Sharing is when you let someone else use what you have. It could be a toy, a snack, or even your time. Sharing helps us be kind and make friends. People use special sayings, called idioms, to talk about sharing. These sayings don’t always mean exactly what they say. But they help us understand big ideas in a fun way.
In this article, we will look at idioms about sharing. You’ll learn what each idiom means and how to use it. These idioms can help you talk about giving, helping, and caring for others. Let’s explore them together.
Idioms about Sharing
1. Share the wealth
Meaning: Give something good to others so everyone can enjoy.
To Provide an Example: Mia got candy and shared the wealth with her class. / Dad brought home donuts and told us to share the wealth.
Alternative Meaning: When you have a lot, don’t keep it all to yourself. / Be kind and give others a chance to enjoy, too.
2. Pass the torch
Meaning: Give someone else a chance to lead or help.
To Provide an Example: After helping clean up, Liam passed the torch to Emma. / Our teacher let a new student pass the torch and be line leader.
Alternative Meaning: Let someone else try. / Take turns being in charge.
3. Give a helping hand
Meaning: Help someone who needs it.
To Provide an Example: Ava gave a helping hand when her brother dropped his books. / Ben gave a helping hand to his friend during group work.
Alternative Meaning: Be nice by helping. / Use your hands to do something kind.
4. Split down the middle
Meaning: Divide something into equal parts.
To Provide an Example: We split the last cookie down the middle. / Lily and Jack split the swing time down the middle.
Alternative Meaning: Share something fairly. / Give each person the same amount.
5. Lend a hand
Meaning: Help someone do something.
To Provide an Example: Grandpa asked if I could lend a hand with the puzzle. / I lent a hand by putting away the toys.
Alternative Meaning: Use your time to help. / Be kind and give help.
6. Take turns
Meaning: One person goes, then the next.
To Provide an Example: We took turns on the slide. / At the game, each player took turns rolling the dice.
Alternative Meaning: Everyone gets a chance. / Wait for your turn.
7. Share the spotlight
Meaning: Let others be noticed or praised too.
To Provide an Example: Emma shared the spotlight with her dance group. / Max didn’t want all the credit, so he shared the spotlight.
Alternative Meaning: Don’t try to be the only star. / Let others shine too.
8. Hand it over
Meaning: Give something to someone else.
To Provide an Example: Mom said, “Hand it over,” when I held the phone too long. / I handed over the toy to my baby sister.
Alternative Meaning: Give it nicely. / Don’t hold on too tight.
9. Give and take
Meaning: Both people share and listen.
To Provide an Example: Our talk was full of give and take. / In group play, there was a lot of give and take.
Alternative Meaning: You give a little and get a little. / Share ideas and toys.
10. Put your heads together
Meaning: Work as a team to solve something.
To Provide an Example: We put our heads together to fix the puzzle. / The kids put their heads together and built a tower.
Alternative Meaning: Think and work as a group. / Help each other find answers.
11. Pitch in
Meaning: Help out with a job or task.
To Provide an Example: We all pitched in to clean the classroom. / I pitched in by folding the napkins at dinner.
Alternative Meaning: Everyone helps a little. / Do your part.
12. Break bread together
Meaning: Eat together and enjoy sharing.
To Provide an Example: Our family broke bread together on Sunday night. / We broke bread with our neighbors during the picnic.
Alternative Meaning: Share a meal. / Be friendly and eat together.
13. Two heads are better than one
Meaning: Working together is better than doing it alone.
To Provide an Example: We solved the puzzle faster because two heads are better than one. / My friend helped me with homework. Two heads were better than one.
Alternative Meaning: Sharing ideas helps. / Working as a team is smart.
14. Pass it around
Meaning: Give something to others in a circle.
To Provide an Example: We passed the popcorn around the table. / During show-and-tell, we passed the toy around.
Alternative Meaning: Let others hold or use it. / Don’t keep it all for yourself.
15. All in the same boat
Meaning: Everyone is dealing with the same thing.
To Provide an Example: We were all in the same boat during the power outage. / Our class was in the same boat when the test was hard.
Alternative Meaning: We share the same problem. / We’re in this together.
16. Pool resources
Meaning: Everyone puts things together to share.
To Provide an Example: We pooled our markers to make one big art box. / The class pooled snacks for the party.
Alternative Meaning: Share what you have. / Bring things together to use as a group.
17. Share and share alike
Meaning: Everyone should share the same way.
To Provide an Example: We took turns on the scooter share and share alike. / At lunch, we split chips share and share alike.
Alternative Meaning: Treat others fairly. / Don’t take more than your part.
18. Give someone a piece of the pie
Meaning: Let someone have a part of the good thing.
To Provide an Example: The coach gave each player a piece of the pie after the win. / Mom gave my brother a piece of the pie for helping.
Alternative Meaning: Share what’s nice or tasty. / Let others enjoy too.
19. Join forces
Meaning: Team up to do something better.
To Provide an Example: We joined forces to build a big LEGO house. / Sarah and I joined forces to carry the basket.
Alternative Meaning: Work together. / Help each other reach the goal.
20. On the same page
Meaning: Agree and understand each other.
To Provide an Example: We were on the same page about the rules of the game. / The group stayed on the same page while building.
Alternative Meaning: Think the same way. / Understand and share ideas.
21. Pass the buck
Meaning: Give someone else the job or task.
To Provide an Example: I didn’t want to clean, so I passed the buck to my brother. / She passed the buck and asked her friend to carry the books.
Alternative Meaning: Let someone else do the work. / Don’t keep all the jobs.
22. Spread the love
Meaning: Be kind and share with others.
To Provide an Example: He made cards to spread the love on Valentine’s Day. / We spread the love by giving hugs and high fives.
Alternative Meaning: Show you care. / Share good feelings.
23. Cut me some slack
Meaning: Be kind and give me a break.
To Provide an Example: I forgot my homework. Please cut me some slack. / Mom cut me some slack when I spilled milk.
Alternative Meaning: Don’t be too hard. / Share kindness.
24. Put yourself in their shoes
Meaning: Think how someone else feels.
To Provide an Example: Put yourself in his shoes he dropped his ice cream. / I put myself in her shoes and helped her clean.
Alternative Meaning: Share feelings. / Try to understand others.
25. Give someone the shirt off your back
Meaning: Share everything you have.
To Provide an Example: He gave the shirt off his back and shared his coat. / She gave the shirt off her back by giving her snack.
Alternative Meaning: Share a lot. / Help in a big way.
26. In the same boat
Meaning: Going through the same thing together.
To Provide an Example: We were in the same boat when the power went out. / The class was in the same boat during the hard test.
Alternative Meaning: Share the same problem. / Be part of a group with the same issue.
27. Chip in
Meaning: Give or help with something.
To Provide an Example: We all chipped in money for the gift. / I chipped in by picking up blocks.
Alternative Meaning: Add your help. / Share what you can.
28. Give credit where it’s due
Meaning: Say thank you or praise others when they help.
To Provide an Example: We gave credit to Mia for the great idea. / I gave credit to my friend for coloring the sign.
Alternative Meaning: Share thanks. / Say who helped.
29. Make room
Meaning: Let others join or be part of something.
To Provide an Example: We made room for Sara on the bench. / I made room for my brother to play too.
Alternative Meaning: Share your space. / Be kind by letting others in.
30. A friend in need is a friend indeed
Meaning: A true friend helps and shares when needed.
To Provide an Example: She gave me her umbrella what a friend indeed. / He shared his lunch when I forgot mine.
Alternative Meaning: Real friends share. / Friends help each other.
31. It’s the thought that counts
Meaning: Sharing or giving matters more than the gift.
To Provide an Example: My drawing wasn’t perfect, but it’s the thought that counts. / She made me a card, and it’s the thought that counts.
Alternative Meaning: Sharing from the heart matters. / Be kind, even in small ways.
32. Open up
Meaning: Share your thoughts or feelings.
To Provide an Example: I opened up and told Mom I was sad. / He opened up to his teacher about his worry.
Alternative Meaning: Let others know how you feel. / Share inside thoughts.
33. Pay it forward
Meaning: Do something kind after someone does it for you.
To Provide an Example: She helped me, so I paid it forward and helped him. / I paid it forward by sharing my crayons.
Alternative Meaning: Keep kindness going. / Share good acts with others.
34. Put something on the table
Meaning: Offer an idea or item for others.
To Provide an Example: He put his idea on the table for the group. / I put my snack on the table to share.
Alternative Meaning: Offer or give something. / Share what you have or think.
35. Many hands make light work
Meaning: A job is easier when shared.
To Provide an Example: We cleaned up fast many hands make light work. / With everyone helping, the task was done fast.
Alternative Meaning: Sharing the job helps. / Teamwork makes it easy.
36. Give the floor to someone
Meaning: Let another person speak or share.
To Provide an Example: The teacher gave the floor to Liam to talk. / I gave the floor to my friend to share her story.
Alternative Meaning: Take turns talking. / Let someone else speak.
37. Break it down
Meaning: Explain something in small, shared parts.
To Provide an Example: She broke it down so we all understood. / We broke the big job down and shared tasks.
Alternative Meaning: Make it easier to share or learn. / Divide it into small parts.
38. Put in your two cents
Meaning: Share your opinion.
To Provide an Example: I put in my two cents during the group talk. / He put in his two cents about the snack choice.
Alternative Meaning: Say what you think. / Add your voice to the group.
39. Shoulder to shoulder
Meaning: Work together with others.
To Provide an Example: We worked shoulder to shoulder cleaning up. / The kids stood shoulder to shoulder in line.
Alternative Meaning: Be together. / Share time and effort.
40. Give someone the time of day
Meaning: Pay attention and talk to them kindly.
To Provide an Example: She gave him the time of day and listened. / I gave the new kid the time of day at lunch.
Alternative Meaning: Share time with someone. / Be friendly.
41. Leave some for others
Meaning: Don’t take it all share.
To Provide an Example: We left some cookies for others. / She left crayons for her friends to use.
Alternative Meaning: Don’t be greedy. / Think about others.
42. What’s mine is yours
Meaning: I’m happy to share with you.
To Provide an Example: My best friend said, “What’s mine is yours.” / I told my sister, “What’s mine is yours.”
Alternative Meaning: You can use my stuff. / Let others use what you have.
43. All hands on deck
Meaning: Everyone needs to help.
To Provide an Example: The classroom needed cleaning so it was all hands on deck. / We had to move fast so it was all hands on deck.
Alternative Meaning: Everybody shares the work. / No one sits out.
44. Open heart
Meaning: Be loving and kind to others.
To Provide an Example: She had an open heart and shared her lunch. / I used an open heart to forgive my friend.
Alternative Meaning: Be full of care. / Share feelings and kindness.
45. Spread the word
Meaning: Share news or a message.
To Provide an Example: We spread the word about the toy drive. / I spread the word about the bake sale.
Alternative Meaning: Tell others. / Share news.
46. Give back
Meaning: Help after getting help.
To Provide an Example: After I was helped, I gave back by cleaning up. / I gave back by helping my school.
Alternative Meaning: Share kindness. / Do something nice in return.
47. Go halves
Meaning: Split something equally.
To Provide an Example: We went halves on the last piece of cake. / My friend and I went halves on popcorn.
Alternative Meaning: Share 50/50. / Each person gets the same.
48. From the bottom of my heart
Meaning: Truly and honestly sharing love or thanks.
To Provide an Example: I said thanks from the bottom of my heart. / She gave her toy from the bottom of her heart.
Alternative Meaning: Say or give with real feeling. / Share with care.
49. Be there for someone
Meaning: Support and share time with others.
To Provide an Example: I was there for my friend when she was sad. / He was there for me when I needed help.
Alternative Meaning: Stay close and help. / Share care and kindness.
50. Offer an olive branch
Meaning: Try to make peace and be friends.
To Provide an Example: I offered an olive branch after our fight. / She offered an olive branch by sharing her toy.
Alternative Meaning: Say sorry. / Share peace and try again.
Trials for Success: Idioms About Sharing
- After we made cupcakes, we decided to __________ with the whole class.
- I didn’t want to clean my room, so I tried to __________ to my brother.
- My friend let me borrow her crayons and said, “__________.”
- Everyone __________ to help set up chairs for the school concert.
- We had one juice box left, so we __________.
- The teacher said we should __________ when picking games at recess.
- After Sarah helped me, I wanted to __________ by helping Lily.
- The kids __________ and solved the puzzle together.
- Mom told us to __________ and give Grandma time to talk.
- I spilled my milk, and Dad said, “__________, it’s okay.”
- The class brought snacks and __________ for the party.
- I gave my last sticker to a sad friend, __________.
- We both wanted the toy, so our teacher said to __________.
- I didn’t know how to do the homework, but Liam helped because we were __________.
- She said sorry and gave me her seat to __________.
Answer Key
- share the wealth
- pass the buck
- what’s mine is yours
- pitched in
- split it down the middle
- take turns
- pay it forward
- put their heads together
- give the floor to someone
- cut me some slack
- pooled resources
- from the bottom of my heart
- share and share alike
- in the same boat
- offer an olive branch
Conclusion
Sharing helps us be kind, fair, and thoughtful. Idioms about sharing teach us how to say these ideas in fun ways.
When we use these sayings, we learn how to care for others and work together. Sharing isn’t just about things, it’s also about time, help, and feelings.
