Sometimes, people can’t stop doing something, even when they know it’s not good for them. This is called addiction. It can happen with things like snacks, video games, or even social media. To talk about addiction, people often use special phrases called idioms. These idioms are common in everyday language and help describe how strong habits can be hard to break.
In this article, you’ll learn idioms people use when talking about addiction. These phrases can help you understand how others feel and explain things more clearly. Each idiom will come with its meaning and a few examples that relate to things kids in the U.S. might see or do. This can help you grow your vocabulary and learn how to use words in new and smart ways.
Idioms for Addiction
1. Hooked on
Meaning: Really liking something and not wanting to stop.
For Example: She’s hooked on candy and eats it every day. / He’s hooked on video games after school.
Alternatively: Addicted to / Can’t stop liking
2. Can’t put it down
Meaning: Can’t stop using or doing something.
For Example: I can’t put down my book it’s so good! / He can’t put down his phone during dinner.
Alternatively: Always using / Always doing
3. Like a magnet
Meaning: Something pulls your attention strongly.
For Example: That game is like a magnet to him. / Her favorite show is like a magnet she can’t miss it.
Alternatively: Draws you in / Hard to stay away
4. Slave to
Meaning: Not able to stop doing something, even when you want to.
For Example: He’s a slave to his phone. / She’s a slave to sweets and eats them all the time.
Alternatively: Controlled by / Can’t stop
5. On a binge
Meaning: Doing too much of something all at once.
For Example: She’s on a cookie binge again. / He went on a video game binge all weekend.
Alternatively: Overdoing / Too much at once
6. Craving it
Meaning: Really wanting something badly.
For Example: I’m craving chocolate after lunch. / He’s craving more screen time.
Alternatively: Wanting / Wishing for
7. Can’t get enough of
Meaning: Always wanting more of something.
For Example: I can’t get enough of this show! / She can’t get enough of that song.
Alternatively: Love too much / Keep going back
8. Over the top
Meaning: Doing something more than needed.
For Example: His game playing is over the top. / That snack habit is getting over the top.
Alternatively: Too much / Too far
9. Attached to
Meaning: Not wanting to be without something.
For Example: He’s attached to his tablet. / She’s attached to her music player.
Alternatively: Always holding / Can’t let go
10. Always glued to
Meaning: Not looking away or leaving something.
For Example: She’s always glued to her phone. / He’s glued to the TV every night.
Alternatively: Watching non-stop / Always using
11. Hard to kick
Meaning: Tough to stop doing.
For Example: That soda habit is hard to kick. / It’s hard to kick the habit of late-night games.
Alternatively: Hard to stop / Stuck doing it
12. Can’t stay away
Meaning: Keep coming back to something.
For Example: I can’t stay away from that candy jar. / He can’t stay away from his favorite game.
Alternatively: Always going back / Keep returning
13. Up all night with it
Meaning: Staying awake because you’re doing it too much.
For Example: He’s up all night with his tablet. / She’s up all night playing games.
Alternatively: Losing sleep / Doing it too long
14. Feeds the habit
Meaning: Makes the habit stronger.
For Example: Buying snacks every day feeds the habit. / Watching one more episode feeds the habit.
Alternatively: Makes it worse / Keeps it going
15. Fell into it
Meaning: Started doing it without meaning to.
For Example: He fell into playing games too often. / She fell into eating chips every day.
Alternatively: Slipped into / Got caught up
16. Stuck in a loop
Meaning: Doing the same thing over and over.
For Example: He’s stuck in a loop with that game. / She’s stuck in a loop of watching videos.
Alternatively: Can’t stop / Repeating
17. Always reaching for
Meaning: Always going to get or use something.
For Example: He’s always reaching for soda. / She’s always reaching for her phone.
Alternatively: Keep grabbing / Always needing
18. Deep in it
Meaning: Really caught up in a habit.
For Example: He’s deep in video games now. / She’s deep in her snack addiction.
Alternatively: Fully into it / Can’t get out
19. Part of the routine
Meaning: Something done every day without thinking.
For Example: Candy is part of his routine. / Checking her phone is part of her routine.
Alternatively: Everyday habit / Regular thing
20. Eyes always on it
Meaning: Always looking at or thinking about something.
For Example: His eyes are always on the screen. / Her eyes are always on her tablet.
Alternatively: Can’t look away / Focused on one thing
21. Addicted to
Meaning: Needing something all the time.
For Example: He’s addicted to video games. / She’s addicted to soda.
Alternatively: Can’t stop / Always needing
22. Habits die hard
Meaning: It’s hard to stop what you always do.
For Example: He still bites his nails habits die hard. / Her candy habit shows habits die hard.
Alternatively: Hard to break / Keeps coming back
23. Fall back into it
Meaning: Start doing it again after stopping.
For Example: She fell back into her screen habit. / He fell back into late-night games.
Alternatively: Do it again / Can’t stop
24. Keep sneaking it
Meaning: Doing something secretly because you can’t resist.
For Example: He keeps sneaking candy before dinner. / She keeps sneaking phone time after bed.
Alternatively: Hiding the habit / Secret use
25. Like second nature
Meaning: Doing something without thinking.
For Example: Checking her phone is like second nature. / He snacks like it’s second nature.
Alternatively: Natural / Always doing it
26. Give in every time
Meaning: Not able to say no.
For Example: He gives in every time he sees chips. / She gives in to more screen time.
Alternatively: Always gives up / Can’t say no
27. Can’t help myself
Meaning: Doing something even when you don’t want to.
For Example: I can’t help myself around cookies. / He can’t help himself with new games.
Alternatively: Can’t resist / No control
28. Get lost in it
Meaning: Spend too much time without noticing.
For Example: She gets lost in videos for hours. / He gets lost in games and misses dinner.
Alternatively: Time flies / Totally focused
29. One more never ends
Meaning: Saying “just one more,” but never stopping.
For Example: He always says “one more level,” but plays for hours. / “One more cookie” never ends for her.
Alternatively: Keeps going / Won’t stop
30. Drowning in it
Meaning: Doing it way too much.
For Example: He’s drowning in screen time. / She’s drowning in junk food.
Alternatively: Too much / Overloaded
31. In too deep
Meaning: Involved so much that it’s hard to stop.
For Example: He’s in too deep with online games. / She’s in too deep with sweets.
Alternatively: Hard to quit / Over the limit
32. Daily fix
Meaning: Needing it every single day.
For Example: He needs his daily fix of soda. / Her daily fix is playing games.
Alternatively: Daily habit / Must-have
33. Like a habit I can’t quit
Meaning: Hard to stop doing.
For Example: Snacking feels like a habit I can’t quit. / That game is like a habit he can’t quit.
Alternatively: Can’t let go / Always doing
34. Always fall for it
Meaning: Keep going back even when you try not to.
For Example: I always fall for another YouTube video. / She always falls for sweets after school.
Alternatively: Easily tricked / Can’t avoid
35. Chained to it
Meaning: Can’t stop using or doing something.
For Example: He’s chained to his video games. / She’s chained to her favorite show.
Alternatively: Locked in / Stuck
36. Overused
Meaning: Used way too much.
For Example: That app is overused in our house. / Her screen time is way overused.
Alternatively: Too much / Over the limit
37. Keep coming back
Meaning: Can’t stay away from it.
For Example: He keeps coming back to that game. / She keeps coming back to snacks.
Alternatively: Always returns / Doesn’t stop
38. Habit I can’t shake
Meaning: A bad habit that won’t go away.
For Example: That soda habit is one I can’t shake. / His TV habit won’t go away.
Alternatively: Won’t stop / Always there
39. It pulls me in
Meaning: Feels like it’s hard to resist.
For Example: That game pulls me in every day. / The candy always pulls her in.
Alternatively: Tempts / Hard to fight
40. Got a grip on me
Meaning: Something has control over you.
For Example: That habit got a grip on me. / Her phone really has a grip on her.
Alternatively: Controlling / Can’t stop doing
True/False Quiz: Idioms for Addiction
- If someone is “hooked on something,” they probably want to stop doing it.
True / False - Saying “can’t put it down” means you are reading or using something too much.
True / False - If a game is “like a magnet,” that means it’s boring and easy to forget.
True / False - “On a binge” means doing something just once in a while.
True / False - “Fell into it” means you planned carefully before starting the habit.
True / False - If a person says “I can’t help myself,” they are showing strong self-control.
True / False - “Eyes always on it” means someone watches or uses something too much.
True / False - If a habit is “hard to kick,” that means it is easy to stop.
True / False - “Chained to it” means someone is free to stop whenever they want.
True / False - If something “has a grip on me,” it controls the person’s actions.
True / False
Answer Key
- False
- True
- False
- False
- False
- False
- True
- False
- False
- True
Scoring Guide
• 10 Correct Answers: Idioms for Addiction Master!
• 7–9 Correct Answers: You really get Idioms for Addiction, nice work!
• 4–6 Correct Answers: You’re learning, keep going!
• 0–3 Correct Answers: Let’s learn about Idioms for Addiction together!
Conclusion
Addiction can be hard to talk about, but idioms help us understand it better. These special phrases make it easier to explain habits and why they’re tough to break.
By learning these idioms, you’ll be able to talk about strong habits in a way that’s clear and familiar. Try using them in your writing or everyday talk. It’s a good way to grow your language skills and better understand what people mean.
