A collection of idioms related to the concept of “new.” These idioms use simple language to convey meanings that are easy to understand.
So, let’s dive in and break down what it means to use idioms for new in everyday conversation.

What is an idiom for new?
An idiom for new is a phrase or expression that uses the word “new” to convey a particular meaning or idea.
These idioms often go beyond the literal definition of the word and can be quite creative. Let’s take a look at some idioms for new and what they mean:
Idiom | Meaning | Example Sentence |
---|---|---|
Break new ground | To pioneer a new path or approach. | “The invention of the internet broke new ground.” |
Turn over a new leaf | To make a fresh start in behavior or habits. | “Sarah decided to turn over a new leaf in her diet.” |
Start from scratch | To begin anew without previous work or resources. | “They had to start from scratch after the project failed.” |
Out with the old, in with the new | To embrace new things and discard the old. | “The company rebranded, out with the old, in with the new.” |
A breath of fresh air | Something new and refreshing bringing positive change. | “The new manager brought a breath of fresh air to the workplace.” |
New kid on the block | A newcomer to a place or situation. | “David is the new kid on the block in our neighborhood.” |
New lease on life | A chance for a fresh start or renewed purpose. | “Maria felt like she had a new lease on life after her recovery.” |
Ring in the new | To celebrate the arrival of something new, often associated with the New Year. | “We gathered to ring in the new year with fireworks.” |
New blood | Fresh, young, or new members bringing new ideas. | “The company needed new blood in the marketing department.” |
New horizons | New opportunities or possibilities. | “Traveling opened up new horizons for Jane.” |
Newfangled | Something new or modern but may be perceived as complicated. | “Grandpa finds these newfangled smartphones confusing.” |
New wave | A new trend or movement in art, music, or culture. | “Punk rock was a new wave in the music industry.” |
Newfound | Recently discovered or acquired. | “Her newfound passion for photography was inspiring.” |
Make a fresh start | To begin anew after overcoming difficulties. | “Tom decided to make a fresh start after his divorce.” |
New wine in old bottles | Presenting something familiar in a new way. | “The teacher’s creative methods were like new wine in old bottles.” |
New broom sweeps clean | A new person making significant changes or reforms. | “The new manager ensured a new broom swept clean.” |
New face in town | A newcomer to a place or community. | “Sarah was the new face in town, and everyone was eager to meet her.” |
New to the game | Inexperienced or unfamiliar with a particular activity. | “He may be new to the game, but he’ll improve with practice.” |
New feather in one’s cap | A new accomplishment to be proud of. | “Winning the chess tournament was a new feather in his cap.” |
New as a daisy | Very fresh and full of energy, often after a good rest. | “She woke up feeling new as a daisy after a good night’s sleep.” |
A new pair of shoes | A new perspective or way of looking at things. | “Learning about different cultures gave her a new pair of shoes.” |
New tricks for an old dog | Teaching an experienced person something new. | “He’s open to learning new tricks for an old dog.” |
A new coat of paint | Giving something a fresh appearance or makeover. | “The building got a new coat of paint and looked brand new.” |
New hat in the ring | A new contestant or candidate in a competition. | “John threw his new hat in the ring for the mayoral race.” |
A new chapter | A new phase or stage in one’s life or situation. | “Starting college marked a new chapter in her life.” |
A new slant on things | A fresh perspective on a topic or issue. | “His research offered a new slant on things in the field.” |
New as the day is long | Extremely new or fresh, with no previous experience. | “The brand-new car felt new as the day is long.” |
Something new is like a blank page in a book, waiting to be filled with the stories and experiences that life will write upon it. For more comparisons to describe something as new, you can check this link: Similes for new. And for a variety of metaphors related to newness, you can explore this link: Metaphors for new.
Idioms for New
1. Break new ground
Meaning: To do something that has never been done before, pioneering a new path or approach.
In a Sentence: “The invention of the internet broke new ground in the way we communicate and access information.”
2. Turn over a new leaf
Meaning: To make a fresh start, usually in terms of personal behavior or habits.
In a Sentence: “After years of unhealthy eating, Sarah decided to turn over a new leaf and start eating more fruits and vegetables.”
3. Start from scratch
Meaning: To begin something completely anew, without any previous work or resources to build upon.
In a Sentence: “When the project failed, they had to start from scratch and redesign everything.”
4. Out with the old, in with the new
Meaning: To get rid of old things or ways and embrace new ones.
In a Sentence: “As the company rebranded, they decided it was time to say goodbye to their old logo and slogan, out with the old, in with the new.”
5. A breath of fresh air
Meaning: Something new and refreshing that brings positive change or relief.
In a Sentence: “The new manager brought a breath of fresh air to the workplace with her innovative ideas and positive attitude.”
6. New kid on the block
Meaning: A newcomer or someone who is new to a particular place or situation.
In a Sentence: “David is the new kid on the block in our neighborhood, and he’s still getting to know everyone.”
7. New lease on life
Meaning: A chance to start over or a renewed sense of purpose.
In a Sentence: “After recovering from a serious illness, Maria felt like she had a new lease on life and decided to pursue her dreams.”
8. Ring in the new
Meaning: To celebrate the arrival of something new, often associated with the New Year.
In a Sentence: “Every December 31st, people gather to ring in the new year with fireworks and festivities.”
9. New blood
Meaning: Fresh, young, or new members or employees who bring new ideas and energy to a group.
In a Sentence: “The company needed new blood in the marketing department to stay competitive.”
10. New horizons
Meaning: New opportunities or possibilities, often in the context of exploring new experiences.
In a Sentence: “Traveling to different countries opened up new horizons for Jane and broadened her perspective.”
11. Newfangled
Meaning: Something that is new, innovative, or modern but might be perceived as unnecessary or overly complicated.
In a Sentence: “Grandpa prefers his old rotary phone; he finds all these newfangled smartphones confusing.”
12. New wave
Meaning: A new trend or movement, especially in art, music, or culture.
In a Sentence: “The punk rock movement was considered a new wave in the music industry during the 1970s.”
13. Newfound
Meaning: Recently discovered or acquired.
In a Sentence: “Her newfound passion for photography led her to explore new places and capture beautiful moments.”
14. Make a fresh start
Meaning: To begin anew with a clean slate, often after overcoming difficulties or setbacks.
In a Sentence: “After the divorce, Tom decided to make a fresh start and move to a different city.”
15. New wine in old bottles
Meaning: To present something familiar in a new or different way.
In a Sentence: “The teacher’s creative teaching methods were like putting new wine in old bottles, making learning more exciting.”
16. New broom sweeps clean
Meaning: When a new person or leader implements significant changes or reforms.
In a Sentence: “The new manager certainly shook things up; they say a new broom sweeps clean.”
17. New face in town
Meaning: A new and unfamiliar person who arrives in a place or community.
In a Sentence: “Sarah was the new face in town, and everyone was eager to get to know her.”
18. New to the game
Meaning: Inexperienced or unfamiliar with a particular situation or activity.
In a Sentence: “He may be new to the game, but with dedication, he’ll become a skilled musician.”
19. New feather in one’s cap
Meaning: A new accomplishment or achievement to be proud of.
In a Sentence: “Winning the chess tournament was a new feather in his cap, and he felt a great sense of accomplishment.”
20. New as a daisy
Meaning: Very fresh and full of energy, often after a good night’s sleep.
In a Sentence: “Despite the long journey, she woke up feeling as new as a daisy and ready to explore the city.”
21. A new pair of shoes
Meaning: A new perspective or way of looking at things.
In a Sentence: “Learning about different cultures gave her a new pair of shoes and made her appreciate diversity.”
22. New tricks for an old dog
Meaning: Teaching an old or experienced person something new or innovative.
In a Sentence: “Even though he’s been in the industry for years, he’s always open to learning new tricks for an old dog.”
23. A new coat of paint
Meaning: Giving something a fresh appearance or makeover.
In a Sentence: “The old building got a new coat of paint and looked brand new again.”
24. New hat in the ring
Meaning: Someone who enters a competition or contest as a new contestant or candidate.
In a Sentence: “With his decision to run for mayor, John threw his new hat in the ring, hoping to bring positive change to the city.”
25. A new chapter
Meaning: A new phase or stage in one’s life or a situation.
In a Sentence: “Starting college marked a new chapter in her life, filled with exciting opportunities.”
26. A new slant on things
Meaning: A fresh perspective or viewpoint on a particular topic or issue.
In a Sentence: “His research brought a new slant on things, challenging traditional beliefs in the field.”
27. New as the day is long
Meaning: Extremely new or fresh, with no previous experience or wear.
In a Sentence: “The brand-new car felt new as the day is long, with that fresh car smell.”
Quizzes About The Idioms in The Article
Quiz 1:
- What does the idiom “Start from scratch” mean?
- a) To make a fresh start
- b) To begin without any previous work or resources
- c) To celebrate something new
- d) To discard old habits
Quiz 2:
- Which idiom means “To pioneer a new path or approach”?
- a) Turn over a new leaf
- b) Break new ground
- c) New horizons
- d) Out with the old, in with the new
Quiz 3:
- When do people often ring in the new?
- a) During a birthday party
- b) During a wedding ceremony
- c) During New Year’s celebrations
- d) During a retirement party
Quiz 4:
- What does the idiom “A breath of fresh air” signify?
- a) Something old and stale
- b) Something new and refreshing
- c) Something difficult to understand
- d) Something heavy and burdensome
Quiz 5:
- Which idiom describes a newcomer to a particular place or situation?
- a) New lease on life
- b) Newfound
- c) New kid on the block
- d) New tricks for an old dog
Quiz 6:
- What does “New wine in old bottles” mean?
- a) Presenting something familiar in a new way
- b) Drinking wine from an antique bottle
- c) Mixing old and new wines together
- d) Reusing old wine bottles
Quiz 7:
- Which idiom represents a chance for a fresh start or renewed purpose?
- a) New blood
- b) Make a fresh start
- c) Newfangled
- d) New chapter
Quiz 8:
- If someone is “New to the game,” what does it imply?
- a) They are inexperienced or unfamiliar with a particular activity.
- b) They are highly skilled and experienced.
- c) They are playing a new type of game.
- d) They are a professional athlete.
Quiz 9:
- What does “New as a daisy” mean?
- a) Feeling tired and worn out
- b) Feeling extremely fresh and full of energy
- c) A flower that blooms in winter
- d) An old and withered flower
Quiz 10:
- Which idiom means “To give something a fresh appearance or makeover”?
- a) New face in town
- b) New tricks for an old dog
- c) A new coat of paint
- d) A new pair of shoes
Answers:
- b) To begin without any previous work or resources
- b) Break new ground
- c) During New Year’s celebrations
- b) Something new and refreshing
- c) New kid on the block
- a) Presenting something familiar in a new way
- b) Make a fresh start
- a) They are inexperienced or unfamiliar with a particular activity.
- b) Feeling extremely fresh and full of energy
- c) A new coat of paint
Conclusion
Idioms for new add depth and color to our language. They help us express ideas and concepts in a more engaging way, making conversations more interesting and relatable.
These idioms reflect the ever-changing nature of our world, where new experiences, opportunities, and challenges constantly arise.