Idioms for Pictionary
Pictionary is all about quick thinking, creativity, and laughter — and idioms make it even more fun!
The best part about using idioms in Pictionary is how they mix art, language, and teamwork.
1. Break the ice
Meaning: To start a conversation or make people feel comfortable in a new situation.
Usage:
A funny story helped break the ice at the meeting.
He cracked a joke to break the ice with his new coworkers.
2. When pigs fly
Meaning: Something that will never happen.
Usage:
He’ll clean his room when pigs fly.
I’ll believe it when pigs fly!
3. A piece of cake
Meaning: Something that’s very easy to do.
Usage:
That exam was a piece of cake.
Cooking this recipe is a piece of cake.
4. Hit the nail on the head
Meaning: To be exactly right about something.
Usage:
You hit the nail on the head with that explanation.
She hit the nail on the head when she said we need better communication.
5. Raining cats and dogs
Meaning: Raining very heavily.
Usage:
It’s raining cats and dogs outside!
We got soaked because it started raining cats and dogs.
6. Spill the beans
Meaning: To reveal a secret.
Usage:
Don’t spill the beans about the surprise party.
He accidentally spilled the beans about the engagement.
7. Let the cat out of the bag
Meaning: To reveal a secret unintentionally.
Usage:
She let the cat out of the bag about the new project.
He let the cat out of the bag before the big announcement.
8. Cry over spilled milk
Meaning: To be upset about something that can’t be changed.
Usage:
It’s no use crying over spilled milk.
Don’t cry over spilled milk — just start over.
9. Under the weather
Meaning: Feeling sick or unwell.
Usage:
I’m feeling a bit under the weather today.
She stayed home because she was under the weather.
10. Bite the bullet
Meaning: To face a difficult situation with courage.
Usage:
He decided to bite the bullet and apologize.
Sometimes you just have to bite the bullet and move on.
11. Kick the bucket
Meaning: To die (used humorously or figuratively).
Usage:
That old car finally kicked the bucket.
He joked that his phone kicked the bucket.
12. Burn the midnight oil
Meaning: To work late into the night.
Usage:
She’s been burning the midnight oil studying for finals.
We’ll have to burn the midnight oil to finish this project.
13. Hit the sack
Meaning: To go to bed or sleep.
Usage:
I’m exhausted — time to hit the sack.
He hit the sack early after a long day.
14. Barking up the wrong tree
Meaning: To make a wrong assumption or pursue the wrong path.
Usage:
If you think I broke it, you’re barking up the wrong tree.
The detective was barking up the wrong tree with that suspect.
15. Let sleeping dogs lie
Meaning: To avoid restarting an old argument or problem.
Usage:
Don’t bring that up again — let sleeping dogs lie.
It’s best to let sleeping dogs lie after that disagreement.
16. Butterflies in your stomach
Meaning: Feeling nervous or anxious.
Usage:
I always get butterflies in my stomach before a speech.
He had butterflies in his stomach before the first date.
17. Cat got your tongue?
Meaning: Said when someone is unusually quiet.
Usage:
You’re awfully quiet — cat got your tongue?
She just smiled when I asked — cat got her tongue?
18. A blessing in disguise
Meaning: Something that seems bad but turns out to be good.
Usage:
Losing that job was a blessing in disguise.
The delay turned out to be a blessing in disguise.
19. Hit the road
Meaning: To leave or start a journey.
Usage:
Let’s hit the road before traffic starts.
We hit the road early to reach the beach by noon.
20. The ball is in your court
Meaning: It’s your turn to take action or make a decision.
Usage:
I’ve done my part — now the ball’s in your court.
She said the ball was in my court after the meeting.
21. Hold your horses
Meaning: Wait a moment; slow down.
Usage:
Hold your horses! We’re not ready yet.
Hold your horses before jumping to conclusions.
22. The icing on the cake
Meaning: Something that makes a good situation even better.
Usage:
Winning the bonus was the icing on the cake.
Getting promoted was great, but the new office was the icing on the cake.
23. A fish out of water
Meaning: Someone who feels out of place.
Usage:
He felt like a fish out of water at the fancy party.
I was a fish out of water at my first yoga class.
24. Put your money where your mouth is
Meaning: Take action to support what you say.
Usage:
If you believe in it, put your money where your mouth is.
She finally put her money where her mouth is and started the charity.
25. Bite off more than you can chew
Meaning: To take on more than you can handle.
Usage:
He bit off more than he could chew with that new project.
Don’t bite off more than you can chew — start small.
26. Hit the jackpot
Meaning: To achieve great success or luck.
Usage:
They hit the jackpot with that business idea.
I hit the jackpot finding that apartment downtown.
27. Kill two birds with one stone
Meaning: To achieve two things at once.
Usage:
I killed two birds with one stone by exercising while listening to lectures.
We can kill two birds with one stone if we shop and grab lunch together.
28. Under your nose
Meaning: Right in front of you, but unnoticed.
Usage:
The keys were right under your nose!
The answer was under my nose the whole time.
29. A dime a dozen
Meaning: Very common or easy
to find.
Usage:
Cheap souvenirs are a dime a dozen at the fair.
Fast-food restaurants are a dime a dozen in this city.
30. Add fuel to the fire
Meaning: To make a bad situation worse.
Usage:
Yelling back will only add fuel to the fire.
His sarcastic comment added fuel to the fire.
