Young people have many feelings and new experiences. Sometimes, regular words aren’t enough to show how they feel or act. That’s why people use idioms. Idioms are special phrases that mean something different from the exact words. These phrases make talking more fun and easier to understand.
In this article, we will learn idioms that describe being young. These idioms help explain what it feels like to be full of energy, hope, and learning. Each one has a simple meaning and example so you can use them in your daily life. You might hear these phrases at school, at home, or in books. Let’s look at how idioms can show what it means to be young.
Idioms for Young
1. Wet behind the ears
Meaning: New and not experienced.
For Example: He just started the job and is still wet behind the ears. / My little brother is wet behind the ears when it comes to chores.
Alternatively: Very new / Just starting out
2. Green as grass
Meaning: Very new or inexperienced.
For Example: She’s green as grass at her first spelling bee. / The new kid is green as grass in class.
Alternatively: A beginner / Doesn’t know much yet
3. Bright-eyed and bushy-tailed
Meaning: Full of energy and ready to go.
For Example: The students were bright-eyed and bushy-tailed on the first day of school. / He woke up bright-eyed and bushy-tailed for the field trip.
Alternatively: Very excited / Wide awake
4. Eager beaver
Meaning: A person who is excited to work or help.
For Example: She’s an eager beaver when it’s time to clean up. / He’s always the eager beaver in class projects.
Alternatively: Very helpful / Quick to start
5. Full of beans
Meaning: Very active and lively.
For Example: The kids were full of beans after lunch. / My cousin is always full of beans at the playground.
Alternatively: Energetic / Bouncing around
6. Born yesterday
Meaning: Easy to fool or trick.
For Example: Don’t lie to me I wasn’t born yesterday. / He believed the joke because he acts like he was born yesterday.
Alternatively: Very trusting / Doesn’t know better
7. In one’s prime
Meaning: At the best time of youth or strength.
For Example: She’s in her prime and winning all the races. / He feels strong and smart in his prime.
Alternatively: At your best / Strong and active
8. Like a kid in a candy store
Meaning: Very excited and happy.
For Example: She was like a kid in a candy store at the toy shop. / He looked like a kid in a candy store during recess.
Alternatively: Overjoyed / Thrilled
9. Still wet behind the ears
Meaning: Not fully grown or mature.
For Example: He’s still wet behind the ears with no idea how hard this test is. / My sister is still wet behind the ears when it comes to making her bed.
Alternatively: Not ready yet / Still learning
10. Be no spring chicken
Meaning: Not young anymore.
For Example: Grandpa says he’s no spring chicken but still likes to dance. / That old dog is no spring chicken.
Alternatively: Older now / Not young anymore
11. Child’s play
Meaning: Very easy to do.
For Example: That puzzle was child’s play for her. / Finishing the homework felt like child’s play.
Alternatively: Super easy / Not hard at all
12. Run wild
Meaning: To act free and without control.
For Example: The kids ran wild during recess. / We ran wild in the backyard after dinner.
Alternatively: Play freely / Go crazy
13. Act your age
Meaning: Behave like someone your age should.
For Example: Stop yelling and act your age. / She told him to act his age and stop pouting.
Alternatively: Don’t be silly / Be more mature
14. Young at heart
Meaning: To feel or act young even if you’re older.
For Example: Grandpa plays soccer because he’s young at heart. / My aunt is young at heart and loves cartoons.
Alternatively: Still fun / Feels young
15. Like a sponge
Meaning: To learn very quickly.
For Example: Kids are like sponges and learn new words fast. / He’s like a sponge when reading books.
Alternatively: Learns fast / Takes in everything
16. Just a babe in the woods
Meaning: A person with little experience.
For Example: She’s just a babe in the woods with her new art class. / He’s like a babe in the woods in math.
Alternatively: Still new / Not ready yet
17. Bundle of energy
Meaning: Very active and playful.
For Example: The puppy is a bundle of energy. / My cousin is a bundle of energy every morning.
Alternatively: Nonstop motion / So lively
18. Grow up overnight
Meaning: To become mature very quickly.
For Example: She grew up overnight after caring for her baby sister. / He acted so kindly, like he grew up overnight.
Alternatively: Got mature / Changed fast
19. Knee-high to a grasshopper
Meaning: Very young or small.
For Example: I’ve known him since he was knee-high to a grasshopper. / I remember being knee-high to a grasshopper.
Alternatively: A tiny kid / Very small
20. The world is your oyster
Meaning: You can do anything in life.
For Example: You’re young the world is your oyster. / With her talent, the world is her oyster.
Alternatively: Many chances / Bright future
21. Fresh out of the gate
Meaning: Just getting started.
For Example: She’s fresh out of the gate in soccer practice. / He’s doing great for someone fresh out of the gate.
Alternatively: Just beginning / New at this
22. Like a deer in headlights
Meaning: Looking surprised or unsure.
For Example: He looked like a deer in headlights on his first day. / She froze like a deer in headlights when asked a question.
Alternatively: Shocked / Not sure what to do
23. Grow like a weed
Meaning: To grow very fast.
For Example: My baby brother is growing like a weed. / She grew like a weed over the summer.
Alternatively: Gets taller fast / Changes quickly
24. Learning the ropes
Meaning: Learning how to do something.
For Example: I’m still learning the ropes in art class. / He’s learning the ropes of how to take care of a pet.
Alternatively: Just getting started / Figuring it out
25. Chip off the old block
Meaning: A child who is like a parent.
For Example: He’s a chip off the old block just like his dad. / She’s a chip off the old block when it comes to jokes.
Alternatively: Acts like mom or dad / Same habits
26. School of hard knocks
Meaning: Learning from real-life mistakes.
For Example: He learned from the school of hard knocks after falling off his bike. / She didn’t give up, even after the school of hard knocks.
Alternatively: Learned the hard way / Real experience
27. Like herding cats
Meaning: Hard to manage because people are so wild.
For Example: Watching the kindergarten class is like herding cats. / Getting my cousins ready is like herding cats.
Alternatively: Hard to control / Wild group
28. Early bloomer
Meaning: Someone who grows or learns faster than others.
For Example: He was an early bloomer in reading. / She’s an early bloomer when it comes to sports.
Alternatively: Ahead of others / Quick learner
29. Late bloomer
Meaning: Someone who takes longer to grow or learn.
For Example: He’s a late bloomer but now he loves reading. / Don’t worry, she’s just a late bloomer.
Alternatively: Catches on later / Learns slowly
30. Get your feet wet
Meaning: Try something for the first time.
For Example: I got my feet wet in theater club today. / She’s getting her feet wet with painting.
Alternatively: Try it out / First experience
31. Be a natural
Meaning: Be good at something without trying hard.
For Example: She’s a natural at playing piano. / He’s a natural on the basketball court.
Alternatively: So talented / Very gifted
32. Young blood
Meaning: New and full of energy.
For Example: We need young blood on the student council. / He brings young blood to the team.
Alternatively: Fresh ideas / New energy
33. Like a blank slate
Meaning: Ready to learn anything.
For Example: At that age, their minds are like a blank slate. / She’s like a blank slate, ready for school.
Alternatively: Empty mind / Ready to learn
34. Still finding your feet
Meaning: Still learning how to do something well.
For Example: He’s still finding his feet in his new school. / I’m finding my feet in the drama club.
Alternatively: Getting used to it / Settling in
35. Be all ears
Meaning: Ready to listen and learn.
For Example: The kids were all ears during storytime. / I’m all ears when Grandma talks.
Alternatively: Listening carefully / Paying attention
36. Make waves
Meaning: To get noticed or make a change.
For Example: She made waves with her big ideas. / His dance moves made waves at the talent show.
Alternatively: Stood out / Got attention
37. Up-and-coming
Meaning: Someone who is growing and may be great soon.
For Example: He’s an up-and-coming artist at school. / She’s an up-and-coming soccer player.
Alternatively: Rising star / Becoming great
38. Keep your nose clean
Meaning: Stay out of trouble.
For Example: I try to keep my nose clean in class. / Mom says to keep your nose clean at school.
Alternatively: Be good / Don’t break rules
39. Wide-eyed wonder
Meaning: Looking at the world with excitement.
For Example: She watched the fireworks with wide-eyed wonder. / Kids looked up with wide-eyed wonder at the stars.
Alternatively: Amazed / Full of awe
40. Start off on the right foot
Meaning: Begin something in a good way.
For Example: I started off on the right foot in math class. / She started off on the right foot with her new friends.
Alternatively: Great beginning / Good start
True/False Quiz: Idioms for Young
- If someone is “green as grass,” it means they are very experienced.
True / False - Saying someone is “full of beans” means they are tired and sleepy.
True / False - If a child is a “bundle of energy,” they probably run around a lot and talk loudly.
True / False - “Like a sponge” means the person forgets things quickly.
True / False - If someone is “wet behind the ears,” they are still new and learning.
True / False - “Young at heart” means someone acts old and grumpy.
True / False - Saying “the world is your oyster” means you have lots of chances to do great things.
True / False - If your teacher says you’re “an eager beaver,” you probably like to get work done fast.
True / False - “Still finding your feet” means you are already perfect at something.
True / False - If you are “wide-eyed with wonder,” you are looking at something with excitement.
True / False
Answers key
- False
- False
- True
- False
- True
- False
- True
- True
- 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
Being young is a time full of learning, laughter, and change. Idioms help us talk about this part of life in a fun and easy way. These short phrases make it simple to share feelings and ideas about growing up.
Now that you know these idioms, try using them when you talk or write. They can help you sound more natural and express yourself better. Just like practice helps you read faster, using idioms helps you speak more clearly and with style.
