Sometimes people say funny or strange things when they talk about writing. They use special phrases that don’t always mean what they sound like. These are called idioms. Idioms can make talking about writing more fun. But they can also be a little tricky to understand.
In this article, we will learn about some idioms that are used when people talk or write. We will look at what they mean and how they are used. These idioms can help us understand writing in a new way. Let’s take a closer look.
Idioms about Writing
1. Put pen to paper
Meaning: To start writing something.
To Provide an Example: I put pen to paper and wrote a letter to Grandma. / Jake put pen to paper to start his story about a dragon.
Alternative Meaning: Begin writing a homework assignment. / Start drawing a picture with words.
2. Write up a storm
Meaning: To write a lot in a short time.
To Provide an Example: Lily wrote up a storm and finished her book in one day. / He wrote up a storm during writing class.
Alternative Meaning: Write very quickly. / Make many pages of writing.
3. By the book
Meaning: To follow rules while writing or doing something.
To Provide an Example: She wrote her report by the book, just like the teacher said. / He did the project by the book and got a gold star.
Alternative Meaning: Do something the right way. / Follow all directions.
4. Dot your i’s and cross your t’s
Meaning: To be careful and check your work closely.
To Provide an Example: Before handing in her story, Emma made sure to dot her i’s and cross her t’s. / Tommy checked his spelling and made it neat.
Alternative Meaning: Pay close attention. / Make sure everything looks right.
5. Get something down on paper
Meaning: To write an idea before you forget it.
To Provide an Example: I had a great idea and needed to get it down on paper. / Mia wrote her dream before she forgot it.
Alternative Meaning: Save your thoughts. / Start a rough draft.
6. Pen is mightier than the sword
Meaning: Words can be more powerful than fighting.
To Provide an Example: Martin wrote a speech that changed minds. / She wrote a story that made people think.
Alternative Meaning: Writing can solve problems. / Words can help instead of hurt.
7. Put it in black and white
Meaning: To write something down clearly.
To Provide an Example: The teacher put the rules in black and white. / Dad wrote the chores list in black and white.
Alternative Meaning: Make it clear. / Put it on paper.
8. A rough draft
Meaning: The first try at writing something.
To Provide an Example: I wrote a rough draft of my story about space. / This letter is just a rough draft for now.
Alternative Meaning: A practice version. / Not finished yet.
9. Write from the heart
Meaning: To write with true feelings.
To Provide an Example: She wrote from the heart in her birthday card. / His story about his dog was from the heart.
Alternative Meaning: Be honest in writing. / Use real feelings.
10. Writer’s block
Meaning: When a person can’t think of what to write.
To Provide an Example: I had writer’s block during story time. / She stared at her notebook with no ideas.
Alternative Meaning: Stuck with no words. / Trouble starting a story.
11. Put words in someone’s mouth
Meaning: To say someone said something they didn’t.
To Provide an Example: I didn’t say that I think you’re putting words in my mouth. / Don’t put words in Tim’s mouth.
Alternative Meaning: Say something for someone else. / Change someone’s message.
12. Off the record
Meaning: Not written down or shared.
To Provide an Example: He told me something off the record. / The teacher said it but didn’t want it shared.
Alternative Meaning: Keep it secret. / Not official.
13. The story writes itself
Meaning: A story that is easy to write.
To Provide an Example: My pet bunny was so silly, the story wrote itself. / It was so fun, I didn’t have to think hard.
Alternative Meaning: Comes together fast. / Easy to write.
14. The pen slipped
Meaning: A mistake in writing.
To Provide an Example: I didn’t mean to write that my pen slipped. / Oops, that was a pen slip on my test.
Alternative Meaning: Writing error. / Small mistake.
15. A page-turner
Meaning: A story that is exciting and fun to read.
To Provide an Example: That mystery book was a real page-turner. / I couldn’t stop reading it!
Alternative Meaning: Super fun to read. / Can’t wait to see what happens next.
16. Spill the ink
Meaning: To write something down.
To Provide an Example: I spilled the ink about my weekend trip. / We all spilled ink during journal time.
Alternative Meaning: Start writing. / Tell a story.
17. Cross it out
Meaning: To remove something by drawing a line through it.
To Provide an Example: I crossed out the wrong word. / She crossed out the old sentence.
Alternative Meaning: Fix a mistake. / Take it away.
18. Put it in writing
Meaning: To make it official by writing it down.
To Provide an Example: Dad put the rules in writing on the fridge. / We made a list and put it in writing.
Alternative Meaning: Make it real. / Put it on paper.
19. Pen something down
Meaning: To write something.
To Provide an Example: I penned down a poem in class. / She penned down her wish list.
Alternative Meaning: Jot it down. / Start a note.
20. Between the lines
Meaning: To understand what is not said.
To Provide an Example: I read between the lines and knew she was sad. / He said he was fine, but I read between the lines.
Alternative Meaning: Understand hidden meaning. / Look deeper.
21. Back to the drawing board
Meaning: To start again after a mistake.
To Provide an Example: My story didn’t make sense, so it’s back to the drawing board. / We started over after reading the teacher’s notes.
Alternative Meaning: Try again. / Fix the plan.
22. Turn the page
Meaning: To move on from something.
To Provide an Example: It’s time to turn the page and write a new story. / After the mistake, I turned the page and started fresh.
Alternative Meaning: Begin something new. / Let go of the past.
23. Blank slate
Meaning: A fresh start with nothing written yet.
To Provide an Example: My new notebook is a blank slate. / I have a blank slate for this project.
Alternative Meaning: Nothing has happened yet. / New beginning.
24. Off the script
Meaning: To speak or act without planning.
To Provide an Example: He went off the script during his class talk. / She made up a new ending off the script.
Alternative Meaning: Not planned. / Made up on the spot.
25. Write the final chapter
Meaning: To finish something.
To Provide an Example: I wrote the final chapter of my summer story. / That was the final chapter of our group project.
Alternative Meaning: The ending. / Last part.
26. A pen name
Meaning: A fake name that writers use.
To Provide an Example: The author used a pen name for her book. / He didn’t want people to know, so he used a pen name.
Alternative Meaning: Fake name for writing. / Secret writer name.
27. Break the silence
Meaning: To finally say or write something after being quiet.
To Provide an Example: She broke the silence and wrote about her day. / He broke the silence in his journal.
Alternative Meaning: Speak up. / Begin talking or writing.
28. Make your mark
Meaning: To do something special or important.
To Provide an Example: Her story made a mark in class. / He made his mark with a great poem.
Alternative Meaning: Be remembered. / Do something great.
29. Read like a book
Meaning: Easy to understand or figure out.
To Provide an Example: I could read my friend like a book he was happy. / She was nervous, and I could tell.
Alternative Meaning: Very clear. / Easy to see.
30. Start a new chapter
Meaning: Begin something new.
To Provide an Example: Moving to a new school was starting a new chapter. / We start a new chapter after summer break.
Alternative Meaning: Begin again. / A fresh part of life.
31. A run-on sentence
Meaning: A long sentence with too many ideas.
To Provide an Example: My teacher said I had a run-on sentence. / I forgot to add a period in my run-on sentence.
Alternative Meaning: Sentence that goes too long. / Needs fixing.
32. Read your mind
Meaning: To know what someone is thinking.
To Provide an Example: Mom read my mind and gave me cookies. / She picked the same story I think she read my mind.
Alternative Meaning: Know what someone wants. / Guess a thought.
33. All write and no play
Meaning: Too much writing, no fun.
To Provide an Example: All write and no play makes school boring. / After writing for hours, we needed recess.
Alternative Meaning: Work too much. / No time to relax.
34. Rewrite history
Meaning: To change what really happened in a story.
To Provide an Example: He rewrote history in his report. / That story isn’t true she rewrote history.
Alternative Meaning: Change the facts. / Make up a new story.
35. In black and white
Meaning: Written clearly, not just spoken.
To Provide an Example: The rules are in black and white on the wall. / It’s in black and white we can’t change it.
Alternative Meaning: On paper. / Not just talk.
36. Make headlines
Meaning: To get a lot of attention.
To Provide an Example: Her story made headlines in the school paper. / That news made headlines on TV.
Alternative Meaning: Everyone notices. / Be talked about.
37. A tall tale
Meaning: A silly or made-up story.
To Provide an Example: He told a tall tale about a giant frog. / That story was too wild it must be a tall tale.
Alternative Meaning: Not true. / Funny and made-up.
38. On the same page
Meaning: To agree or understand the same thing.
To Provide an Example: We’re on the same page about our story topic. / The group got on the same page before writing.
Alternative Meaning: Think alike. / Understand together.
39. Pencil it in
Meaning: To plan something that might change.
To Provide an Example: Let’s pencil in writing time after lunch. / I’ll pencil in our book club meeting.
Alternative Meaning: Make soft plans. / Plan for now.
40. A written promise
Meaning: A promise that is written down.
To Provide an Example: We made a written promise to share crayons. / Our rules are a written promise in class.
Alternative Meaning: A note that says you’ll do something. / A promise you can see.
41. Write it off
Meaning: To stop thinking about it.
To Provide an Example: I made a mistake, but I’ll write it off. / She wrote off her bad test day.
Alternative Meaning: Let it go. / Don’t worry anymore.
42. Between the covers
Meaning: Inside a book.
To Provide an Example: There’s a fun story between the covers. / All the facts are between the covers of this book.
Alternative Meaning: In the book. / Inside the pages.
43. In your own words
Meaning: Say or write it in the way you understand.
To Provide an Example: Tell me in your own words what happened. / The teacher asked us to explain in our own words.
Alternative Meaning: Explain it yourself. / Use your voice.
44. A good read
Meaning: A story that is fun or interesting.
To Provide an Example: That dog book was a good read. / The comic was short but a good read.
Alternative Meaning: Fun to read. / Enjoyable story.
45. Back to basics
Meaning: To focus on the simple and easy parts.
To Provide an Example: Let’s go back to basics and work on spelling. / We’re back to basics with writing practice.
Alternative Meaning: Start simple. / Practice the easy stuff.
46. Signed, sealed, delivered
Meaning: Finished and ready.
To Provide an Example: My story is signed, sealed, delivered! / We finished the book and turned it in signed, sealed, delivered.
Alternative Meaning: Done and complete. / All ready.
47. Cross my heart and write it
Meaning: A promise made and written down.
To Provide an Example: I cross my heart and write it I’ll be kind. / She wrote her promise and signed it.
Alternative Meaning: Promise to do something. / A truth you write.
48. Scribble it down
Meaning: To write something fast and messy.
To Provide an Example: I scribbled down a note to remember. / He scribbled the answer before time ran out.
Alternative Meaning: Quick note. / Not neat writing.
49. Story time
Meaning: A time to read or tell stories.
To Provide an Example: We all sat for story time at the library. / Grandpa’s story time is the best.
Alternative Meaning: A reading moment. / Time for tales.
50. A bookworm
Meaning: A person who loves to read.
To Provide an Example: She’s such a bookworm she reads every day. / He’s a bookworm with all those comics.
Alternative Meaning: Loves books. / Always reading.
Trials for Success: Idioms about Writing
- Before I start my story for class, I need to ______.
- I had so many ideas that I began to ______ during writing time.
- My teacher said I need to follow the directions and do it ______.
- I wanted to save my idea, so I quickly ______ in my notebook.
- When I made a spelling mistake, I just ______ and wrote it again.
- We made a deal to share snacks, and we put it ______ so we wouldn’t forget.
- After summer break, starting 2nd grade felt like ______.
- That book about animals was so fun it was a real ______.
- I had no idea what to write, so I got stuck with ______.
- My notebook had nothing written yet. It was a ______.
- During story time, we all sat together and listened to a fun tale it was ______.
- I really liked that story. It was such ______.
- Mom guessed what I wanted for dinner. She could ______.
- The teacher asked me to explain it ______, not just copy from the board.
- We talked and made sure we were ______ before we wrote our group story.
Answer Key
- put pen to paper
- wrote up a storm
- by the book
- penned it down
- crossed it out
- in writing
- starting a new chapter
- page-turner
- writer’s block
- blank slate
- story time
- a good read
- read my mind
- in my own words
- on the same page
Conclusion
Learning idioms about writing can help us understand words in a fun way. These sayings make talking and writing more interesting.
Now you know that “put pen to paper” means to start writing. You also know that “writer’s block” means getting stuck with no ideas. These idioms are used by people every day. When you hear them, you’ll know what they mean. And when you use them, your writing can feel more natural.
Try using one the next time you write or talk about a story.
