Christmas & New Year Idioms

Christmas & New Year Idioms in English

As the festive season approaches, millions of people around the world are travelling, decorating their homes, buying gifts, and preparing to celebrate Christmas and the New Year. It’s a time filled with excitement, tradition, and plenty of special expressions in English. In this lesson, you’ll discover 13 idioms inspired by Christmas and New Year, all commonly used by native speakers. These expressions will help you sound more natural, expressive, and confident — especially when talking about celebrations, good fortune, and enjoying life. Christmas & New Year Idioms

Let’s dive in!

All my Christmases have come at once

This idiom is used when something extremely good happens — often something you have been hoping or waiting for.

• I won a holiday to Italy and got a promotion on the same day. It feels like all my Christmases have come at once!
• When she heard she was getting twins, she said it felt like all her Christmases had come together.

Cancel someone’s Christmas

This rather dramatic expression means to ruin someone’s plans or, in crime films, even to kill someone.

• If he doesn’t pay his debts, someone might cancel his Christmas.
• The villain threatened to cancel his rival’s Christmas if he didn’t cooperate.

Christmas came early (this year)

Used when something good happens earlier than expected, often involving a gift or surprise.

• I passed my exam on the first attempt — Christmas came early this year!
• When she opened the package and saw the laptop, she said Christmas had come early.

A white Christmas

A traditional and romantic idea of Christmas with snow.

• We’re hoping for a white Christmas this year — it hasn’t snowed in ages.
• People living in hot countries often dream of experiencing a white Christmas.

Like turkeys voting for Christmas

This idiom means agreeing to something that is clearly against your own interests.

• Asking employees to accept a pay cut is like turkeys voting for Christmas.
• He’ll never agree to that deal — it would be like turkeys voting for Christmas.

Stocking stuffer/stocking filler

A small, inexpensive gift placed inside a Christmas stocking. Christmas & New Year Idioms

• These chocolates would make perfect stocking fillers.
• I bought a few books and candles as stocking stuffers for the kids.

Trim the (Christmas) tree

To decorate a Christmas tree with lights, ornaments, and tinsel.

• We’re trimming the tree tonight while listening to carols.
• The children helped trim the Christmas tree after dinner.

Christmas comes but once a year

This saying encourages people to enjoy themselves and be generous during the festive season.

• Go on, have another slice of cake — Christmas comes but once a year!
• She usually eats very healthily, but at Christmas she says, “Christmas comes but once a year.”

The more the merrier

The idea that an occasion becomes more enjoyable when more people join in.

• Can I bring a friend to the party? — Of course! The more the merrier.
• They invited the whole family because, for them, the more the merrier.

Lit up like a Christmas tree

Used to describe someone who is very brightly dressed or decorated — often too much!

• He walked into the party lit up like a Christmas tree.
• With all those sequins, she was lit up like a Christmas tree.

Ring in the New Year

To celebrate the arrival of the New Year, often at midnight on December 31st.

• We’re going to ring in the New Year with friends downtown.
• They raised a glass of champagne to ring in the New Year together.

Deck the halls

To decorate your home for Christmas, especially with lights and decorations.

• We spent the afternoon decking the halls for the party.
• The whole office was decked out for the holidays.

Eat, drink and be merry

An expression encouraging people to enjoy life and celebrate without worrying too much.

• It’s the holidays — eat, drink and be merry!
• They decided to forget their worries and eat, drink and be merry for the night.

Final Thoughts

Christmas idioms add warmth, colour, and personality to your English. They help you sound more natural and culturally aware — especially in conversations, storytelling, and festive writing. So this season, don’t just learn English… enjoy it. And remember: eat, drink, and be merry! 🎄✨

If you really want to learn English but don’t know how or where to start, don’t hesitate to contact us. Book an online English lesson with one of our certified and experienced English teachers and take a test and consultation! Tap the banner to learn more!

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Published by My Lingua Academy on 16 Dec 202116 Dec 2021