Poetry is a kind of writing that uses rhythm and feelings. Poems can be happy, sad, or silly. They use strong words in short lines. People write poems about nature, love, or anything they care about. Some poems rhyme. Others do not. But all poems help us feel or think in new ways.
Sometimes, poems use idioms. Idioms are special phrases. They don’t mean what they say exactly. For example, if someone says, “It’s raining cats and dogs,” they mean it’s raining a lot. Idioms make poems more fun and full of meaning. They help readers imagine and enjoy the poem more. In this article, we will learn idioms that poets use and what they really mean.
Idioms for Poetry
1. Speak from the heart
Meaning: Say how you really feel.
To Provide an Example: She wrote a poem that spoke from the heart. / His words spoke from the heart about his dog.
Alternative Meaning: Be honest in your words. / Share your real feelings.
2. A picture is worth a thousand words
Meaning: One image or line can say a lot.
To Provide an Example: Her poem about a tree showed a picture worth a thousand words. / That short line painted a whole picture.
Alternative Meaning: A few words can say big things. / Small poems can have deep meaning.
3. Cry me a river
Meaning: Show too much sadness.
To Provide an Example: The poem said, “Cry me a river,” to show big sadness. / He read it like the poem cried a river.
Alternative Meaning: Be full of tears. / Show strong feelings.
4. On cloud nine
Meaning: Feel very happy.
To Provide an Example: Her happy poem put us on cloud nine. / He wrote about being on cloud nine at the park.
Alternative Meaning: Full of joy. / Feeling great.
5. In black and white
Meaning: Clearly written.
To Provide an Example: His poem was in black and white—easy to see and understand. / She read words that were clear, like black and white.
Alternative Meaning: Simple to see. / Easy to understand.
6. Spill the beans
Meaning: Share a secret.
To Provide an Example: The poem spilled the beans about a lost toy. / He spilled the beans in his rhyming lines.
Alternative Meaning: Tell something hidden. / Share something quiet.
7. Bite your tongue
Meaning: Try not to say something.
To Provide an Example: In the poem, she had to bite her tongue about her wish. / He bit his tongue instead of shouting.
Alternative Meaning: Keep quiet. / Don’t say the secret.
8. Break the silence
Meaning: Begin to talk.
To Provide an Example: His poem broke the silence in the room. / She used soft words to break the silence.
Alternative Meaning: Start speaking. / Let out the feeling.
9. Word for word
Meaning: Say something just as it was.
To Provide an Example: She read the poem word for word. / He wrote it word for word from his heart.
Alternative Meaning: No changes. / The same words again.
10. From cover to cover
Meaning: From the start to the end.
To Provide an Example: He read the poetry book from cover to cover. / She smiled through it from cover to cover.
Alternative Meaning: All the way through. / Every word was read.
11. Lost for words
Meaning: Not sure what to say.
To Provide an Example: Her poem made us lost for words. / He stood lost for words after reading it.
Alternative Meaning: Speechless. / Too amazed to speak.
12. Read between the lines
Meaning: Find the hidden meaning.
To Provide an Example: His poem made us read between the lines. / We had to look deeper to understand her poem.
Alternative Meaning: Look closer. / Think about what’s not said.
13. Straight from the horse’s mouth
Meaning: From the real source.
To Provide an Example: The poem told it straight from the horse’s mouth. / She wrote it from what she really knew.
Alternative Meaning: From the truth. / From the person who knows best.
14. Tongue-tied
Meaning: Too shy or nervous to speak.
To Provide an Example: His poem about a new school made her feel tongue-tied. / She read about being tongue-tied in front of class.
Alternative Meaning: Too shy to talk. / Lost the words.
15. Write off
Meaning: Ignore or forget something.
To Provide an Example: He felt like people wrote off his poem. / She didn’t write off his short rhyme.
Alternative Meaning: Not give a chance. / Think it’s not good.
16. Make a name for yourself
Meaning: Become known or famous.
To Provide an Example: Her poem helped her make a name for herself. / He made a name for himself with that verse.
Alternative Meaning: Be noticed. / Become special.
17. Make your voice heard
Meaning: Share your thoughts or feelings.
To Provide an Example: His poem helped him make his voice heard. / She made her voice heard with kind words.
Alternative Meaning: Speak up. / Say how you feel.
18. On the tip of your tongue
Meaning: Almost remembered.
To Provide an Example: The word in her poem was on the tip of my tongue. / I knew the rhyme—it was right there.
Alternative Meaning: Almost said it. / Couldn’t quite remember.
19. Have a way with words
Meaning: Be good at writing or talking.
To Provide an Example: She has a way with words in her poems. / His poem showed he has a way with words.
Alternative Meaning: Good with language. / Writes or talks well.
20. Blow you away
Meaning: Surprise or amaze.
To Provide an Example: His short poem blew us away. / Her rhyme blew away the class.
Alternative Meaning: Wow someone. / Really impress.
21. Keep it short and sweet
Meaning: Say a little, but nicely.
To Provide an Example: The poem was short and sweet. / She kept it short and sweet with kind words.
Alternative Meaning: Not long. / Small and nice.
22. All ears
Meaning: Ready to listen.
To Provide an Example: The class was all ears for her poem. / We were all ears during the reading.
Alternative Meaning: Paying attention. / Listening closely.
23. Pen is mightier than the sword
Meaning: Words are more powerful than fighting.
To Provide an Example: His poem showed that the pen is mightier than the sword. / She used kind words instead of yelling.
Alternative Meaning: Words can help. / Say things to make peace.
24. Sing a different tune
Meaning: Change your thoughts or words.
To Provide an Example: After the poem, he sang a different tune. / She sang a different tune about helping others.
Alternative Meaning: Think new. / Change your mind.
25. Let the words flow
Meaning: Write or speak easily.
To Provide an Example: She let the words flow in her poem. / The story let his words flow.
Alternative Meaning: Say what you feel. / Don’t hold back.
26. Put it into words
Meaning: Say how you feel.
To Provide an Example: He put his sadness into words. / She put her joy into words in the poem.
Alternative Meaning: Say your feelings. / Use words for thoughts.
27. Sing someone’s praises
Meaning: Say good things about someone.
To Provide an Example: Her poem sang her mom’s praises. / He sang the team’s praises in his rhyme.
Alternative Meaning: Cheer for others. / Say someone is great.
28. A man of few words
Meaning: Someone who doesn’t talk a lot.
To Provide an Example: His short poem showed he’s a man of few words. / She wrote about someone who only says a little.
Alternative Meaning: Quiet. / Not chatty.
29. Sound like a broken record
Meaning: Repeat the same thing.
To Provide an Example: The poem sounded like a broken record with “I’m sorry” again and again. / He said the same thing in each verse.
Alternative Meaning: Say it too much. / Repeat too often.
30. Wrap it up
Meaning: Finish something.
To Provide an Example: Her poem wrapped it up with a sweet end. / He wrapped it up with a final rhyme.
Alternative Meaning: End the work. / Finish nicely.
31. Write your heart out
Meaning: Write with strong feeling.
To Provide an Example: She wrote her heart out about her puppy. / He wrote his heart out in the poem about school.
Alternative Meaning: Share deep feelings. / Write with care.
32. Hit the right note
Meaning: Say something just right.
To Provide an Example: His poem about friends hit the right note. / She hit the right note with her kind words.
Alternative Meaning: Say the best thing. / Get the feeling right.
33. Word of mouth
Meaning: Sharing something by talking.
To Provide an Example: Her poem became known by word of mouth. / Everyone heard it through word of mouth.
Alternative Meaning: Told by people. / Not written down.
34. Keep a straight face
Meaning: Not laugh or show emotion.
To Provide an Example: He read a silly poem but kept a straight face. / She kept a straight face through the funny part.
Alternative Meaning: Stay serious. / Don’t laugh.
35. Take a page from someone’s book
Meaning: Do something like someone else.
To Provide an Example: He took a page from her book and wrote a poem about kindness. / She took a page from Grandpa’s book and wrote about fishing.
Alternative Meaning: Copy a good idea. / Do what someone else did.
36. At a loss for words
Meaning: Don’t know what to say.
To Provide an Example: Her sweet poem left me at a loss for words. / I was at a loss for words after his story.
Alternative Meaning: Can’t speak. / Too surprised or touched.
37. Speak volumes
Meaning: Say a lot without many words.
To Provide an Example: His quiet poem spoke volumes. / That one short line spoke volumes.
Alternative Meaning: Say much with little. / Deep meaning.
38. Under your breath
Meaning: Say something softly.
To Provide an Example: She read the poem under her breath. / He whispered his rhyme under his breath.
Alternative Meaning: Quiet talking. / Not loud.
39. Hear it through the grapevine
Meaning: Find out from others, not directly.
To Provide an Example: I heard through the grapevine about her new poem. / We heard it through the grapevine at lunch.
Alternative Meaning: Heard from someone else. / A story passed on.
40. Leave a lasting impression
Meaning: Be remembered.
To Provide an Example: His poem left a lasting impression. / Her words stayed in our hearts.
Alternative Meaning: Hard to forget. / Stays with you.
41. At the drop of a hat
Meaning: Right away, quickly.
To Provide an Example: She could write a poem at the drop of a hat. / He shared a rhyme at the drop of a hat.
Alternative Meaning: Very fast. / Without waiting.
42. Put words in someone’s mouth
Meaning: Say someone said something they didn’t.
To Provide an Example: The poem didn’t put words in her mouth—it told her real story. / He made sure not to put words in the poem’s voice.
Alternative Meaning: Say something for someone else. / Not their real words.
43. Take the words right out of my mouth
Meaning: Say just what I was thinking.
To Provide an Example: Her poem took the words right out of my mouth. / He read the poem and said, “That’s just how I feel!”
Alternative Meaning: Said it for me. / Thought the same thing.
44. Keep it under wraps
Meaning: Keep it secret.
To Provide an Example: She kept her poem under wraps until the show. / He kept the last verse under wraps.
Alternative Meaning: Don’t tell yet. / Hide it for now.
45. Raise your voice
Meaning: Speak out or be heard.
To Provide an Example: Her poem raised her voice about fairness. / He raised his voice for kindness.
Alternative Meaning: Say something loud and clear. / Stand up for an idea.
46. Not say a word
Meaning: Stay silent.
To Provide an Example: He didn’t say a word before reading his poem. / She smiled but didn’t say a word.
Alternative Meaning: Very quiet. / No talking.
47. Wordsmith
Meaning: Someone good with words.
To Provide an Example: She’s a real wordsmith with her poems. / He’s a wordsmith when it comes to rhyme.
Alternative Meaning: Great writer. / Good with language.
48. Sound like poetry
Meaning: Very beautiful words.
To Provide an Example: His speech sounded like poetry. / Her reading sounded like poetry.
Alternative Meaning: Gentle and smooth words. / Sweet to hear.
49. In so many words
Meaning: Say it clearly.
To Provide an Example: She told the truth in so many words in her poem. / He shared the story in so many words.
Alternative Meaning: Said it clearly. / Told it straight.
50. Find your voice
Meaning: Learn how to speak or write well.
To Provide an Example: She found her voice in poetry. / He found his voice through rhyme.
Alternative Meaning: Be yourself. / Speak from your heart.
Trials for Success: Idioms for Poetry
- After writing about his dog, Sam really __________ his heart out.
- Emma read her poem so clearly, it was like it was all __________.
- Mia’s poem was so touching, it left us all __________ for words.
- The class was __________ when the teacher read her poem.
- That short line in the poem really __________ volumes.
- I loved her rhyme—it was __________ and sweet.
- James read his story aloud and __________ his voice heard.
- She didn’t laugh once during the funny poem—she __________ a straight face.
- Alex wrote about his new puppy and __________ from the heart.
- I didn’t know how to say it, but his poem __________ the words right out of my mouth.
- We heard about her poem win __________ the grapevine.
- He told the story in the poem __________ for word.
- She was quiet but had a strong voice once she found her __________.
- The author is a real __________ with words.
- Everyone remembered her poem—it really left a __________ impression.
Answer Key
- wrote
- in black and white
- at a loss
- all ears
- spoke
- short
- made
- kept
- spoke
- took
- through
- word
- voice
- wordsmith
- lasting
Conclusion
Poetry helps us share big feelings in small ways. Idioms give those feelings extra power. They make poems fun and full of meaning. When you read or write poems, try using idioms. They help others feel what you feel. With just a few words, you can say a lot. Keep writing, and let your voice grow through each line.
