the fullest. Party hard.
3. Party like there’s no tomorrow
Meaning: To celebrate intensely, without worrying about the next day.
In a Sentence:
They partied like there was no tomorrow after graduation.
He parties like there’s no tomorrow every weekend.
Other Ways to Say: Go wild. Live it up. Cut loose.
4. Live it up
Meaning: To fully enjoy life or a moment, often in a luxurious or carefree way.
In a Sentence:
She’s living it up on her tropical vacation.
We plan to live it up on our anniversary.
Other Ways to Say: Have fun. Go all out. Celebrate.
5. Go all out
Meaning: To put in maximum effort and enthusiasm, especially to have fun.
In a Sentence:
They went all out for the wedding reception.
We’re going all out for his farewell party.
Other Ways to Say: Give it your all. Leave nothing behind. Party hard.
6. Have the time of your life
Meaning: To experience one of the most enjoyable and unforgettable moments of your life.
In a Sentence:
She had the time of her life at the concert.
We had the time of our lives on that trip.
Other Ways to Say: Have a blast. Make memories. Live it up.
7. Make merry
Meaning: To enjoy yourself, often with food, drinks, and laughter.
In a Sentence:
The whole village made merry during the festival.
They made merry at the holiday party.
Other Ways to Say: Celebrate. Have fun. Party.
8. Cut loose
Meaning: To relax and let go of inhibitions, enjoying yourself freely.
In a Sentence:
She cut loose on the dance floor.
It’s time to cut loose and enjoy the weekend.
Other Ways to Say: Let loose. Go wild. Party freely.
9. Raise the roof
Meaning: To create a loud, energetic, and enthusiastic atmosphere, as if shaking the roof.
In a Sentence:
The crowd raised the roof at the concert.
They raised the roof with their victory cheers.
Other Ways to Say: Cheer wildly. Make noise. Celebrate big.
10. Dance the night away
Meaning: To dance continuously and joyfully throughout the night.
In a Sentence:
We danced the night away at the wedding.
She danced the night away at the club.
Other Ways to Say: Party all night. Keep the party going. Cut loose.
11. Let your hair down
Meaning: To relax and enjoy yourself freely, as if loosening up from daily pressures.
In a Sentence:
After the exams, they finally let their hair down.
She loves letting her hair down on weekends.
Other Ways to Say: Cut loose. Relax. Unwind.
12. Kick back
Meaning: To sit back and relax in a comfortable, laid-back way.
In a Sentence:
We kicked back on the beach all afternoon.
He kicked back with a good book after work.
Other Ways to Say: Chill out. Relax. Take it easy.
13. Chill out
Meaning: To calm down, relax, and enjoy a peaceful moment.
In a Sentence:
Let’s chill out at the café after shopping.
He chilled out at home with some music.
Other Ways to Say: Unwind. Relax. Take a break.
14. Take it easy
Meaning: To do things slowly and calmly without stress or pressure.
In a Sentence:
She decided to take it easy on her day off.
Take it easy—there’s no need to rush.
Other Ways to Say: Relax. Slow down. Unwind.
15. Go with the flow
Meaning: To relax and accept things as they come, without resistance.
In a Sentence:
On vacation, they just went with the flow.
She likes to go with the flow at parties.
Other Ways to Say: Adapt. Relax. Let it happen.
Related Post: 50 Idioms for Excitement to Energize Your Speech
16. Unwind and relax
Meaning: To slowly let go of stress and become calm and comfortable.
In a Sentence:
He unwinds and relaxes with yoga after work.
They unwind and relax by the pool on weekends.
Other Ways to Say: Chill out. Take it easy. Decompress.
17. Bask in the moment
Meaning: To fully enjoy and soak up the happiness of the current moment.
In a Sentence:
They basked in the moment after their big win.
She basked in the moment under the sunset.
Other Ways to Say: Savor the moment. Relish. Enjoy.
18. Soak up the fun
Meaning: To absorb and fully enjoy the fun atmosphere around you.
In a Sentence:
We soaked up the fun at the festival.
He soaked up the fun at the amusement park.
Other Ways to Say: Enjoy fully. Take it all in. Savor.
19. Hang loose
Meaning: To relax completely and go with the flow, often with a carefree attitude.
In a Sentence:
He’s known for hanging loose at parties.
Just hang loose and enjoy the ride.
Other Ways to Say: Relax. Chill out. Take it easy.
20. Ease into the moment
Meaning: To gradually settle into enjoying a moment without rushing or forcing it.
In a Sentence:
She eased into the moment, enjoying the quiet evening.
He eased into the moment on his first vacation day.
Other Ways to Say: Settle in. Relax gradually. Take it slow.
21. Make memories
Meaning: To create joyful and meaningful moments that you will remember for a long time.
In a Sentence:
We made wonderful memories on our family trip.
She wants to make memories with her friends this summer.
Other Ways to Say: Create memories. Build moments. Cherish experiences.
22. Cherish the moment
Meaning: To deeply appreciate and value the present moment.
In a Sentence:
He stopped to cherish the moment with his family.
Let’s cherish the moment before the night ends.
Other Ways to Say: Treasure the moment. Savor. Relish.
23. Live for the moment
Meaning: To fully enjoy the present without worrying about the future.
In a Sentence:
She’s learning to live for the moment after years of stress.
They decided to live for the moment during their vacation.
Other Ways to Say: Enjoy the present. Seize the day. Be spontaneous.
24. Seize the day
Meaning: To take full advantage of the present opportunity and make the most of it.
In a Sentence:
Let’s seize the day and go on an adventure!
He seized the day and confessed his feelings.
Other Ways to Say: Make the most of it. Live fully. Act boldly.
25. Capture the moment
Meaning: To preserve a joyful moment in memory or with photos.
In a Sentence:
They captured the moment with a perfect photo.
He wanted to capture the moment of his graduation.
Other Ways to Say: Snap the moment. Hold onto memories. Record.
26. Hold onto the good times
Meaning: To remember and value happy experiences.
In a Sentence:
She holds onto the good times from her childhood.
Let’s hold onto the good times we shared this year.
Other Ways to Say: Keep memories. Treasure moments. Cherish times.
27. Make the most of it
Meaning: To enjoy or use an opportunity as much as possible.
In a Sentence:
They made the most of their weekend getaway.
She made the most of the sunny day at the beach.
Other Ways to Say: Take full advantage. Enjoy fully. Seize the moment.
28. Relish the moment
Meaning: To deeply enjoy and take pleasure in a special experience.
In a Sentence:
He relished the moment of victory.
She relished the moment on stage under the spotlight.
Other Ways to Say: Savor. Enjoy thoroughly. Treasure.
29. Treasure the good times
Meaning: To value and appreciate happy memories as something precious.
In a Sentence:
We will always treasure the good times from this trip.
He treasures the good times spent with his grandparents.
Other Ways to Say: Cherish. Hold dear. Keep close to the heart.
30. Savor every second
Meaning: To enjoy every tiny part of a joyful experience.
In a Sentence:
She savored every second of her birthday party.
We savored every second of the concert.
Other Ways to Say: Relish each moment. Take it all in. Enjoy fully.
31. On cloud nine
Meaning: Feeling extremely happy, as if floating on clouds.
In a Sentence:
She was on cloud nine after hearing the good news.
He’s been on cloud nine since his team won the championship.
Other Ways to Say: Over the moon. Thrilled. Ecstatic.
32. Thrilled to bits
Meaning: Extremely excited and happy about something.
In a Sentence:
They were thrilled to bits about their engagement.
She’s thrilled to bits with her new job.
Other Ways to Say: Overjoyed. Delighted. Ecstatic.
33. Over the moon
Meaning: So happy and excited, it feels like you could jump over the moon.
In a Sentence:
He was over the moon when he passed the exam.
We were over the moon after booking our dream vacation.
Other Ways to Say: On cloud nine. Elated. Ecstatic.
34. Buzzing with excitement
Meaning: Filled with energy and anticipation, like bees buzzing.
In a Sentence:
The kids were buzzing with excitement before the trip.
She was buzzing with excitement before her big performance.
Other Ways to Say: Brimming with excitement. Overjoyed. High-spirited.
35. High as a kite
Meaning: Feeling very happy and carefree, like a kite soaring in the sky.
In a Sentence:
He was high as a kite after the concert.
They were high as a kite celebrating their win.
Other Ways to Say: Overjoyed. Euphoric. Ecstatic.
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36. Jump for joy
Meaning: To physically jump because you’re so happy and excited.
In a Sentence:
She jumped for joy when she saw the surprise gift.
The kids jumped for joy after hearing they were going to the zoo.
Other Ways to Say: Celebrate with excitement. Dance with joy. Cheer.
37. Ecstatic with delight
Meaning: Feeling overwhelming happiness and excitement.
In a Sentence:
He was ecstatic with delight after the proposal.
She was ecstatic with delight at the surprise party.
Other Ways to Say: Overjoyed. Thrilled. On cloud nine.
38. Grin from ear to ear
Meaning: To smile broadly and joyfully, showing extreme happiness.
In a Sentence:
She was grinning from ear to ear after the wedding.
He grinned from ear to ear holding his trophy.
Other Ways to Say: Beam with joy. Smile broadly. Light up.
39. Have a ball
Meaning: To have a fantastic, fun, and exciting time.
In a Sentence:
We had a ball at the music festival.
The kids had a ball playing at the park.
Other Ways to Say: Have a blast. Enjoy fully. Have fun.
40. Feel on top of the world
Meaning: To feel extremely happy, proud, and confident, as if you’re above everything.
In a Sentence:
She felt on top of the world after finishing the marathon.
He felt on top of the world after his promotion.
Other Ways to Say: Be ecstatic. Feel unstoppable. Be euphoric.
41. Have a whale of a time
Meaning: To have an incredibly fun and enjoyable time, like playing freely in the ocean.
In a Sentence:
We had a whale of a time at the beach party.
The kids had a whale of a time at the amusement park.
Other Ways to Say: Have a blast. Have a ball. Enjoy immensely.
42. Spur of the moment
Meaning: To do something fun or exciting spontaneously, without planning.
In a Sentence:
They went on a road trip on the spur of the moment.
It was a spur-of-the-moment decision to join the party.
Other Ways to Say: On a whim. Impulsively. Without planning.
43. Get carried away
Meaning: To become so excited and involved that you lose control or go further than expected.
In a Sentence:
They got carried away dancing at the concert.
He got carried away telling stories at dinner.
Other Ways to Say: Lose yourself. Go overboard. Let loose.
44. Let loose
Meaning: To relax and have fun without holding back.
In a Sentence:
She let loose on the dance floor after a stressful week.
They let loose at the festival all weekend.
Other Ways to Say: Cut loose. Hang loose. Go wild.
45. Go on a whim
Meaning: To do something on impulse or sudden desire, without much thought.
In a Sentence:
We went to the beach on a whim.
He bought the guitar on a whim and now loves it.
Other Ways to Say: On impulse. Spur of the moment. Spontaneously.
46. Have a laugh
Meaning: To enjoy lighthearted fun and laughter with others.
In a Sentence:
We had a laugh watching the old movie.
He loves having a laugh with his friends on weekends.
Other Ways to Say: Share a joke. Enjoy together. Lighten the mood.
47. Be a barrel of laughs
Meaning: To be a very funny person or situation that brings lots of joy and entertainment.
In a Sentence:
Uncle Joe is always a barrel of laughs at family gatherings.
The comedy show was a barrel of laughs from start to finish.
Other Ways to Say: Be hilarious. Be entertaining. Be full of fun.
48. Take a load off
Meaning: To relax and rest after feeling busy or stressed.
In a Sentence:
Come in, take a load off, and enjoy a drink!
After the long hike, we took a load off by the lake.
Other Ways to Say: Relax. Kick back. Rest.
49. Get a kick out of
Meaning: To enjoy or find amusement in something.
In a Sentence:
I get a kick out of watching old comedies.
She gets a kick out of surprising her friends.
Other Ways to Say: Enjoy. Find amusing. Have fun with it.
50. Live in the moment
Meaning: To fully enjoy the present without worrying about the past or future.
In a Sentence:
On vacation, they truly lived in the moment.
He’s learning to live in the moment and enjoy life.
Other Ways to Say: Be present. Savor now. Embrace the present.
Exercise to practice – Idioms for Having a Good Time
- We decided to __________ and dance all night at the festival.
- After finishing exams, she just wanted to __________ and chill with friends.
- They __________ on their trip and made unforgettable memories.
- He was __________ when he got tickets to the concert.
- We didn’t plan it, but on a __________, we drove to the beach for the day.
- They __________ at the wedding and laughed all night.
- He told jokes to __________ and make everyone comfortable.
- She couldn’t stop smiling — she was __________ all afternoon.
- We __________ after work and watched the sunset.
- They __________ on vacation, trying everything from surfing to ziplining.
Answers
- paint the town red
- let her hair down
- made memories
- over the moon
- whim
- had a blast
- lighten the mood
- grinning from ear to ear
- kicked back
- went all out
Conclusion
With idioms for having a good time, language turns into a playground of joy. A laugh ripples like water, a night sparkles like city lights, a memory glows like embers after a fire.
These idioms don’t just describe fun — they let you taste it, hear it, feel it. They slip into stories like a secret ingredient, turning simple moments into vibrant scenes that linger long after the party ends.
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.
