Idioms that Describe Moods and Feelings

Idioms that Describe Moods and Feelings

Hello, English learners 👋 Welcome to a new lesson. English speakers rarely say “I am very happy” or “I feel sad” again and again. Instead, they use idioms to express emotions in a more vivid, natural, and expressive way. In today’s lesson, you’ll learn 50 common idioms that describe moods and feelings. These expressions will help you sound more fluent, more confident, and far more natural in both spoken and written English — especially at B2–C1 level.

Let’s dive in.

Feeling Happy

On cloud nine

Meaning: to feel extremely happy or elated.

• Gerry was on cloud nine after being accepted into his dream university.
• Leah was on cloud nine when she got engaged and couldn’t stop smiling.

Over the moon

Meaning: extremely happy, delighted, or pleased.

• We were over the moon when we found out we were going to be grandparents.
• Katherine was over the moon after hearing about her promotion.

Tickled pink

Meaning: very pleased or delighted.

• Jane was tickled pink about meeting the famous actor.
• I was tickled pink when I stepped on the scale and saw the results.

Feeling Relieved

A weight off your shoulders

Meaning: to feel relieved after a burden or worry is removed.

• After finishing her final exams, Mendy felt a weight off her shoulders.
• Josh felt a weight off his shoulders once the conflict was resolved.

Off the hook

Meaning: freed from a responsibility or difficult situation.

• He was off the hook when his colleague agreed to cover his shift.
• Sara was off the hook after the deadline was extended.

Breathe a sigh of relief

Meaning: to feel and show relief after stress or worry.

• He breathed a sigh of relief when the doctor said the surgery was successful.
• She breathed a sigh of relief after finding her lost wallet.

Feeling Excited

Jump for joy

Meaning: to be extremely happy and excited.

• She jumped for joy when she got the promotion.
• The children jumped for joy at the surprise party.

In seventh heaven

Meaning: in a state of extreme happiness or bliss.

• He was in seventh heaven after winning the lottery.
• Maria was in seventh heaven when she held her newborn baby.

Thrilled to bits

Meaning: extremely pleased or excited.

• Simon was thrilled to bits when he won the competition.
• They were thrilled to bits about becoming grandparents.

Feeling Inspired

Get the creative juices flowing

Meaning: to stimulate creativity and ideas.

• Music helps me get the creative juices flowing when I write.
• The team played a game to get the creative juices flowing.

Break new ground

Meaning: to do something innovative or original.

• The company is breaking new ground with its latest product.
• Her research was breaking new ground in the field.

A breath of fresh air

Meaning: something new, refreshing, and uplifting.

• The new intern’s ideas were a breath of fresh air.
• Her cheerful attitude was a breath of fresh air in the tense office.

Feeling Proud

Walk tall

Meaning: to show confidence and pride.

• The team walked tall after winning the championship.
• She walked tall after receiving the award.

Beam with pride

Meaning: to show pride clearly, especially on your face.

• Charles beamed with pride when his daughter won the award.
• Joan beamed with pride at the gallery opening.

Hold your head high

Meaning: to remain confident and dignified, especially in difficulty.

• She held her head high despite the setbacks.
• Clive held his head high after the tough interview.

Feeling Angry

Hot under the collar

Meaning: very angry or agitated.

• Jack got hot under the collar when he was falsely accused.
• The teacher got hot under the collar during the noisy lesson.

Be beside yourself

Meaning: overwhelmed by a strong emotion.

• Lorna was beside herself after discovering the affair.
• My parents were beside themselves with anger.

Lose your cool

Meaning: to suddenly become angry or upset.

• She lost her cool when the customer started shouting.
• The coach lost his cool after the referee’s decision.

Feeling Annoyed

Fed up

Meaning: tired and frustrated with something.

• I’m fed up with these applications.
• She was fed up with his lack of commitment.

Had enough

Meaning: no longer willing to tolerate something.

• I’ve had enough of your excuses.
• The passengers had enough and demanded refunds.

At your wit’s end

Meaning: extremely frustrated and unsure what to do.

• Helen was at her wit’s end trying to calm the baby.
• She was at her wit’s end with her son’s behaviour.

Feeling Sad or Depressed

Bummed out

Meaning: sad or discouraged.

• We were bummed out when the concert sold out.
• The gloomy weather has everyone bummed out.

Feel blue

Meaning: to feel sad or low.

• He felt blue after hearing the bad news.
• She always feels blue on rainy days.

Out of sorts

Meaning: slightly unhappy, irritable, or unwell.

• I feel out of sorts after long flights.
• Gabi was out of sorts after a stressful week.

Feeling Scared

Shaken up

Meaning: frightened or shocked.

• The employees were shaken up after the robbery.
• The storm left the children shaken up.

Jump out of your skin

Meaning: to be badly startled.

• I nearly jumped out of my skin at the surprise.
• He jumped out of his skin when the alarm went off.

Scared out of your wits

Meaning: extremely frightened.

• The children were scared out of their wits during the storm.
• She was scared out of her wits in the dark alley.

Feeling Melancholic

A sinking feeling

Meaning: a sense that something bad will happen.

• I had a sinking feeling when I realised my wallet was missing.
• He felt a sinking feeling as the police car arrived.

Your heart sinks

Meaning: sudden disappointment or sadness.

• Her heart sank when she saw the empty parking space.
• His heart sank after reading the rejection email.

In the doldrums

Meaning: feeling low, unmotivated, or stuck.

• The team was in the doldrums after the project stalled.
• Paul was in the doldrums after his team lost.

Feeling Nervous or Anxious

Butterflies in your stomach

Meaning: nervous excitement.

• I get butterflies before presentations.
• He felt butterflies before the final match.

On pins and needles

Meaning: very anxious while waiting.

• The whole team was on pins and needles.
• I was on pins and needles waiting for the results.

On edge

Meaning: tense, nervous, or irritable.

• Sally was on edge all day awaiting the interview results.
• Everyone was on edge after the announcement.

Conclusion

Learning idioms to describe moods and feelings is one of the best ways to make your English sound more natural, expressive, and confident. Instead of repeating basic adjectives like happy, sad, or angry, these idioms allow you to show emotion more vividly and speak the way native speakers do. Try to notice them in films, books, and conversations, and practise using a few at a time in your own speaking and writing. Little by little, these expressions will become part of your active vocabulary — and your English will feel richer and more fluent as a result.

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