Sometimes people use special phrases that don’t mean what the words say. These phrases are called idioms. Idioms make talking fun and interesting. They help us understand people better. Many idioms describe people and how they act or feel.
You might hear someone say, “She’s a busy bee” or “He has a heart of gold.” These don’t mean the person is really a bee or has a gold heart. They mean the person works hard or is very kind. In this article, we will learn some common idioms used to talk about people.
Idioms for A Person
1. Busy Bee
Meaning: A person who is always working or doing something.
To Provide an Example: Emma helps clean the classroom every day. She’s a real busy bee. / My mom cooks, cleans, and helps me with homework. She’s always a busy bee.
Alternative Meaning: Someone who doesn’t like to sit still. / A person who enjoys being active all the time.
2. Couch Potato
Meaning: A person who sits a lot and watches TV.
To Provide an Example: Ben watched cartoons all Saturday. He was a couch potato. / My brother never goes outside. He’s such a couch potato.
Alternative Meaning: Someone who doesn’t move around much. / A person who likes to stay on the couch all day.
3. Early Bird
Meaning: A person who wakes up early.
To Provide an Example: Sara wakes up before the sun. She’s an early bird. / My dad is an early bird. He goes for a walk at 6 a.m.
Alternative Meaning: Someone who starts their day early. / A person who doesn’t like to sleep in.
4. Class Clown
Meaning: A person who makes everyone laugh in class.
To Provide an Example: Jake always tells silly jokes. He’s the class clown. / The teacher smiled when the class clown made a funny face.
Alternative Meaning: Someone who likes being silly at school. / A kid who loves to make others laugh.
5. Copycat
Meaning: A person who copies what others do.
To Provide an Example: Lily drew the same picture as Mia. She was being a copycat. / Tom wore the same shirt as me on purpose. What a copycat!
Alternative Meaning: Someone who doesn’t like to make their own choices. / A person who follows what others do.
6. Big Cheese
Meaning: A person who is very important.
To Provide an Example: The principal is the big cheese at our school. / In the company, Mr. Jones is the big cheese. He makes big decisions.
Alternative Meaning: Someone who is the boss. / A person who is in charge.
7. Bookworm
Meaning: A person who loves reading books.
To Provide an Example: Lucy reads during lunch and recess. She’s a bookworm. / My cousin reads five books a week. He’s a real bookworm.
Alternative Meaning: Someone who spends lots of time with books. / A kid who enjoys stories more than games.
8. Chatterbox
Meaning: A person who talks a lot.
To Provide an Example: Anna talks all through lunch. She’s a chatterbox. / My little brother is a chatterbox when he gets excited.
Alternative Meaning: Someone who can’t stop talking. / A kid who loves to chat with everyone.
9. Cold Fish
Meaning: A person who doesn’t show feelings.
To Provide an Example: He didn’t smile or laugh. He acted like a cold fish. / When everyone was excited, Sam stayed quiet like a cold fish.
Alternative Meaning: Someone who acts serious or quiet. / A person who doesn’t show emotions.
10. Daydreamer
Meaning: A person who thinks a lot and doesn’t pay attention.
To Provide an Example: During math class, Mia stared out the window. She’s a daydreamer. /I asked him a question, but he didn’t hear me. He was daydreaming.
Alternative Meaning: Someone who forgets to focus. / A person with big thoughts or imagination.
11. Drama Queen
Meaning: A person who makes a big deal out of everything.
To Provide an Example: She cried loudly over a tiny scratch. What a drama queen. / When his toy broke, he acted like it was the end of the world. Such a drama queen.
Alternative Meaning: Someone who overreacts / A person who makes small problems seem big.
12. Go-Getter
Meaning: A person who works hard to reach their goals.
To Provide an Example: Jack studied every night for the test. He’s a go-getter. / She asked for extra help to get better. What a go-getter!
Alternative Meaning: Someone who doesn’t give up. / A kid who tries their best.
13. Happy Camper
Meaning: A person who is pleased and not complaining.
To Provide an Example: After the field trip, everyone was a happy camper. / He got his favorite toy, and now he’s a happy camper.
Alternative Meaning: Someone who feels good. / A kid who’s in a cheerful mood.
14. Lone Wolf
Meaning: A person who likes to be alone.
To Provide an Example: Tim likes to play by himself. He’s a lone wolf. / She sits alone at lunch by choice. She’s a lone wolf.
Alternative Meaning: Someone who enjoys quiet time. / A person who doesn’t need company.
15. Nervous Nellie
Meaning: A person who gets scared or worried easily.
To Provide an Example: Before her speech, Lily shook like a nervous Nellie. / He didn’t want to try the rollercoaster. He was being a nervous Nellie.
Alternative Meaning: Someone who worries a lot. / A kid who feels nervous often.
16. Party Pooper
Meaning: A person who ruins the fun.
To Provide an Example: He told us to stop playing. What a party pooper. / Everyone wanted to sing, but she said no. She was a party pooper.
Alternative Meaning: Someone who ends the fun. / A person who doesn’t join in.
17. Smarty Pants
Meaning: A person who acts like they know everything.
To Provide an Example: He answered all the questions and said, “Easy!” What a smarty pants. / She said, “I already knew that.” She’s such a smarty pants sometimes.
Alternative Meaning: Someone who shows off their smarts. / A kid who likes to be right all the time.
18. Sourpuss
Meaning: A person who looks or acts grumpy.
To Provide an Example: He didn’t want to play and frowned all day. He was a sourpuss. / She crossed her arms and pouted. What a sourpuss!
Alternative Meaning: Someone who’s in a bad mood. / A person who doesn’t smile much.
19. Teacher’s Pet
Meaning: A student who the teacher gives extra praise to.
To Provide an Example: He always helps the teacher and gets gold stars. He’s the teacher’s pet. / She sits in front and answers first. Everyone calls her the teacher’s pet.
Alternative Meaning: Someone who wants to impress the teacher. / A kid who follows all the rules.
20. Wet Blanket
Meaning: A person who spoils the fun for others.
To Provide an Example: We were dancing, but he told us to stop. What a wet blanket. / She said the party was boring. She was being a wet blanket.
Alternative Meaning: Someone who complains during fun times. / A person who doesn’t enjoy games with others.
21. Whiz Kid
Meaning: A young person who is very smart.
To Provide an Example: She solves puzzles so fast. She’s a whiz kid. / He finished the math test in 5 minutes. What a whiz kid!
Alternative Meaning: A kid who learns fast. / Someone who’s really good at schoolwork.
22. Know-It-All
Meaning: A person who acts like they know everything.
To Provide an Example: He said he already knew the answer, even before hearing the question. What a know-it-all. / She never listens to others. She always thinks she’s right.
Alternative Meaning: Someone who doesn’t like to be corrected / A kid who talks like they know more than everyone.
23. Jokester
Meaning: A person who loves making jokes.
To Provide an Example: He put a sticker on the teacher’s chair. What a jokester! / She tells funny stories every lunch. She’s a jokester.
Alternative Meaning: Someone who likes to make people laugh. / A kid who’s always joking around.
24. Social Butterfly
Meaning: A person who talks to everyone.
To Provide an Example: Amy says hi to everyone at school. She’s a social butterfly. / He joined three clubs. What a social butterfly!
Alternative Meaning: Someone who loves being around people. / A kid who makes friends easily.
25. Slowpoke
Meaning: A person who moves slowly.
To Provide an Example: We were ready to go, but he was still putting on his shoes. What a slowpoke! / She takes forever to pack up her bag. She’s a slowpoke.
Alternative Meaning: Someone who’s always the last one ready. / A kid who doesn’t hurry.
26. Laughing Stock
Meaning: A person others laugh at because they did something silly.
To Provide an Example: He wore his shirt backward all day. He became the laughing stock. / When she tripped during the show, she felt like the laughing stock.
Alternative Meaning: Someone who others tease. / A kid who others giggle about.
27. Butterfingers
Meaning: A person who often drops things.
To Provide an Example: He dropped his ice cream again. What a butterfingers! / She can’t hold anything without dropping it. Such a butterfingers.
Alternative Meaning: Someone who can’t hold things well. / A person who is clumsy with their hands.
28. Jack of All Trades
Meaning: A person who can do many different things.
To Provide an Example: He plays piano, paints, and builds toy cars. He’s a jack of all trades. / She helps cook, clean, and fix stuff. She’s a jack of all trades.
Alternative Meaning: Someone who is good at many things. / A kid who likes to try different skills.
29. Chicken
Meaning: A person who is scared to try something.
To Provide an Example: He didn’t want to climb the ladder. He was being a chicken. / She ran away from the bee. What a chicken!
Alternative Meaning: Someone who gets scared fast. / A person who avoids risky stuff.
30. Big Mouth
Meaning: A person who tells secrets or talks too much.
To Provide an Example: He told everyone my surprise. What a big mouth! / Don’t tell her your plan she’s a big mouth.
Alternative Meaning: Someone who can’t keep a secret. / A kid who blurts things out.
31. Peacemaker
Meaning: A person who helps others stop fighting.
To Provide an Example: When we argued, Sam helped us talk. He’s a peacemaker. / She told both friends to say sorry. What a peacemaker!
Alternative Meaning: Someone who helps fix problems. / A person who wants everyone to get along.
32. Old Soul
Meaning: A young person who acts like an older person.
To Provide an Example: He likes quiet books and deep talks. He’s an old soul. / She gives wise advice. She’s an old soul.
Alternative Meaning: Someone who’s thoughtful and calm. / A kid who acts grown-up.
33. Good Egg
Meaning: A person who is kind and does the right thing.
To Provide an Example: He shared his lunch with a friend. What a good egg! / She stayed to help clean up. She’s a good egg.
Alternative Meaning: Someone who is nice to others. / A kid who makes kind choices.
34. Bad Apple
Meaning: A person who causes trouble.
To Provide an Example: He broke the crayons and laughed. He’s a bad apple. / One bad apple in class made everyone lose recess.
Alternative Meaning: Someone who makes bad choices. / A person who brings trouble.
35. Top Dog
Meaning: A person who is the best at something.
To Provide an Example: She always wins the spelling bee. She’s the top dog. / He’s the fastest runner. He’s the top dog in P.E.
Alternative Meaning: Someone who’s the best. / A kid who leads the group.
36. Black Sheep
Meaning: A person who is different from the rest of the group.
To Provide an Example: He likes quiet when everyone else is loud. He’s the black sheep. / She wears silly hats when no one else does. She’s a black sheep.
Alternative Meaning: Someone who doesn’t follow the crowd. / A kid who stands out.
37. Eager Beaver
Meaning: A person who is excited to start working.
To Provide an Example: She finished her homework before dinner. What an eager beaver! / He showed up early to clean. He’s an eager beaver.
Alternative Meaning: Someone who works fast and happy. / A person who wants to get things done.
38. Fast Talker
Meaning: A person who speaks quickly and can be tricky.
To Provide an Example: He talked so fast, we didn’t understand. He’s a fast talker. / She talked us into trading snacks. What a fast talker!
Alternative Meaning: Someone who’s hard to follow. / A kid who can change people’s minds fast.
39. Lone Ranger
Meaning: A person who likes doing things alone.
To Provide an Example: He built the puzzle by himself. What a lone ranger. / She walked alone at recess. She’s a lone ranger.
Alternative Meaning: Someone who likes solo time. / A person who doesn’t ask for help.
40. Pain in the Neck
Meaning: A person who is annoying.
To Provide an Example: He kept tapping my shoulder. He’s a pain in the neck. / She won’t stop asking questions. What a pain in the neck.
Alternative Meaning: Someone who bothers others. / A kid who makes things harder.
41. Big Shot
Meaning: A person who acts important.
To Provide an Example: He told us what to do like a big shot. / She wore sunglasses inside and acted like a big shot.
Alternative Meaning: Someone who tries to be the boss. / A kid who shows off.
42. Wet Noodle
Meaning: A person who is not very strong or brave.
To Provide an Example: He gave up after one try. What a wet noodle. / She wouldn’t speak up. She was being a wet noodle.
Alternative Meaning: Someone who won’t stand up for themselves. / A person who doesn’t try hard.
43. Worrywart
Meaning: A person who worries a lot.
To Provide an Example: He worried about the test all week. What a worrywart! / She thought her drawing wasn’t good enough. She’s a worrywart.
Alternative Meaning: Someone who feels scared often. / A kid who thinks too much about problems.
44. Space Cadet
Meaning: A person who is forgetful or not paying attention.
To Provide an Example: She forgot her lunch again. What a space cadet. / He didn’t hear the teacher. He’s a space cadet today.
Alternative Meaning: Someone who seems lost in thought. / A person who gets distracted.
45. Bump on a Log
Meaning: A person who just sits and does nothing.
To Provide an Example: He just sat while we played. He was a bump on a log. / She didn’t join the group. She sat like a bump on a log.
Alternative Meaning: Someone who doesn’t join in. / A kid who stays still.
46. Nosy Parker
Meaning: A person who asks too many questions.
To Provide an Example: She kept asking what was in my lunch. She’s a nosy parker. / He wants to know everything. What a nosy parker!
Alternative Meaning: Someone who gets into others’ business. / A person who is too curious.
47. Good Sport
Meaning: A person who is nice, even when they lose.
To Provide an Example: He clapped for the winner. He’s a good sport. / She smiled even when she didn’t win. What a good sport!
Alternative Meaning: Someone who plays fair. / A kid who doesn’t get mad about games.
48. Know the Ropes
Meaning: A person who understands how things work.
To Provide an Example: He showed me how to tie the jump rope. He knows the ropes./ She helped us line up the right way. She knows the ropes.
Alternative Meaning: Someone who knows the rules. / A kid who understands what to do.
49. Bull in a China Shop
Meaning: A person who is clumsy or rough.
To Provide an Example: He knocked over the bookshelf. Like a bull in a china shop! / She ran through the classroom and hit three desks.
Alternative Meaning: Someone who breaks things easily. / A kid who moves too wildly.
50. Party Animal
Meaning: A person who loves parties and fun.
To Provide an Example: He danced all night. What a party animal! / She planned games and snacks. She’s a party animal.
Alternative Meaning: Someone who loves to celebrate. / A kid who enjoys fun with friends.
Trials for Success: Idioms for A Person
- My sister always helps mom clean the house. She’s a __________.
- After school, my brother watches TV for hours. He’s a real __________.
- I dropped my pencil three times today. I must be a __________.
- At lunch, Mia talked the whole time. She’s such a __________.
- Our neighbor wakes up before the sun rises. He’s an __________.
- I told Sam my secret, and he told everyone. What a __________!
- Ella is always reading books from the library. She’s a __________.
- When we play games, Joe gets mad if he loses. He’s not a __________.
- Lucy helped the teacher and got extra stickers. She’s the __________.
- I didn’t want to go on the slide, so Max called me a __________.
- Sara helps others stop fighting. She’s a good __________.
- David spilled juice again during lunch. He’s kind of a __________.
- Mia stayed quiet during recess and played alone. She was a __________.
- Alex told jokes and made the whole class laugh. He’s the __________.
- Anna didn’t smile and said the game was boring. She was a __________.
Answers
- Busy Bee
- Couch Potato
- Butterfingers
- Chatterbox
- Early Bird
- Big Mouth
- Bookworm
- Good Sport
- Teacher’s Pet
- Chicken
- Peacemaker
- Butterfingers
- Lone Wolf
- Class Clown
- Sourpuss
Conclusion
Idioms help us talk in fun and colorful ways. They can tell us about what a person is like without saying it directly.
When we learn idioms, we can understand people better and speak more clearly. Try using a few the next time you talk with your friends or family. It can make everyday talking more fun.
