They paint vivid pictures with words and make our expressions more interesting. Today, we’re diving into the world of idioms that describe excitement – those moments when you’re so thrilled that you can’t help but express it in unique ways.
Get ready to explore a list of idioms that will make your conversations burst with joy!
What is an idiom for excitement?
Before we dive into the list, let’s understand what idioms are and why they’re so exciting to use.
What is an idiom?
An idiom is a group of words whose meaning isn’t necessarily deducible from the individual words themselves.
Instead, idioms have a unique meaning that is understood by native speakers. They often add color and imagery to our language.
Now, let’s explore these idioms for excitement, giving each one a clear meaning and using them in sentences to illustrate their use.
| Idiom | Meaning | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| Jump for Joy | Extremely happy and excited | When Sarah heard she had won the contest, she jumped for joy and screamed with excitement. |
| Over the Moon | Extremely pleased or overjoyed | When he found out he got accepted into his dream college, he was over the moon. |
| On Cloud Nine | Extremely happy and content | After their engagement, they felt like they were on cloud nine, floating in happiness. |
| Thrilled to Bits | Extremely pleased or delighted | She was thrilled to bits when she received the surprise birthday party from her friends. |
| Bursting with Joy | So full of happiness that it feels like you might burst | When the team won the championship, they were bursting with joy, hugging each other tightly. |
| Walking on Air | In a state of happiness and excitement | After getting her dream job, she felt like she was walking on air for days. |
| Ecstatically Happy | Extremely, extremely happy | The children were ecstatically happy when they saw the snowfall on Christmas morning. |
| Like a Kid in a Candy Store | Overwhelmingly excited | When he saw the new video game collection, he was like a kid in a candy store, eager to play them all. |
| Like a Dog with Two Tails | Extremely happy and excited | When she saw her best friend after a long time, she was like a dog with two tails, wagging and smiling. |
| On Pins and Needles | In a state of nervous excitement | Waiting for the exam results, she was on pins and needles, hoping she had done well. |
| Like a Kid on Christmas Morning | Incredibly excited | He couldn’t sleep the night before the big trip; he was like a kid on Christmas morning. |
| On Top of the World | Incredibly happy and successful | After getting promoted, she felt on top of the world, celebrating her achievement. |
| All Ears | Eagerly listening or paying full attention | When the teacher announced the surprise field trip, the students were all ears, eager to know the details. |
| Eyes like Saucers | Wide-open, excited eyes | When they entered the magical theme park, their eyes were like saucers, taking in the enchanting sights. |
| Anticipation is Killing Me | Excitement makes waiting unbearable | The suspense of opening the mystery gift was killing her with anticipation. |
| Butterflies in My Stomach | Nervous excitement before a big event | Before going on stage, she had butterflies in her stomach, but once she started singing, they vanished. |
| Can’t Contain My Excitement | So excited that it’s hard to keep it in | She couldn’t contain her excitement about the upcoming vacation and told everyone about it. |
| Like a Bull in a China Shop | Overly excited and clumsy | When he got his first car, he drove it like a bull in a china shop, denting the fender. |
| Having a Ball | Having a great time and enjoying oneself | At the birthday party, the kids were having a ball, playing games and laughing. |
| Flying High | Extremely happy and elated | After winning the championship, the team was flying high with pride and joy. |
| Dancing with Joy | Expressing extreme happiness by dancing | When they heard their favorite song, they started dancing with joy in the living room. |
| Buzzing with Excitement | Full of excitement and anticipation | The school playground was buzzing with excitement as the children awaited the arrival of the ice cream truck. |
| Chomping at the Bit | Eagerly impatient and excited | They were chomping at the bit to start the adventure as soon as they arrived at the amusement park. |
| Hopping with Excitement | So excited that you can’t stand still | The little boy was hopping with excitement on the morning of his birthday, eager to open his presents. |
| Grinning from Ear to Ear | Wearing a big, happy smile | When he saw his surprise birthday cake, he was grinning from ear to ear. |
| Heart in My Throat | Feeling nervous excitement or anxiety | As she approached the roller coaster, her heart was in her throat, but she rode it and loved every moment. |
| Pumped Up | Excited, energized, and ready for action | Before the championship game, the team huddled up, getting pumped up for the match. |
Metaphors can convey the feeling of excitement, like comparing it to a lightning bolt of energy that electrifies the moment. To explore more metaphors for excitement, you can visit this link: Metaphors for Excitement. Similarly, similes offer comparisons that make excitement more relatable, such as saying it’s as thrilling as a rollercoaster ride. Discover additional similes for excitement here: Similes for Excitement.
Idioms for Excitement
1. Jump for Joy
Meaning: To be extremely happy and excited.
In a Sentence: When Sarah heard she had won the contest, she jumped for joy and screamed with excitement.
2. Over the Moon
Meaning: To be extremely pleased or overjoyed.
In a Sentence: When he found out he got accepted into his dream college, he was over the moon.
3. On Cloud Nine
Meaning: To be extremely happy and content.
In a Sentence: After their engagement, they felt like they were on cloud nine, floating in happiness.
4. Thrilled to Bits
Meaning: To be extremely pleased or delighted.
In a Sentence: She was thrilled to bits when she received the surprise birthday party from her friends.
5. Bursting with Joy
Meaning: To be so full of happiness that it feels like you might burst.
In a Sentence: When the team won the championship, they were bursting with joy, hugging each other tightly.
6. Walking on Air
Meaning: To be in a state of happiness and excitement.
In a Sentence: After getting her dream job, she felt like she was walking on air for days.
7. Ecstatically Happy
Meaning: To be extremely, extremely happy.
In a Sentence: The children were ecstatically happy when they saw the snowfall on Christmas morning.
8. Like a Kid in a Candy Store
Meaning: To be overwhelmingly excited, just like a child in a candy store.
In a Sentence: When he saw the new video game collection, he was like a kid in a candy store, eager to play them all.
9. Like a Dog with Two Tails
Meaning: To be extremely happy and excited, often used to describe dogs wagging their tails vigorously.
In a Sentence: When she saw her best friend after a long time, she was like a dog with two tails, wagging and smiling.
10. On Pins and Needles
Meaning: To be in a state of nervous excitement.
In a Sentence: Waiting for the exam results, she was on pins and needles, hoping she had done well.
11. Like a Kid on Christmas Morning
Meaning: To be incredibly excited, like a child opening presents on Christmas morning.
In a Sentence: He couldn’t sleep the night before the big trip; he was like a kid on Christmas morning.
12. On Top of the World
Meaning: To feel incredibly happy and successful.
In a Sentence: After getting promoted, she felt on top of the world, celebrating her achievement.
13. All Ears
Meaning: To be eagerly listening or paying full attention to something exciting.
In a Sentence: When the teacher announced the surprise field trip, the students were all ears, eager to know the details.
14. Eyes like Saucers
Meaning: To have wide-open, excited eyes, often from amazement or astonishment.
In a Sentence: When they entered the magical theme park, their eyes were like saucers, taking in the enchanting sights.
15. Anticipation is Killing Me
Meaning: To be so excited about something that waiting becomes almost unbearable.
In a Sentence: The suspense of opening the mystery gift was killing her with anticipation.
16. Butterflies in My Stomach
Meaning: To feel nervous excitement, often before a big event.
In a Sentence: Before going on stage, she had butterflies in her stomach, but once she started singing, they vanished.
17. Can’t Contain My Excitement
Meaning: To be so excited that it’s difficult to keep it to yourself.
In a Sentence: She couldn’t contain her excitement about the upcoming vacation and told everyone about it.
18. Like a Bull in a China Shop
Meaning: To be overly excited and clumsy.
In a Sentence: When he got his first car, he drove it like a bull in a china shop, denting the fender.
19. Having a Ball
Meaning: To be having a great time and enjoying oneself immensely.
In a Sentence: At the birthday party, the kids were having a ball, playing games and laughing.
20. Flying High
Meaning: To be extremely happy and elated.
In a Sentence: After winning the championship, the team was flying high with pride and joy.
21. Dancing with Joy
Meaning: To express extreme happiness by dancing.
In a Sentence: When they heard their favorite song, they started dancing with joy in the living room.
22. Buzzing with Excitement
Meaning: To be full of excitement and anticipation.
In a Sentence: The school playground was buzzing with excitement as the children awaited the arrival of the ice cream truck.
23. Chomping at the Bit
Meaning: To be eagerly impatient and excited about something.
In a Sentence: They were chomping at the bit to start the adventure as soon as they arrived at the amusement park.
24. Hopping with Excitement
Meaning: To be so excited that you can’t stand still.
In a Sentence: The little boy was hopping with excitement on the morning of his birthday, eager to open his presents.
25. Grinning from Ear to Ear
Meaning: To have a big, happy smile on one’s face.
In a Sentence: When he saw his surprise birthday cake, he was grinning from ear to ear.
26. Heart in My Throat
Meaning: To feel nervous excitement or anxiety, often due to fear or anticipation.
In a Sentence: As she approached the roller coaster, her heart was in her throat, but she rode it and loved every moment.
27. Pumped Up
Meaning: To be excited, energized, and ready for action.
In a Sentence: Before the championship game, the team huddled up, getting pumped up for the match.
10 Quizzes About The Idiom in The Article
Quiz 1:
- What does the idiom “Jump for Joy” mean?
- A) To be extremely scared
- B) To be extremely happy and excited
- C) To be extremely tired
Quiz 2:
- Which idiom means “To feel incredibly happy and successful”?
- A) Over the Moon
- B) On Cloud Nine
- C) On Top of the World
Quiz 3:
- If someone is “Bursting with Joy,” what does that mean?
- A) They are extremely sad
- B) They are extremely anxious
- C) They are so full of happiness that it feels like they might burst
Quiz 4:
- What does the idiom “Eyes like Saucers” describe?
- A) Wide-open, excited eyes
- B) Sleepy eyes
- C) Angry eyes
Quiz 5:
- If you’re “Chomping at the Bit,” what are you doing?
- A) Eating a meal
- B) Eagerly impatient and excited about something
- C) Relaxing
Quiz 6:
- Which idiom means “To be having a great time and enjoying oneself immensely”?
- A) On Pins and Needles
- B) Having a Ball
- C) Like a Bull in a China Shop
Quiz 7:
- What does the idiom “Anticipation is Killing Me” express?
- A) Excitement makes waiting unbearable
- B) Anticipation is boring
- C) Anticipation is enjoyable
Quiz 8:
- If someone is “Walking on Air,” what are they feeling?
- A) Sadness
- B) Happiness and excitement
- C) Anger
Quiz 9:
- Which idiom means “To express extreme happiness by dancing”?
- A) Buzzing with Excitement
- B) Dancing with Joy
- C) Grinning from Ear to Ear
Quiz 10:
- What does the idiom “Can’t Contain My Excitement” imply?
- A) It’s easy to hide excitement
- B) So excited that it’s difficult to keep it to yourself
- C) Excitement is boring
Answers:
- B) To be extremely happy and excited
- C) On Top of the World
- C) They are so full of happiness that it feels like they might burst
- A) Wide-open, excited eyes
- B) Eagerly impatient and excited about something
- B) Having a Ball
- A) Excitement makes waiting unbearable
- B) Happiness and excitement
- B) Dancing with Joy
- B) So excited that it’s difficult to keep it to yourself
Conclusion
Idioms for excitement add a whole new level of expressiveness to our language. These phrases vividly capture the feeling of joy, anticipation, and happiness, making our conversations more colorful and engaging.
