Grief is a universal human emotion, and throughout history, people have found various ways to express the depths of their sorrow and heartache.
These idioms provide unique insights into the complex and often overwhelming emotions that accompany loss.
Join us as we delve into each idiom, uncovering their meanings and offering examples of how they can be used.
Grief is like an anchor that holds the heart down in the depths of sorrow, making it difficult to rise to the surface of normalcy. For more comparisons to describe grief, you can check this link: Similes for grief. And for a variety of metaphors related to grief, you can explore this link: Metaphors for grief.
What is an idiom for grief?
When it comes to idioms for grief, they use words and phrases that symbolize the deep pain and sorrow that individuals experience during times of loss and mourning.
Let’s examine each of these idiomatic expressions one by one, providing their meanings and using them in sentences.
Idiom | Meaning | Example Sentence |
---|---|---|
Grief-stricken | Overwhelmed with sadness and grief | She was grief-stricken when she received the news of her grandmother’s passing. |
Heartache | Intense emotional pain and sadness | The breakup left him with a deep sense of heartache that took time to heal. |
Heavy-hearted | Feeling burdened by sorrow and grief | After the loss of their pet, the family was heavy-hearted for weeks. |
Tears of sorrow | Crying due to intense grief and sadness | Her tears of sorrow flowed freely as she mourned her dear friend. |
In mourning | Wearing black or engaging in traditional practices to signify grief and loss | The family dressed in black while in mourning for their beloved patriarch. |
Wounded heart | A heart deeply affected by emotional pain and loss | His wounded heart found solace in the support of friends and family. |
Broken spirit | A state of emotional despair and hopelessness | After the tragic accident, she felt like she had a broken spirit. |
Weeping like a willow | Crying inconsolably, like the way a willow tree’s branches droop | Her friend’s departure left her weeping like a willow for days. |
Bereaved | The state of having experienced a loss, particularly the death of a loved one | The bereaved family found comfort in the support of their community. |
Grief like an anchor | Feeling weighed down and trapped by overwhelming grief | Her grief felt like an anchor, making it difficult to move forward. |
Suffering in silence | Enduring pain and grief without expressing it openly | He was suffering in silence, not wanting to burden others with his grief. |
Aching soul | A deep and profound sense of sadness and longing | The loss of his childhood home left him with an aching soul. |
Mournful eyes | Eyes that reflect deep sorrow and sadness | Her mournful eyes told a story of grief and loss that words could not capture. |
Deep sorrow | Profound and intense sadness | The news of the accident brought deep sorrow to the entire community. |
Lost in grief | Overwhelmed and consumed by feelings of grief | She was lost in grief after the sudden loss of her brother. |
Numb with grief | Feeling emotionally detached and unable to process the pain of loss | After her mother’s passing, she was numb with grief and couldn’t comprehend the loss. |
Tears like raindrops | Crying heavily and uncontrollably, with tears falling like rain | His tears flowed like raindrops as he mourned the loss of his best friend. |
Wailing and gnashing of teeth | Expressing intense grief and despair through loud crying and anguish | The wailing and gnashing of teeth at the funeral were a testament to the depth of sorrow. |
Crushed in spirit | Feeling utterly defeated and broken by grief | He was crushed in spirit after the loss of his job and his wife in the same month. |
Grief that cuts like a knife | Experiencing grief that is extremely painful and emotionally piercing | The news of her friend’s betrayal brought a grief that cut like a knife. |
Grief etched on the face | Showing the visible signs of sorrow through facial expressions | The grief etched on her face was evident to anyone who saw her. |
Grief that knows no bounds | Experiencing grief that is limitless and all-encompassing | Her grief that knew no bounds consumed her thoughts day and night. |
Weighed down by sorrow | Feeling burdened and heavy-hearted due to grief | He was weighed down by sorrow as he mourned the loss of his beloved pet. |
Heart in pieces | Feeling emotionally shattered and devastated | The news of her friend’s sudden death left her with a heart in pieces. |
Grief like a storm | Grief that is turbulent, overwhelming, and unpredictable | His grief came like a storm, making it difficult for him to find peace. |
Sinking into despair | Gradually succumbing to feelings of hopelessness and sadness | As the days passed, she found herself sinking into despair over her loss. |
Pain that runs deep | Experiencing a profound and enduring emotional pain | The pain of losing her childhood home ran deep, leaving a lasting impact. |

Idioms for Grief
1. Grief-stricken
Meaning: Overwhelmed with sadness and grief.
In a Sentence: She was grief-stricken when she received the news of her grandmother’s passing.
2. Heartache
Meaning: Intense emotional pain and sadness, often caused by loss or disappointment.
In a Sentence: The breakup left him with a deep sense of heartache that took time to heal.
3. Heavy-hearted
Meaning: Feeling burdened by sorrow and grief.
In a Sentence: After the loss of their pet, the family was heavy-hearted for weeks.
4. Tears of sorrow
Meaning: Crying due to intense grief and sadness.
In a Sentence: Her tears of sorrow flowed freely as she mourned her dear friend.
5. In mourning
Meaning: Wearing black or engaging in traditional practices to signify grief and loss.
In a Sentence: The family dressed in black while in mourning for their beloved patriarch.
6. Wounded heart
Meaning: A heart deeply affected by emotional pain and loss.
In a Sentence: His wounded heart found solace in the support of friends and family.
7. Broken spirit
Meaning: A state of emotional despair and hopelessness.
In a Sentence: After the tragic accident, she felt like she had a broken spirit.
8. Weeping like a willow
Meaning: Crying inconsolably, like the way a willow tree’s branches droop.
In a Sentence: Her friend’s departure left her weeping like a willow for days.
9. Bereaved
Meaning: The state of having experienced a loss, particularly the death of a loved one.
In a Sentence: The bereaved family found comfort in the support of their community.
10. Grief like an anchor
Meaning: Feeling weighed down and trapped by overwhelming grief.
In a Sentence: Her grief felt like an anchor, making it difficult to move forward.
11. Suffering in silence
Meaning: Enduring pain and grief without expressing it openly.
In a Sentence: He was suffering in silence, not wanting to burden others with his grief.
12. Aching soul
Meaning: A deep and profound sense of sadness and longing.
In a Sentence: The loss of his childhood home left him with an aching soul.
13. Mournful eyes
Meaning: Eyes that reflect deep sorrow and sadness.
In a Sentence: Her mournful eyes told a story of grief and loss that words could not capture.
14. Deep sorrow
Meaning: Profound and intense sadness.
In a Sentence: The news of the accident brought deep sorrow to the entire community.
15. Lost in grief
Meaning: Overwhelmed and consumed by feelings of grief.
In a Sentence: She was lost in grief after the sudden loss of her brother.
16. Numb with grief
Meaning: Feeling emotionally detached and unable to process the pain of loss.
In a Sentence: After her mother’s passing, she was numb with grief and couldn’t comprehend the loss.
17. Tears like raindrops
Meaning: Crying heavily and uncontrollably, with tears falling like rain.
In a Sentence: His tears flowed like raindrops as he mourned the loss of his best friend.
18. Wailing and gnashing of teeth
Meaning: Expressing intense grief and despair through loud crying and anguish.
In a Sentence: The wailing and gnashing of teeth at the funeral were a testament to the depth of sorrow.
19. Crushed in spirit
Meaning: Feeling utterly defeated and broken by grief.
In a Sentence: He was crushed in spirit after the loss of his job and his wife in the same month.
20. Grief that cuts like a knife
Meaning: Experiencing grief that is extremely painful and emotionally piercing.
In a Sentence: The news of her friend’s betrayal brought a grief that cut like a knife.
21. Grief etched on the face
Meaning: Showing the visible signs of sorrow through facial expressions.
In a Sentence: The grief etched on her face was evident to anyone who saw her.
22. Grief that knows no bounds
Meaning: Experiencing grief that is limitless and all-encompassing.
In a Sentence: Her grief that knew no bounds consumed her thoughts day and night.
23. Weighed down by sorrow
Meaning: Feeling burdened and heavy-hearted due to grief.
In a Sentence: He was weighed down by sorrow as he mourned the loss of his beloved pet.
24. Heart in pieces
Meaning: Feeling emotionally shattered and devastated.
In a Sentence: The news of her friend’s sudden death left her with a heart in pieces.
25. Grief like a storm
Meaning: Grief that is turbulent, overwhelming, and unpredictable.
In a Sentence: His grief came like a storm, making it difficult for him to find peace.
26. Sinking into despair
Meaning: Gradually succumbing to feelings of hopelessness and sadness.
In a Sentence: As the days passed, she found herself sinking into despair over her loss.
27. Pain that runs deep
Meaning: Experiencing a profound and enduring emotional pain.
In a Sentence: The pain of losing her childhood home ran deep, leaving a lasting impact.
Quizzes About The Idioms in The Article
Here are 10 quizzes about the idioms related to grief mentioned in the article:
Quiz 1: “Expressions of Sorrow”
- What does the idiom “Grief-stricken” mean?
- a) Experiencing happiness and joy
- b) Overwhelmed with sadness and grief
- c) Feeling carefree and lighthearted
Quiz 2: “Heartfelt Pain”
- How would you define the term “Heartache”?
- a) A sense of achievement and fulfillment
- b) Intense emotional pain and sadness
- c) A feeling of excitement and enthusiasm
Quiz 3: “Weighted Emotions”
- What does “Heavy-hearted” describe?
- a) A light and carefree attitude
- b) Feeling burdened by sorrow and grief
- c) A state of excitement and happiness
Quiz 4: “Tears Speak Louder”
- When do we use the expression “Tears of sorrow”?
- a) When tears are caused by laughter
- b) When crying due to intense grief and sadness
- c) When tears express joy and celebration
Quiz 5: “Traditional Mourning”
- What does the phrase “In mourning” signify?
- a) Celebrating a joyful occasion
- b) Wearing colorful clothing
- c) Wearing black or engaging in traditional practices to signify grief and loss
Quiz 6: “Wounded Hearts”
- What does “Wounded heart” symbolize?
- a) A heart filled with happiness and contentment
- b) A heart deeply affected by emotional pain and loss
- c) A heart untouched by any emotion
Quiz 7: “Spirit in Pieces”
- How would you describe someone with a “Broken spirit”?
- a) Feeling strong and determined
- b) In a state of emotional despair and hopelessness
- c) Experiencing boundless energy and enthusiasm
Quiz 8: “Willow’s Tears”
- What does “Weeping like a willow” suggest?
- a) Crying tears of joy
- b) Crying inconsolably, similar to the way a willow tree’s branches droop
- c) Showing tears of anger and frustration
Quiz 9: “The Grieving Term”
- What is the meaning of the word “Bereaved”?
- a) Overjoyed and ecstatic
- b) The state of having experienced a loss, particularly the death of a loved one
- c) Completely indifferent and emotionless
Quiz 10: “Suffering Silently”
- What does “Suffering in silence” indicate?
- a) Expressing emotions openly and loudly
- b) Enduring pain and grief without expressing it openly
- c) Sharing one’s feelings with others freely
Feel free to use these quizzes to test your knowledge or share them with others to help them understand idioms related to grief!
Conclusion
These idioms for grief serve as a testament to the depth and complexity of human emotions during times of sorrow and loss. While they may use simple language, these expressions capture the essence of the profound sadness that accompanies grief.