Have you ever wanted something really badly? Maybe you missed your best friend, or you couldn’t wait for summer break. That deep feeling of wanting something is called yearning. People use special sayings, called idioms, to talk about this feeling. These idioms make the way we speak more interesting and easier to understand.
In this article, you will learn some common idioms that show yearning. Each idiom has a meaning and examples to help you see how to use it. These phrases are used in daily life and can help you express strong feelings in simple words. Let’s look at these idioms and see how they help us share our hearts.
Idioms for Yearning
1. Long for
Meaning: To really want something or someone.
For Example: I long for my grandma’s hugs. / She longs for summer vacation.
Alternatively: Miss badly / Really want
2. Ache for
Meaning: To feel sad or empty because you want something.
For Example: He ached for his dog while at camp. / I ached for home when I was away.
Alternatively: Feel homesick / Deeply miss
3. Pin your hopes on
Meaning: To really hope something will happen.
For Example: She pinned her hopes on winning the art contest. / I pinned my hopes on snow tomorrow.
Alternatively: Really hope / Count on
4. Hunger for
Meaning: To strongly want something.
For Example: He hungers for success on the math test. / I hunger for peace and quiet.
Alternatively: Crave / Deeply want
5. Dream of
Meaning: To wish for something in your thoughts.
For Example: I dream of becoming a writer. / She dreams of having a puppy.
Alternatively: Imagine / Hope for
6. Hope against hope
Meaning: To keep hoping even if it seems unlikely.
For Example: He hoped against hope his toy would be found. / I hoped against hope for extra recess.
Alternatively: Keep wishing / Still believe
7. Have your heart set on
Meaning: To really want something and think about it a lot.
For Example: She had her heart set on getting a new bike. / I have my heart set on going to the zoo.
Alternatively: Really want / Look forward to
8. Yearn for
Meaning: To deeply want something or someone.
For Example: I yearn for a snow day. / He yearns for his dad’s return.
Alternatively: Long for / Miss
9. Die to
Meaning: To want something very badly.
For Example: I’m dying to see that movie. / She’s dying to try the new ice cream shop.
Alternatively: Can’t wait / Really want
10. Wish for
Meaning: To want something to happen.
For Example: I wish for my friend to move back. / We wished for good weather on the trip.
Alternatively: Hope / Want
11. Be dying for
Meaning: To strongly want something right now.
For Example: I’m dying for a slice of pizza. / She’s dying for some quiet time.
Alternatively: Crave / Really need
12. Crave
Meaning: To really want something, usually food or a feeling.
For Example: I crave my mom’s cookies. / He craves attention from his big brother.
Alternatively: Want / Miss
13. Eyes on the prize
Meaning: To focus on something you want badly.
For Example: She kept her eyes on the prize and practiced every day. / I have my eyes on the prize winning the spelling bee.
Alternatively: Stay focused / Want success
14. Walk on air
Meaning: To feel very happy about something you wanted.
For Example: I was walking on air when my wish came true. / She walked on air after seeing her grandma.
Alternatively: Feel great / So happy
15. Cast a wish
Meaning: To make a wish and hope it comes true.
For Example: He cast a wish at the fountain. / I cast a wish on my birthday candles.
Alternatively: Make a wish / Hope
16. Carry a torch for
Meaning: To keep loving or wanting someone from the past.
For Example: He still carries a torch for his old friend. / She carried a torch for her dog who passed away.
Alternatively: Miss / Still care
17. Count the days
Meaning: To really look forward to something.
For Example: I’m counting the days until my birthday. / She counted the days until the trip.
Alternatively: Can’t wait / Excited
18. Look forward to
Meaning: To be excited for something to happen.
For Example: I look forward to Friday pizza night. / We look forward to the school play.
Alternatively: Wait happily / Hope for
19. Cry out for
Meaning: To really need or want something.
For Example: His heart cried out for a friend. / She cried out for comfort after the long day.
Alternatively: Really need / Long for
20. Hold out hope
Meaning: To keep believing something good will happen.
For Example: I hold out hope that my lost toy will be found. / She held out hope for good news.
Alternatively: Keep believing / Stay hopeful
21. Burning desire
Meaning: A strong wish to do or have something.
For Example: I have a burning desire to learn guitar. / She has a burning desire to visit New York.
Alternatively: Strong want / Big dream
22. Wait with bated breath
Meaning: To wait very excitedly or nervously.
For Example: We waited with bated breath for the test results. / She waited with bated breath for her turn.
Alternatively: Wait eagerly / Be anxious
23. Count your blessings
Meaning: To be thankful for what you have, even if you still want more.
For Example: I wanted more toys, but Mom said to count my blessings. / He counted his blessings even while missing his dad.
Alternatively: Be thankful / Appreciate
24. Cast your eye on
Meaning: To notice something you really want.
For Example: She cast her eye on a sparkly dress. / I cast my eye on the last cookie.
Alternatively: Want / Notice
25. Live in hope
Meaning: To keep hoping even if it takes time.
For Example: I live in hope of seeing snow this year. / He lives in hope of getting a puppy.
Alternatively: Stay hopeful / Keep wishing
26. Hope springs eternal
Meaning: People always keep hoping.
For Example: Hope springs eternal, even when we lose a game. / She knew hope springs eternal and tried again.
Alternatively: Keep going / Always believe
27. Set your sights on
Meaning: To choose a goal or wish.
For Example: I set my sights on making the soccer team. / She set her sights on winning the contest.
Alternatively: Aim for / Focus on
28. In your dreams
Meaning: Something you really want but may not happen.
For Example: In my dreams, I’m a famous singer. / He lives in his dreams about being a superhero.
Alternatively: Make-believe / Wishful thinking
29. Cry over
Meaning: To be sad about something you miss or want.
For Example: She cried over her broken toy. / I cried over not getting picked.
Alternatively: Sad / Upset
30. Wistful thinking
Meaning: Dreaming about something that may not happen.
For Example: His wish to fly was just wistful thinking. / I knew it was wistful thinking to hope for no school forever.
Alternatively: Wishful / Daydreaming
31. Be starry-eyed
Meaning: To dream big with hope or love.
For Example: She was starry-eyed about her future on stage. / He looked starry-eyed at the new puppy.
Alternatively: Full of dreams / Excited
32. Wait on pins and needles
Meaning: To be very eager or nervous.
For Example: I waited on pins and needles for the results. / She waited on pins and needles for her birthday surprise.
Alternatively: Nervous / Anxious
33. Call out for
Meaning: To really want or need something.
For Example: My heart calls out for peace. / She calls out for a friend to play with.
Alternatively: Want / Need
34. Want badly
Meaning: To really wish to have something.
For Example: I want badly to join the soccer team. / He wanted badly to make a new friend.
Alternatively: Really wish / Deeply want
35. Be hopeful
Meaning: To think something good will happen.
For Example: I’m hopeful the rain will stop. / She’s hopeful about the spelling bee.
Alternatively: Think positive / Believe
36. Watch the clock
Meaning: To wait excitedly for something.
For Example: I watched the clock for recess. / He watched the clock until the movie started.
Alternatively: Can’t wait / Keep checking time
37. Live for
Meaning: To be very excited about something you love.
For Example: I live for summer break. / She lives for dance class.
Alternatively: Love it / Can’t wait
38. Hope for the best
Meaning: To wish for a good result.
For Example: I hope for the best on my report card. / He hoped for the best in the big game.
Alternatively: Stay positive / Wish well
39. Lost in thought
Meaning: Thinking deeply about what you want.
For Example: She was lost in thought about her dream house. / I was lost in thought about my birthday wish.
Alternatively: Daydreaming / Thinking
40. Aim high
Meaning: To wish or plan to reach a big goal.
For Example: He aims high for the spelling bee. / I aim high to make straight A’s.
Alternatively: Set big goals / Dream big
True/False Quiz: Idioms for Yearning
Instructions: Read each sentence. Decide if it is True or False based on what you’ve learned about idioms for yearning.
- If someone is “longing for home,” it means they’re excited to leave it.
True / False - “Yearn for” means you really want or miss something.
True / False - When you “watch the clock,” it means you’re bored and tired of time.
True / False - “Set your sights on” means you are trying hard to avoid something.
True / False - Saying “I’m dying to see that movie” means you don’t really care about it.
True / False - If you are “counting the days,” it means you’re excited for something to happen.
True / False - “Carry a torch for” someone means you’re holding a real torch.
True / False - “In your dreams” means something is very likely to happen soon.
True / False - “Crave” means you don’t want anything at all.
True / False - If someone is “hopeful,” it means they think something good might happen.
True / False
Answer Key
- False
- True
- False
- False
- False
- True
- False
- False
- False
- True
Scoring Guide
- 10 Correct Answers: Idioms Master!
- 7–9 Correct Answers: You really get Idioms nice work!
- 4–6 Correct Answers: You’re learning, keep going!
- 0–3 Correct Answers: Let’s learn about Idioms together!
Conclusion
Yearning is a strong feeling of wanting something deeply. It can be about missing people, dreaming of places, or wishing for things. Idioms help us talk about those big feelings in small and simple ways.
Now you know many phrases to show what your heart wants. Keep using them, and you’ll be great at expressing how you feel. Words like these make your speech stronger and more fun to hear.
