Idioms for excitement capture the thrill and energy that come with joyful moments. They allow us to express our feelings in a relatable way. By using these idioms, you can convey the intensity of excitement in various contexts, from personal achievements to thrilling events.
Whether you’re celebrating a special occasion or simply feeling enthusiastic about life, these idioms will help you articulate your emotions creatively. Let’s explore a variety of expressions that encapsulate the exuberance of excitement.
Idioms for excitement
1. On cloud nine
- Meaning: To be extremely happy or elated.
- In a Sentence: “After receiving the good news, she was on cloud nine for days.”
- Other Ways to Say: In seventh heaven, over the moon, walking on air.
2. Jump for joy
- Meaning: To show great happiness or excitement.
- In a Sentence: “He jumped for joy when he found out he got the job.”
- Other Ways to Say: Leap for joy, shout with delight, celebrate enthusiastically.
3. Walking on air
- Meaning: To feel extremely happy and carefree.
- In a Sentence: “After their engagement, they were walking on air.”
- Other Ways to Say: Floating on happiness, feeling euphoric, in high spirits.
4. Bursting with excitement
- Meaning: To be filled with intense enthusiasm.
- In a Sentence: “The children were bursting with excitement before the birthday party.”
- Other Ways to Say: Overflowing with joy, brimming with enthusiasm, eager with anticipation.
5. Like a kid in a candy store
- Meaning: Feeling excited and overwhelmed by choices, often due to joy.
- In a Sentence: “When he entered the new gaming store, he was like a kid in a candy store.”
- Other Ways to Say: Thrilled by options, overjoyed with choices, ecstatic about possibilities.
6. A thrill a minute
- Meaning: An experience that is very exciting or full of action.
- In a Sentence: “The amusement park was a thrill a minute, with rides that took my breath away.”
- Other Ways to Say: Non-stop excitement, continuous adventure, action-packed experience.
7. Heart in your throat
- Meaning: Feeling nervous or excited, often in anticipation of something.
- In a Sentence: “With the big game approaching, I had my heart in my throat.”
- Other Ways to Say: Heart racing, feeling anxious, on the edge of my seat.
8. In high spirits
- Meaning: Feeling very cheerful or excited.
- In a Sentence: “Everyone was in high spirits at the wedding celebration.”
- Other Ways to Say: Full of cheer, in a good mood, feeling uplifted.
9. Pumped up
- Meaning: Feeling very excited and enthusiastic.
- In a Sentence: “I’m pumped up for the concert this weekend!”
- Other Ways to Say: Energized, fired up, ready to go.
10. Riding the wave
- Meaning: To enjoy or take advantage of a positive situation.
- In a Sentence: “After winning the competition, she was riding the wave of success.”
- Other Ways to Say: On a high, enjoying the momentum, capitalizing on success.
11. Idioms for excitement A bundle of nerves
- Meaning: Feeling both excited and anxious at the same time.
- In a Sentence: “Before the performance, he was a bundle of nerves but excited to show his talent.”
- Other Ways to Say: A mix of emotions, torn between feelings, excited yet anxious.
12. Full of beans
- Meaning: Very lively and energetic; full of enthusiasm.
- In a Sentence: “The kids were full of beans after their sugar rush at the party.”
- Other Ways to Say: Bursting with energy, lively and spirited, full of zest.
13. On the edge of your seat
- Meaning: Very excited or nervous, especially while waiting for something to happen.
- In a Sentence: “The suspenseful movie had me on the edge of my seat.”
- Other Ways to Say: Gripped with anticipation, eagerly awaiting, in suspense.
14. Turned up to eleven
- Meaning: To increase excitement or intensity to the maximum level.
- In a Sentence: “The celebration was turned up to eleven with fireworks and music.”
- Other Ways to Say: Cranked up, at full blast, maxed out on energy.
15. Fired up
- Meaning: Highly motivated or excited about something.
- In a Sentence: “The team was fired up for the championship game.”
- Other Ways to Say: Enthusiastic, energized, highly motivated.
16. In the fast lane
- Meaning: Living a life full of excitement and adventure.
- In a Sentence: “Since moving to the city, I’ve been living in the fast lane.”
- Other Ways to Say: Full of thrills, living on the edge, chasing excitement.
17. A rollercoaster of emotions
- Meaning: Experiencing a wide range of feelings, often very exciting or intense.
- In a Sentence: “Planning the wedding was a rollercoaster of emotions, but it was worth it.”
- Other Ways to Say: Emotional ups and downs, a series of feelings, a whirlwind of emotions.
18. Like a moth to a flame
- Meaning: Attracted to something exciting or dangerous.
- In a Sentence: “She was drawn to the thrill of adventure like a moth to a flame.”
- Other Ways to Say: Attracted to excitement, drawn to danger, irresistibly pulled.
19. A shot of adrenaline
- Meaning: A sudden rush of excitement or energy.
- In a Sentence: “The unexpected news gave me a shot of adrenaline that kept me awake all night.”
- Other Ways to Say: A burst of energy, an exciting rush, a jolt of excitement.
20. idioms for excitement On the rise
- Meaning: Experiencing continuous improvement or increasing excitement.
- In a Sentence: “Her career is on the rise, and the excitement is palpable.”
- Other Ways to Say: Gaining momentum, climbing higher, rising steadily.
21. Like a dog with a bone
- Meaning: Persistently excited or enthusiastic about a topic or activity.
- In a Sentence: “Once he got the idea for his project, he was like a dog with a bone.”
- Other Ways to Say: Relentlessly pursuing, focused on a goal, determinedly enthusiastic.
22. The sky’s the limit
- Meaning: There are no limits to what can be achieved; anything is possible.
- In a Sentence: “With her talent and determination, the sky’s the limit for her future.”
- Other Ways to Say: Unlimited potential, endless possibilities, boundless opportunities.
23. A heart full of hope
- Meaning: Feeling excited about future possibilities with optimism.
- In a Sentence: “With a heart full of hope, she looked forward to what lay ahead.”
- Other Ways to Say: Optimistic outlook, filled with anticipation, hopeful for the future.
24. A spark of inspiration
- Meaning: A moment of excitement that leads to creative ideas.
- In a Sentence: “The artist found a spark of inspiration during her travels.”
- Other Ways to Say: A flash of creativity, a burst of ideas, a moment of clarity.
25. A new lease on life
- Meaning: An exciting opportunity that reinvigorates someone’s outlook or situation.
- In a Sentence: “The new job gave him a new lease on life, filled with excitement and possibilities.”
- Other Ways to Say: A fresh start, a revitalized spirit, renewed enthusiasm.
26. A whirlwind of excitement
- Meaning: A fast and chaotic experience filled with activity and thrill.
- In a Sentence: “The festival was a whirlwind of excitement, with music and laughter everywhere.”
- Other Ways to Say: A flurry of activity, a storm of joy, a busy celebration.
27. Like a firecracker
- Meaning: Full of energy and enthusiasm, often sudden and explosive.
- In a Sentence: “Her personality is like a firecracker, bringing life to every gathering.”
- Other Ways to Say: Bursting with energy, lively and animated, full of zest.
28. A wave of excitement
- Meaning: A strong feeling of thrill that sweeps over a group or individual.
- In a Sentence: “A wave of excitement washed over the crowd as the concert began.”
- Other Ways to Say: Surge of enthusiasm, rush of thrill, swell of joy.
29. A spark in the dark
- Meaning: A small source of excitement or hope in a challenging situation.
- In a Sentence: “Her smile was a spark in the dark, igniting hope among her friends.”
- Other Ways to Say: A glimmer of hope, a light in darkness, a beacon of joy.
30. Like a kid on Christmas morning
- Meaning: Overjoyed and bubbling with excitement.
- In a Sentence: “He was like a kid on Christmas morning when he received the surprise gift.”
- Other Ways to Say: Bursting with anticipation, filled with joy, ecstatic and eager.
31. Idioms for excitement A fire in your belly
- Meaning: A strong feeling of excitement and determination.
- In a Sentence: “She had a fire in her belly about starting her own business.”
- Other Ways to Say: Passionate drive, intense motivation, deep enthusiasm.
32. A shot in the arm
- Meaning: Something that boosts excitement or morale.
- In a Sentence: “The team’s victory was a shot in the arm for their confidence.”
- Other Ways to Say: A boost of energy, a morale lift, an invigorating experience.
33. Dancing with joy
- Meaning: Expressing happiness through lively action or movement.
- In a Sentence: “She was dancing with joy when she heard about her promotion.”
- Other Ways to Say: Celebrating joyfully, moving with excitement, expressing happiness through dance.
34. A thrill of anticipation
- Meaning: The excitement felt when looking forward to something.
- In a Sentence: “There was a thrill of anticipation in the air before the big announcement.”
- Other Ways to Say: Excited expectation, eager anticipation, a rush of thrill.
35. A reason to celebrate
- Meaning: Something that brings joy and calls for a celebration.
- In a Sentence: “Getting a promotion at work is definitely a reason to celebrate!”
- Other Ways to Say: A cause for joy, a moment to rejoice, an occasion for festivity.
36. Like a bolt from the blue
- Meaning: An unexpected event that brings excitement or surprise.
- In a Sentence: “The surprise party hit him like a bolt from the blue.”
- Other Ways to Say: A sudden shock, an unexpected thrill, a surprise revelation.
37. Chomping at the bit
- Meaning: Eagerly waiting or impatiently wanting to start something.
- In a Sentence: “They were chomping at the bit to begin their vacation.”
- Other Ways to Say: Anxiously waiting, eagerly anticipating, itching to get started.
38. A treasure trove of excitement
- Meaning: A source filled with exciting possibilities or experiences.
- In a Sentence: “The festival proved to be a treasure trove of excitement and fun.”
- Other Ways to Say: A wealth of joy, an abundance of thrills, a collection of delights.
39. Riding the excitement wave
- Meaning: To enjoy and participate in a thrilling experience.
- In a Sentence: “The team was riding the excitement wave after their big win.”
- Other Ways to Say: Surfing the thrill, enjoying the rush, riding high on joy.
40. Jumping through hoops
- Meaning: Making great efforts to achieve something, often with excitement.
- In a Sentence: “She was jumping through hoops to ensure everything was perfect for the event.”
- Other Ways to Say: Going the extra mile, making an effort, bending over backward.
Quiz: Idioms for excitement!
1. What does the idiom “on cloud nine” mean?
- A. Feeling sad
- B. Extremely happy
- C. Feeling nervous
- Answer: B. Extremely happy
2. Which idiom suggests showing great happiness?
- A. Heart in your throat
- B. Jump for joy
- C. A heart full of hope
- Answer: B. Jump for joy
3. “Like a kid in a candy store” conveys:
- A. A feeling of disappointment
- B. Excitement and joy over choices
- C. A sense of confusion
- Answer: B. Excitement and joy over choices
4. What does “a rollercoaster of emotions” describe?
- A. A steady feeling
- B. A series of ups and downs
- C. A boring experience
- Answer: B. A series of ups and downs
5. Which idiom indicates living a life full of adventure?
- A. A shot in the arm
- B. In the fast lane
- C. Riding the wave
- Answer: B. In the fast lane
Conclusion
Idioms for excitement provide vibrant and expressive ways to convey feelings of joy and enthusiasm. From “on cloud nine” to “jump for joy,” these phrases enrich our language and help us articulate the thrill of exciting moments. Whether celebrating achievements or anticipating new experiences, these idioms capture the essence of excitement in our lives.
Carla Jones is an expert blogger in English Language Teaching, sharing innovative strategies and insights to empower educators and enhance language learning experiences for students worldwide.