Household items idioms and expressions

Household items idioms and expressions

Are you an armchair critic?
Do you like toilet humour?
What time do you usually go up the wooden hill to Bedfordshire?
Do you sponge off anyone?
Do you often get pins and needles?
Are horror films your cup of tea?
When was the last time you had a duvet day?

Confused? Then read on. I’ve illustrated the most useful idioms and expressions about household items and furniture for your learning pleasure.

bed idioms and expressions

• as white as a sheet
  meaning – become pale because of shock, fear, sickness
  example – Kayleigh went as white as a sheet when she was getting her tattoo done.
• clean sheet 
  meaning – start afresh with no past mistakes/problems or concede no goals/points in a sports match
  example – After 5 matches, the Canaries still have a clean sheet.
• don’t let the bed bugs bite
  meaning – wishing someone a good night’s sleep
  example – It’s past your bed time, go upstairs now. Don’t let the bed bugs bite.
• duvet day
  meaning – stay in bed/under a duvet
  example – It’s going to rain all day, let’s have a duvet day and watch some films.
• get out of the wrong side of the bed
  meaning – said to a person who is angry/irritable/bad-tempered
  example – Sorry for shouting at you this morning, I must have got out of the wrong side of bed.
• go to the mattresses
  meaning – go to war using ruthless tactics
  example – My aunt and uncle are going to the mattresses over custody of their kids.
• make one’s bed and lie in it
  meaning – face the consequences of one’s actions
  example – I told you not to use those cheap plumbers, you made your bed.
• pillow talk
  meaning – intimate conversation between lovers
  example – I think he’s seeing someone else, we never have pillow talk anymore.
• seven sheets to the wind
  meaning – very drunk
  example – We were all seven sheets to the wind last night, what a great night.
• up the wooden hill to Bedfordshire
  meaning – go upstairs to bed
  example – Make sure the kids are up the wooden hill before 10.

bucket idioms and expressions

• bucket down
  meaning – rain heavily
  example – It has been bucketing down all day, I need to hang out my washing.
• kick the bucket
  meaning – die
  example – When I kick the bucket, I’ll leave you my record collection.
• pass the sick bucket
  meaning – said when you see something disgusting/public displays of affection
  example – Jaz and Dennis are all over each other, pass me the sick bucket.

chair idioms and expressions

• armchair critic
  meaning – a person who criticises others but doesn’t have proper experience on the topic
  example – All the armchair critics are out in force. They’re telling me how to raise my baby.
• backseat driver
  meaning – a person who interferes in something that is not their responsibility
  example – The boss is a backseat driver, try and avoid him if you can.
• chair a meeting
  meaning – be in charge of a meeting
  example – My boss has asked me to chair our annual pensions meeting.
• couch potato
  meaning – a lazy person who doesn’t exercise and sits on the sofa
  example – I used to be a couch potato. Now I have two rescue dogs, I’m always out.
• fly by the seat of one’s pants
  meaning – use common sense/judgement/instinct instead of following a strict plan
  example – My cousin has no plans for the future. He just flies by the seat of his pants.
• in the driver’s seat
  meaning – be in control
  example – Simon has left the project, I hope they put me in the driver’s seat.
• in the hot seat
  meaning – being faced with criticism/questioning/punishment/scrutiny
  example – The director is in the hot seat, a large sum of money has disappeared.

cutlery idioms and expressions

• born with a silver spoon in one’s mouth
  meaning – born into a rich family
  example – I would hate to have been born with a silver spoon in my mouth. I like working for my things.
• fork in the road
  meaning – one has to decide between two questions/options
  example – We’ve reached a fork in the road. Do we build an extension or buy a bigger house?
• fork out
  meaning – spend money on something expensive or unnecessary
  example – I`ve forked out so much money on my girlfriend lately.
• go under the knife
  meaning – have an operation/surgery (usually cosmetic)
  example – My knee surgery is tomorrow. I’m a little scared about going under the knife.
• greasy spoon
  meaning – a cheap restaurant that sells cheap food
  example – If I have a hangover tomorrow, I’ll go to a greasy spoon for breakfast.
• not the sharpest knife in the drawer
  meaning – unintelligent, stupid
  example – The guy I’m seeing isn’t the sharpest knife in the drawer, but he’s fit.

door idioms and expressions

• as dead as a doornail
  meaning – most definitely dead
  example – My cactus is as dead as a doornail, I’m definitely not getting a pet.
• at death’s door
  meaning – near death
  example – Our 14-year-old doggy is at death’s door. We had better start saying our goodbyes.
• by/through the back door
  meaning – use secret/dishonest methods to achieve something
  example – My mate Steve can access the CCTV cameras by the back door.
• darken somebody’s door
  meaning – make an unwanted visit
  example – Get out and never darken my door again.
• don’t shit on your own doorstep
  meaning – don’t do something bad close to home
  example – Bob has been stealing money from his work. Talk about shitting on your own doorstep
• doormat
  meaning – a person who is constantly abused/exploited/humiliated/treated unfairly
  example – My wife is a doormat, I humiliate her, and she still comes back for more.
• have one’s foot in the door
  meaning – start working for a company in a low position in the hope of getting promoted
  example – I’d love to get my foot in the door at Google.
• leave the door open
  meaning – the possibility of something happening in the future
  example – I don’t want to do the course yet; can you leave the door open for me?
• show someone the door
  meaning – order someone to leave a place/job
  example – I was too drunk last night, they showed me the door before midnight.

drain idioms and expressions

• go down the drain
  meaning – fail, disappear, be destroyed
  example – My marriage went down the drain a long time ago.
• throw money down the drain
  meaning – waste money, buy useless things
  example – My brother is meant to be saving for a house, but he keeps throwing money down the drain.

flooring idioms and expressions

• as snug as a bug in a rug
  meaning – warm/cosy/comfortable
  example – Let’s go home, get as snug as a bug and watch some films.
• floor someone
  meaning – knock someone out by hitting them
  example – The champ floored the rookie boxer within 45 seconds.
• have the floor
  meaning – the person speaking in a discussion/debate
  example – I’ve got a few more points to go through then you can have the floor.
• roll out the red carpet
  meaning – treat someone like royalty
  example – Wales rolled out the red carpet when their rugby team arrived back with the trophy.
• sweep something under the carpet/rug
  meaning – hide/ignore a problem
  example – Poverty is always swept under the rug by the government.
• wipe the floor with someone/something
  meaning – easily defeat an opponent
  example – Megan wiped the floor with all the other kids at chess club.

home idioms and expressions

• bring home the bacon
  meaning – work to earn money for the family
  example – I stay at home and look after the kids while my wife brings home the bacon.
• charity begins at home
  meaning – you should take care of your own family before other people
  example – I can’t donate any money this month. My daughter needs new shoes, charity begin at home.
• close to home
  meaning – a topic that affects you/makes you uncomfortable as you can relate to it
  example – Our class about the dangers of drink driving was a little close to home.
• eat someone out of house and home
  meaning – eat a lot of someone else’s food
  example – I’m only allowed round grandma’s once a week because I eat her out of house and home.
• go hard or go home
  meaning – put in all your effort or don’t bother
  example – I’ve put all my savings into my new business. It’s go hard or go home.
• hammer home
  meaning – make someone understand
  example – I’m creating a campaign to hammer home the dangers of drug taking.
• hit a home run
  meaning – do something that is very successful
  example – Our latest product is selling like crazy. We’ve hit a home run.
• home in on
  meaning – accurately aim towards a target/destination
  example – The new treatment homes in on the cancerous cells and destroys them.
• home sweet home
  meaning – an expression of joy at returning/being at home
  example – We’ll be home sweet home in an hour or so.
• homestretch
  meaning – the final stage of a long activity
  example – After tomorrow’s exam, we’re in the homestretch.
• make oneself at home
  meaning – enter a place and behave as if you lived there
  example – You can stay at mine as long as you like, just make yourself at home.
• play away (from home)
  meaning – cheat on your partner, be unfaithful
  example – My boyfriend has been working late a lot recently. Do you think he’s playing away?
• till the cows come home
  meaning – for a very long time
  example – Don’t ever start an argument with Will. He can argue till the cows come home.

house idioms and expressions

• as safe as houses
  meaning – very safe/secure
  example – The Rolex I with me, it’s as safe as houses.
• bring the house down
  meaning – thoroughly entertain an audience
  example – One of the comedians at the open mic night brought the house down.
• built like a brick shit house
  meaning – a large muscular person
  example – Colin is built like a brick shit house. He trains six times a week.
• eat someone out of house and home
  meaning – eat a lot of someone else’s food
  example – I’m only allowed round grandma’s once a week because I eat her out of house and home.
• get on like a house on fire
  meaning – quickly become good friends and have a lot in common
  example – We all got on like a house on fire at the dinner party.
• go round the houses
  meaning – a very long and complicated way of reaching a conclusion
  example – I hate Mr Oxley’s classes. He always goes round the houses and makes it difficult.
• household name
  meaning – a person or object that is well known by the public
  example – My aim is to make my products household names by 2020.
• housewife/husband
  meaning – a wife/husband who stays at home and looks after the house/children
  example – After the baby is born, I’ll go to work, and Daniel will be a househusband.
• in the doghouse
  meaning – someone is angry/annoyed with you
  example – I bought my mum her favourite flowers, so I’m out of the doghouse.
• on the house
  meaning – free/no charge
  example – I order from the Chinese so often, they always give me stuff on the house.
• people in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones
  meaning – don’t criticise other people’s faults if you have them yourself (a hypocrite)
  example – She shouts at me for smoking, but she takes drugs. People in glass houses…

key idioms and expressions

• key in
  meaning – enter numbers or information into a device using a keyboard/keypad
  example – I keyed in the code, but the alarm won’t stop.
• under lock and key
  meaning – safely locked away
  example – My secret recipe is hidden under lock and key, I’ll take it to my grave.

kitchen idioms and expressions

• as much use as a chocolate teapot
  meaning – totally useless
  example – I hired a new guy, he’s as much use as a chocolate teapot.
• bun in the oven
  meaning – be pregnant I’m sure
  example – Tilly has a bun in the oven, look at the shape of her stomach.
• different kettle of fish
  meaning – something is different from the thing you have been talking about
  example – I said I’d spend an afternoon with him, a week is a different kettle of fish.
• everything but the kitchen sink
  meaning – including absolutely everything
  example – Lisa has a hair dryer, she took everything but the kitchen sink.
• flash in the pan
  meaning – someone/something that is only successful for a short period of time
  example – They were only a flash in the pan, but they had a few good songs.
• go to pot
  meaning – deteriorate
  example – My nan’s garden is going to pot, she’s too weak to cut the grass now.
• have a lot on one’s plate
  meaning – have too much work/many things to deal with
  example – We can’t go on holiday this year, we’ve got too much on our plates.
• if you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen
  meaning – if you can’t cope with the pressure, stop doing it
  example – My firm is the best in the UK. If you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen.
• memory like a sieve
  meaning – very forgetful/have an extremely bad memory
  example – Can you write me a list? I’ve got a memory like a sieve.
• not one’s cup of tea
  meaning – don’t like something
  example – I’ve been to a few theme parks but they’re not my cup of tea. I hate heights and queues.
• out of the frying pan, into the fire
  meaning – from a bad situation to an even worse situation
  example – I left my abusive husband, now I’m homeless. Out of the frying pan, into the fire.
• pan out
  meaning – what happens
  example – I don’t want to make any rash decisions, we’ll see how things pan out.
• pot calling the kettle black
  meaning – a person criticizes someone for doing something they also do
  example – Pot calling the kettle black Lisa. You can’t tell me to stop smoking, you smoke.
• sponge off
  meaning – get money/food/shelter etc. from others and make no attempt to pay for it
  example – I’ve been made redundant, I’ll have to sponge off my parents for a bit.
• step up to the plate
  meaning – come forward and take responsibility especially in times of crisis
  example – Two employees have quit. I need everyone to step up to the plate to ensure orders are done.
• storm in a teacup
  meaning – make a small problem seem bigger than it actually is
  example – Corey made a storm in a teacup. Opening on Saturday doesn’t bother me.

roof idioms and expressions

• go through the roof
  meaning – prices/figures get extremely high or suddenly get mad/angry/excited
  example – Petrol prices have gone through the roof recently. I need a car with a smaller engine.
• hit the roof
  meaning – become extremely angry
  example – If Joe ditches me one more time for a stupid football match, I’ll hit the roof.
• like a cat on a hot tin roof
  meaning – be anxious, agitated, nervous
  example – The kids are like cats on a hot tin roof. It’s exam results day.

shelf idioms and expressions

• on the shelf
  meaning – unwanted, undesired, useless
  example – The boss put all my ideas on the shelf.
• shelf life
  meaning – the length of time a product is suitable for use
  example – I make my products out of materials that have a long shelf life.

table idioms and expressions

• bring something to the table
  meaning – provide something useful/beneficial
  example – We’ll arrange a meeting where everyone can bring their ideas to the table.
• put one’s cards on the table
  meaning – be honest and open about one’s feelings/ideas/intentions
  example – He put his cards on the table and told me he didn’t love me anymore.
• turn the tables
  meaning – reverse a situation
  example – We were 3-0 down, now we’re 5-2 up. We turned the tables in the second half.
• under the table
  meaning – in secret as it’s usually illegal
  example – I gave the interviewer some money under the table. Hopefully, I get the job.

toilet idioms and expressions

• down the toilet
  meaning – wasted/fail
  example – Julian’s career went down the toilet after the scandal broke.
• toilet humour
  meaning – disgusting/vulgar jokes
  example – Leon, your toilet humour isn’t appropriate in the office. Please tone it down.

tool idioms and expressions

• as daft as a brush
  meaning – a very silly or foolish person
  example – I saw a comedian last night, he was as daft as a brush
• as hard as nails
  meaning – a tough person
  example – Don’t mess with Ryan, he’s as hard as nails.
• bury the hatchet
  meaning – end a conflict and be friends
  example – I’ve buried the hatchet with my neighbours, our argument about the fence was stupid.
• call a spade a spade
  meaning – talk about something truthfully even if it’s not polite
  example – Mickey calls a spade a spade. He’s a bit blunt but at least he’s honest.
• climb the corporate ladder
  meaning – the hierarchy of power in a big company I work for a big company. Hopefully, I can climb the example – corporate ladder and earn mega bucks.
• go at something hammer and tongs
  meaning – emphatically/energetically/violently
  example – The cat and dog are going at it hammer and tongs, one of them will end up hurt.
• hammer home
  meaning – make someone understand
  example – I’m creating a campaign to hammer home the dangers of drug taking.
• have an axe to grind
  meaning – have a complaint/dispute
  example – The boss has called an emergency meeting, I think he has an axe to grind.
• have a screw loose
  meaning – crazy/insane/odd/weird
  example – You can’t leave a three-year-old at home alone. Does she have a screw loose?
• have one’s head screwed on
  meaning – be sensible, have common sense
  example – My son has his head screwed on, but my daughter has a crazy side.
• hit the nail on the head
  meaning – describe someone/something exactly correct
  example – Craig hit the nail on the head when he said we need to rebrand the company.
• screw up
  meaning – do something bad or twist something into a smaller shape
  example – I have screwed up the offer and thrown it away, it was way too low.
• tar someone with the same brush
  meaning – think someone has the same faults/bad qualities as similar people My brother was expelled. example – I’m tarred with the same brush, everyone thinks I’m trouble.
• the final nail in the coffin
  meaning – the final event that causes failure
  example – Cheaper imports from abroad were the final nail in the coffin for the small shoe shop.

wall idioms and expressions

• bang one’s head against a brick wall
  meaning – try to achieve something that is impossible to achieve
  example – Stop banging your head against a brick wall, you’ll understand equations eventually.
• drive up the wall
  meaning – make someone angry/annoyed
  example – I spent the weekend with my parents. They drove me up the wall, I’m glad to be home.
• fly on the wall
  meaning – you would like to hear what is happening without being noticed
  example – Marty is in trouble with his girl. I’d love to be a fly on the wall when she gets her hands on him.
• have one’s back against the wall
  meaning – you are in a difficult situation and have no other options
  example – I’m in so much debt, my back is against the wall. The bailiffs are coming tomorrow.
• hit a wall
  meaning – get to a point where you are not physically/mentally able to continue
  example – I hit a wall at around 22 miles and had to pull out of the marathon.
• writing on the wall
  meaning – signs that something bad will happen in the future
  example – Can’t you see the writing on the wall? The company is going bankrupt.

window idioms and expressions

• eyes are the window to the soul
  meaning – looking into someone’s eyes can tell you what they’re feeling/thinking
  example – They say the eyes are the window to the soul. Trevor has devious eyes.
• go out the window
  meaning – disappear
  example – As soon as I’ve had a drink, my common sense goes out the window.
• window shopping
  meaning – look at goods without intending to buy anything
  example – Let’s go window shopping and pick out all the things we can buy on payday.

other household idioms and expressions

• basket case
  a person who is incapable of functioning properly/insane
  Working for that firm for 20 years turned Harold into a basket case.
• bring the curtain down on
  end something
  She brought the curtain down on her 40-year career in showbusiness.
• by hook or by crook
  by any means possible (honestly or dishonestly)
  We’re going to win this competition by hook or by crook.
• can’t hold a candle to
  one person/thing is nowhere near as good as another
  None of the groups nowadays hold a candle to The Beatles.
• clothes horse
  an indoor frame to hang wet clothes on
  I hate having no garden. I prefer a washing line than a clothes horse.
• come/crawl out of the woodwork
  appear suddenly after being hidden for a long time
  10,000 fans came out of the woodwork when we reached the final.
• fine-toothed comb
  thoroughly investigate/check
  Make sure you go through your assignment with a fine-toothed comb before submitting it.
• fly off the handle
  lose your temper and become angry
  My mum flew off the handle when my sister told her she was pregnant. She’s only 14.
• hand that rocks the cradle (rules the world)
  mothers have power as they influence their children’s personalities and behaviour
  We offer free counselling sessions to all new mums, the hand that rocks the cradle…
• part of the furniture
  someone/something has been somewhere for a very long time
  Reg has been with the company for 45 years, he’s part of the furniture.
• lead someone down the garden path
  mislead/deceive someone
  I’ve been lead down the garden path. These ‘health’ shakes are full of sugar.
• pins and needles
  a tingling sensation in part of your body
  Pins and needles are your body’s way of telling you that part needs more blood.
• pull the plug
  stop something happening/continuing
  My landlord pulled the plug on my poker nights. The neighbours started complaining.
• push the envelope
  be innovative, go beyond the normal limits
  Davison pushes the envelope in his films, I’ve never seen anything like it.
• skeleton in one’s closet
  an embarrassing/damaging secret
  I’m seeing a guy, I think he has a few skeletons in his closet.
• smoke like a chimney
  someone who smokes a lot of cigarettes
  My mum smokes like a chimney, I wish she’d stop.
• the shit hits the fan
  a situation goes wrong
  The country is in chaos. The shit has hit the fan, there are riots everywhere.
• throw in the towel
  surrender, give up, admit defeat
  My new business was failing so I threw in the towel.