People don’t write like text books.
That is just factually correct.
For us to connect with others we use all sorts of crazy language.
In English we have this way of saying something without ever using those words to say it. Honestly, it’s pretty fucked up.
So, as part of building Penfriend, and our VIBE score, we need to know all of them.
That’s right. All of them.
Why? So we can score your content on it’s human-ness. And it turns out, idioms are pretty human.
Language is evolving all the time, so I’ll do my best to keep this list updated. But for now, I present a list of +1,000 idioms. Enjoy.
(There are no explanation here, it’s literally just a list)
Here’s a massive expansion organized by category. This adds ~400+ idioms to catch colloquial, modern, profane, and casual expressions:
BODY PARTS & PHYSICAL ACTIONS
"ass in gear", "get my ass in gear", "get your ass in gear", "get their ass in gear",
"ass backwards", "kiss ass", "pain in the ass", "pain in my ass",
"cover your ass", "bust your ass", "busting my ass", "work your ass off",
"haul ass", "drag ass", "sit on your ass", "get off your ass",
"balls to the wall", "drop the ball", "ball and chain", "behind the eight ball",
"break your balls", "have balls", "grow a pair",
"bite my head off", "head in the sand", "head over heels", "lose your head",
"keep your head above water", "two heads are better than one",
"foot in the door", "foot in mouth", "put your foot down", "drag your feet",
"cold feet", "get your feet wet", "stand on your own two feet",
"get your hands dirty", "hands are tied", "wash your hands of it",
"blood sweat and tears", "make my blood boil", "bad blood",
"gut feeling", "gut punch", "hate your guts", "spill your guts",
"pain in the neck", "stick your neck out", "breathing down my neck",
"shoulder to cry on", "chip on your shoulder", "straight from the shoulder",
"elbow grease", "rub elbows with", "elbow your way in",
"weak in the knees", "bring someone to their knees", "knee-jerk reaction",
"tongue-tied", "bite your tongue", "hold your tongue", "slip of the tongue",
"tooth and nail", "by the skin of your teeth", "cut your teeth on",
"eye-opening", "turn a blind eye", "keep an eye out", "eye for an eye",
"nose to the grindstone", "right under your nose", "stick your nose in",
"ear to the ground", "in one ear out the other", "play it by ear",
"back against the wall", "back to back", "break your back", "stab in the back",
"get off my back", "watch your back", "pat on the back", "turn your back on"
CASUAL/COLLOQUIAL/PROFANE (Modern)
"shit year", "shitty year", "shit show", "shit hits the fan", "shit ton",
"no shit", "tough shit", "give a shit", "don't give a shit", "full of shit",
"holy shit", "scared shitless", "piece of shit", "built like a brick shithouse",
"cut that shit off", "cut that shit out", "get your shit together",
"shit or get off the pot", "when the shit hits the fan",
"fuck around and find out", "fuck it", "fuck that", "fuck this",
"fuck my elaborate dreams", "fuck if I know", "fucked up", "royally fucked",
"give a fuck", "don't give a fuck", "zero fucks given",
"clusterfuck", "mind fuck", "what the fuck", "who the fuck",
"damned if you do", "damn straight", "don't give a damn", "hot damn",
"son of a bitch", "bitch and moan", "life's a bitch",
"hell yeah", "hell no", "what the hell", "who the hell", "why the hell",
"hell of a", "hell or high water", "bat out of hell", "catch hell",
"raise hell", "give someone hell", "like hell", "snowball's chance in hell",
"ass-kicking", "kick ass", "badass", "half-assed", "smart ass",
"crap out", "load of crap", "cut the crap", "piece of crap",
"pissed off", "piss poor", "take the piss", "piss away",
"bite the big one", "suck it up", "sucks to be you", "that sucks"
EMOTIONAL STATES & FEELINGS
"on edge", "at the end of my rope", "at my wit's end", "losing my mind",
"drive me crazy", "drive me nuts", "drive me up the wall", "driving me insane",
"blow my mind", "out of my mind", "peace of mind", "state of mind",
"mixed feelings", "gut-wrenching", "heart-wrenching", "torn apart",
"fall apart", "come undone", "falling to pieces", "basket case",
"nervous wreck", "hot mess", "train wreck", "total disaster",
"down in the dumps", "feeling blue", "bummed out", "in a funk",
"on top of the world", "walking on air", "riding high", "flying high",
"pumped up", "fired up", "stoked", "jazzed", "psyched",
"freaking out", "wigging out", "losing it", "going bananas",
"bouncing off the walls", "champing at the bit", "itching to",
"dying to", "killing me", "eating me alive", "tearing me apart",
"mad as hell", "pissed as hell", "angry as hell", "frustrated as hell",
"bored to tears", "bored to death", "bored out of my mind",
"scared shitless", "scared to death", "shaking in my boots",
"cool as a cucumber", "calm cool and collected", "keeping it together"
BUSINESS/PRODUCTIVITY/WORK
"doing the thing", "get the thing done", "ship the thing",
"ship it", "ship less", "ship more", "just ship", "ready to ship",
"move the needle", "move fast and break things", "fail fast",
"iterate quickly", "pivot hard", "double down", "scale up",
"lean in", "lean into it", "all in", "all hands on deck",
"boots on the ground", "in the trenches", "in the weeds",
"lost in the weeds", "down in the weeds", "deep in the weeds",
"get in the weeds", "stay out of the weeds",
"stay in your lane", "in my wheelhouse", "out of my wheelhouse",
"not my circus not my monkeys", "above my pay grade",
"punching above my weight", "pulling my weight", "carrying the team",
"drop the ball", "pick up the slack", "cut some slack",
"bandwidth is tight", "out of bandwidth", "no bandwidth",
"plate is full", "too much on my plate", "bite off more than I can chew",
"spread too thin", "running on fumes", "burning the candle at both ends",
"hit the ground running", "running at full tilt", "pedal to the metal",
"gun it", "full steam ahead", "balls to the wall", "go hard or go home",
"crunch time", "under the gun", "against the clock", "race against time",
"deadline crunch", "up against it", "down to the wire",
"make or break", "do or die", "sink or swim", "all or nothing",
"swinging for the fences", "go big or go home", "shoot for the moon",
"reach for the stars", "aim high", "set the bar high", "raise the bar",
"lower the bar", "move the goalposts", "change the game",
"game changer", "paradigm shift", "inflection point", "tipping point",
"critical mass", "turning point", "point of no return",
"back to square one", "back to the drawing board", "start from scratch",
"wipe the slate clean", "clean slate", "fresh start", "new chapter",
"turn the page", "turn over a new leaf", "new lease on life"
TIME & TEMPORAL
"kill time", "kill an afternoon", "kill a weekend", "kill an evening",
"waste time", "piss away time", "burning daylight",
"crack of dawn", "at the crack of dawn", "bright and early",
"ass crack of dawn", "ungodly hour", "wee hours",
"eleventh hour", "nick of time", "in the nick of time",
"just in time", "right on time", "ahead of schedule", "behind schedule",
"running late", "fashionably late", "better late than never",
"time flies", "time drags", "time crawls", "time stands still",
"lose track of time", "against the clock", "beat the clock",
"turn back time", "turn back the clock", "can't turn back time",
"ancient history", "water under the bridge", "bygones be bygones",
"old hat", "old news", "yesterday's news", "same old same old",
"flash in the pan", "fifteen minutes of fame", "moment in the sun",
"day in the sun", "glory days", "good old days", "back in the day",
"those were the days", "long time coming", "overdue", "about damn time"
SUCCESS/FAILURE/OUTCOMES
"nailed it", "crushed it", "killed it", "smashed it", "aced it",
"knocked it out of the park", "home run", "slam dunk", "hole in one",
"bullseye", "on point", "on fire", "on a roll", "hot streak",
"winning streak", "can't lose", "Midas touch", "golden touch",
"strike gold", "hit the jackpot", "cash cow", "money maker",
"gravy train", "easy money", "money talks", "money in the bank",
"take it to the bank", "bank on it", "bet on it", "sure thing",
"done deal", "in the bag", "wrapped up", "sealed the deal",
"crash and burn", "go down in flames", "train wreck", "dumpster fire",
"total disaster", "epic fail", "spectacular failure", "belly flop",
"face plant", "fall flat", "bomb", "tank", "flop", "bust",
"dead in the water", "dead on arrival", "DOA", "stillborn",
"never got off the ground", "didn't stand a chance",
"fighting a losing battle", "swimming upstream", "uphill battle",
"steep climb", "mountain to climb", "long road ahead",
"tough row to hoe", "hard slog", "rough going", "heavy lifting"
ADVICE/WISDOM/LESSONS
"live and learn", "learn the hard way", "school of hard knocks",
"lesson learned", "note to self", "pro tip", "life hack",
"words to live by", "take it from me", "trust me on this",
"mark my words", "you heard it here first", "I'm telling you",
"been there done that", "old hand at", "know the ropes",
"know the drill", "know the score", "seen it all", "heard it all",
"nothing new under the sun", "tale as old as time",
"same story different day", "rinse and repeat",
"wash rinse repeat", "here we go again", "déjà vu all over again",
"history repeats itself", "those who don't learn from history",
"can't teach an old dog new tricks", "set in their ways",
"creature of habit", "stuck in a rut", "going through the motions",
"phone it in", "mail it in", "half-ass it", "phone phoning it in",
"give it 110%", "leave it all on the field", "empty the tank",
"everything you've got", "all you've got", "best foot forward"
DECISION/CHOICE/COMMITMENT
"bite at the apple", "one bite at the apple", "shot at the title",
"take a shot", "take a swing", "give it a shot", "give it a go",
"give it a whirl", "give it a try", "worth a shot", "nothing to lose",
"everything to gain", "fortune favors the bold", "no guts no glory",
"go for broke", "go all in", "all or nothing", "double or nothing",
"burn the boats", "burn the bridges", "point of no return",
"cross the Rubicon", "die is cast", "cards are on the table",
"show your cards", "play your cards right", "hold your cards close",
"ace up your sleeve", "card up your sleeve", "trump card",
"wild card", "joker in the deck", "stack the deck",
"loaded dice", "roll the dice", "take a gamble", "calculated risk",
"leap of faith", "take the plunge", "dive in", "jump in with both feet",
"go for it", "just do it", "make it happen", "get after it",
"make your move", "make your play", "take your shot",
"now or never", "do or die", "shit or get off the pot",
"fish or cut bait", "lead follow or get out of the way",
"put up or shut up", "money where your mouth is",
"walk the walk", "talk the talk", "practice what you preach"
LIFE/EXISTENCE/REALITY
"that's life", "such is life", "life goes on", "life happens",
"life's too short", "you only live once", "YOLO", "carpe diem",
"seize the day", "live for today", "one day at a time",
"take each day as it comes", "roll with the punches",
"go with the flow", "ride the wave", "surf the chaos",
"embrace the chaos", "expect the unexpected",
"Murphy's law", "anything that can go wrong will go wrong",
"when it rains it pours", "feast or famine", "boom or bust",
"all or nothing", "black or white", "win or lose",
"make or break", "sink or swim", "do or die",
"at a crossroads", "fork in the road", "which way to turn",
"path less traveled", "road less traveled", "beaten path",
"off the beaten path", "uncharted territory", "unknown waters",
"sailing into the unknown", "leap into the void",
"staring into the abyss", "edge of the abyss",
"on the brink", "tipping point", "breaking point",
"last straw", "final straw", "straw that broke the camel's back",
"enough is enough", "had it up to here", "at the end of my rope",
"at my breaking point", "about to snap", "hanging by a thread"
MOTIVATION/PERSEVERANCE
"keep pushing", "push through", "power through", "gut it out",
"tough it out", "stick it out", "see it through", "follow through",
"finish what you started", "finish strong", "go the distance",
"stay the course", "keep at it", "keep going", "don't give up",
"don't quit", "never say die", "never surrender",
"get back up", "get back on the horse", "dust yourself off",
"pick yourself up", "bounce back", "come back stronger",
"what doesn't kill you makes you stronger",
"when the going gets tough the tough get going",
"winners never quit and quitters never win",
"it ain't over till it's over", "ain't over till the fat lady sings",
"down but not out", "not dead yet", "still in the game",
"still in the fight", "still standing", "still here",
"keeps me going", "keeps me sane", "keeps me alive",
"reason I get up", "reason I keep going", "what drives me",
"fire in my belly", "chip on my shoulder", "something to prove",
"prove them wrong", "prove the doubters wrong"
INTENSITY/EXTREMES
"off the charts", "through the roof", "over the top", "next level",
"whole other level", "on another level", "off the scale",
"cranked to eleven", "turned up to eleven", "dial it to eleven",
"pedal to the metal", "full throttle", "full blast", "full tilt",
"balls out", "all out", "no holds barred", "go hard",
"go ham", "beast mode", "in the zone", "locked in",
"dialed in", "firing on all cylinders", "running hot",
"white hot", "red hot", "smoking hot", "on fire",
"lit", "straight fire", "absolute fire", "pure fire",
"insane", "crazy", "wild", "nuts", "bananas", "bonkers",
"out of control", "off the chain", "off the hook",
"sick", "nasty", "filthy", "dirty", "savage",
"brutal", "ruthless", "cutthroat", "hardcore",
"intense", "heavy", "deep", "serious", "real",
"legit", "for real", "no joke", "no kidding", "dead serious"
EASE/DIFFICULTY
"piece of cake", "walk in the park", "cakewalk", "breeze",
"walk in the park", "easy as pie", "easy peasy", "child's play",
"no sweat", "no problem", "no worries", "no biggie",
"smooth sailing", "clear sailing", "coast is clear",
"like taking candy from a baby", "shooting fish in a barrel",
"low-hanging fruit", "cherry-pick", "slam dunk",
"uphill battle", "steep climb", "tough slog", "hard slog",
"heavy lift", "heavy lifting", "tough nut to crack",
"hard nut to crack", "tough row to hoe", "no picnic",
"no walk in the park", "no cakewalk", "no joke",
"easier said than done", "tall order", "big ask",
"pain in the ass", "royal pain", "major pain",
"nightmare", "living nightmare", "hell on earth"
GENERATIONAL SLANG & IDIOMS
GEN Z / GEN ALPHA (Born 1997-2025) – “Brain Rot Era”
Core Brain Rot Terms
"brain rot", "cooked", "so cooked", "we're cooked", "it's cooked",
"chat is this real", "chat", "real", "not real",
"sigma", "sigma male", "alpha male", "beta", "omega",
"rizz", "rizzler", "unspoken rizz", "W rizz", "L rizz",
"gyat", "gyatt", "fanum tax", "ohio", "only in ohio",
"skibidi", "skibidi toilet", "skibidi rizz", "skibidi ohio",
"mewing", "looksmaxxing", "mogging", "height mogging",
"aura", "aura points", "lose aura", "gain aura", "+1000 aura", "-1000 aura",
"griddy", "hitting the griddy", "goon", "gooning", "edging",
"sus", "sussy", "sussy baka", "caught in 4K", "down bad",
"simp", "simping", "down horrendous", "touch grass",
"based", "based and redpilled", "cringe", "mid", "lowkey mid",
"ratio", "L + ratio", "didn't ask", "cope", "seethe", "mald",
"rent free", "living rent free", "stay mad", "cry about it"
Emphasis & Intensity
"no cap", "on god", "fr fr", "for real for real", "ong", "on gang",
"bussin", "bussin fr", "straight bussin", "not bussin",
"slaps", "this slaps", "goes hard", "hits different",
"it's giving", "giving main character", "giving villain",
"ate and left no crumbs", "ate that up", "devoured", "demolished",
"slay", "slay queen", "slaying", "slayed", "serve", "serving",
"pop off", "popping off", "go off", "period", "periodt",
"purr", "yass", "slay boots", "boots the house down",
"understood the assignment", "passed the vibe check",
"failed the vibe check", "vibe check", "checking the vibes"
Disapproval & Negativity
"L take", "massive L", "W take", "common W", "rare W",
"mid", "so mid", "lowkey mid", "highkey mid",
"fell off", "washed", "washed up", "cooked", "finished",
"it's over", "so over", "pack it up", "wrap it up",
"embarrassing", "second hand embarrassment", "cringe",
"yikes", "big yikes", "oof", "major oof", "sheesh",
"not it", "this ain't it", "ain't it chief", "that's not the move",
"dead", "I'm dead", "deceased", "not alive", "flatlined",
"unalive", "game over", "gg", "rip", "L bozo"
Approval & Agreement
"valid", "so valid", "lowkey valid", "highkey valid",
"real", "real one", "keeping it real", "certified real one",
"facts", "straight facts", "fax no printer", "big facts",
"say less", "bet", "word", "vibes", "good vibes only",
"fire", "straight fire", "flames", "lit", "litty",
"banger", "absolute banger", "certified banger",
"goated", "the goat", "him", "her", "they're him",
"let him cook", "let them cook", "cooking", "cooked",
"locked in", "in my bag", "in the zone", "zone",
"different breed", "built different", "him coded"
Social Dynamics
"npc", "npc energy", "npc behavior", "main character",
"main character energy", "side character", "background character",
"unhinged", "feral", "deranged", "menace to society",
"chaos goblin", "gremlin mode", "goblin mode",
"delulu", "delulu is the solulu", "chronically online",
"touch grass moment", "go outside", "get help",
"parasocial", "parasocial relationship",
"glazing", "meat riding", "dick riding", "riding",
"hater", "certified hater", "hating", "don't be a hater",
"stan", "stannie", "stan twitter", "stan culture",
"cancelled", "cancel culture", "getting cancelled",
"called out", "exposed", "blasted", "dragged",
"for the plot", "lore drop", "canon event", "timeline"
Relatability & Mood
"mood", "big mood", "whole mood", "that's a mood",
"same", "same energy", "felt that", "too real",
"why is this me", "calling me out", "personally attacked",
"not me", "it's the [X] for me", "not the [X]",
"no thoughts head empty", "one brain cell", "no brain",
"brain stopped working", "brain.exe has stopped",
"this is fine", "everything is fine", "totally fine",
"mental breakdown", "losing it", "unwell", "not okay",
"spiraling", "in my villain era", "villain origin story",
"character development", "redemption arc",
"gaslight gatekeep girlboss", "live laugh love but toxic"
Internet/Platform Specific
"foryou page", "fyp", "for you", "algorithm", "algo",
"coded", "main character coded", "villain coded",
"core", "cottagecore", "dark academia", "chaotic academia",
"aesthetic", "vibe", "vibe shift", "vibe is off",
"timeline", "on my timeline", "wrong side of tiktok",
"niche", "my niche", "found my niche", "oddly specific",
"pov", "POV you", "from the POV of",
"story time", "storytime", "time to story",
"tiktok made me buy it", "tiktok famous",
"iykyk", "if you know you know", "context",
"no context", "out of pocket", "uncalled for"
Reaction & Commentary
"not this", "not today", "absolutely not", "nah fam",
"im crying", "im screaming", "im hollering", "sobbing",
"wheezing", "cackling", "losing my mind",
"the way I", "not me", "help", "HELP",
"i can't", "i'm done", "i'm out", "bye",
"its the [X] for me", "the [X] is [X]ing",
"[X] walked so [X] could run", "the [X] we needed",
"say sike right now", "tell me why", "TELL ME WHY",
"wait what", "hold up", "pause", "ayo",
"down bad", "caught lacking", "caught in 4k",
"screenshot worthy", "for the group chat"
MILLENNIALS (Born 1981-1996)
Internet 1.0 / Early Social Media
"fail", "epic fail", "win", "epic win", "for the win",
"ftw", "pwned", "owned", "rekt", "wrecked",
"noob", "n00b", "newb", "scrub", "casual",
"tryhard", "sweat", "sweaty", "no life",
"troll", "trolling", "don't feed the trolls",
"haters gonna hate", "h8ers gonna h8",
"u mad bro", "cool story bro", "pics or it didn't happen",
"the cake is a lie", "all your base", "over 9000",
"what year is it", "mind blown", "mic drop"
Sarcasm & Irony
"not", "psych", "sike", "jk jk", "just kidding",
"I'm just saying", "just sayin", "no offense but",
"with all due respect", "bless their heart",
"good for them", "living their best life",
"that's a choice", "interesting choice", "bold move",
"I can't even", "I literally can't", "literally dying",
"I'm screaming", "I'm deceased", "I'm weak",
"basic", "so basic", "basic bitch", "basic AF",
"extra", "so extra", "doing the most", "try-hard",
"cringe", "cringy", "cringey", "cringe-worthy"
Enthusiasm & Approval
"legit", "totes", "adorbs", "amazeballs", "cray cray",
"on fleek", "fleek", "perf", "bomb", "the bomb",
"dope", "sick", "tight", "fresh", "fly",
"fierce", "werk", "yaaas", "get it", "you go girl",
"winning", "crushing it", "killing it", "slaying",
"boss", "like a boss", "boss up", "girl boss",
"squad", "squad goals", "relationship goals", "goals AF",
"bae", "boo", "boo thang", "my person"
Passive Aggression & Shade
"no shade", "shade", "throwing shade", "shady",
"salty", "so salty", "bitter", "pressed",
"triggered", "i'm triggered", "triggering",
"problematic", "that's problematic", "yikes",
"uncomfortable", "makes me uncomfortable",
"not okay", "not cool", "uncool",
"awkward", "awks", "totes awks", "so awkward",
"random", "so random", "holds up spork",
"weird flex but okay", "odd flex", "weird flex"
Existential & Relatable
"adulting", "adulting is hard", "can't adult today",
"I need an adult", "asking for a friend",
"treat yourself", "treat yo self", "self care",
"me time", "personal day", "mental health day",
"I can't even deal", "can't deal with this",
"too much", "this is too much", "I'm too old for this",
"when did I get old", "back in my day",
"the good old days", "simpler times",
"take me back", "throwback", "tbt", "fbf"
GEN X (Born 1965-1980)
90s Slang Survival
"all that and a bag of chips", "all that",
"as if", "whatever", "talk to the hand",
"not", "psyche", "my bad", "duh",
"take a chill pill", "chill out", "don't have a cow",
"tubular", "radical", "rad", "gnarly",
"wicked", "sweet", "da bomb", "phat",
"fly", "fresh", "dope", "word to your mother",
"booyah", "cowabunga", "eat my shorts"
Grunge/Alternative Era
"sell out", "poser", "poseur", "faker",
"keeping it real", "real talk", "straight up",
"whatever floats your boat", "different strokes",
"to each their own", "live and let live",
"been there done that", "same old same old",
"round the bend", "off the reservation",
"jumped the shark", "past their prime"
Work & Cynicism
"working for the man", "the man", "corporate",
"corporate drone", "cog in the machine",
"rat race", "the grind", "daily grind",
"same shit different day", "another day another dollar",
"it is what it is", "whatever", "meh",
"not my circus not my monkeys", "not my problem",
"above my pay grade", "they don't pay me enough"
BOOMERS (Born 1946-1964)
Classic Expressions
"golly gee", "gee whiz", "holy cow", "holy moly",
"good grief", "for crying out loud", "for Pete's sake",
"jeepers", "goodness gracious", "my word",
"well I'll be", "I'll be darned", "I'll be damned"
Authority & Disapproval
"because I said so", "don't talk back",
"in my day", "when I was your age", "back in my day",
"uphill both ways", "walked to school",
"kids these days", "young people today",
"no respect", "what's the world coming to",
"going to hell in a handbasket",
"wake up and smell the coffee",
"get with the program", "shape up or ship out"
Work Ethic
"pull yourself up by your bootstraps",
"elbow grease", "nose to the grindstone",
"burning the midnight oil", "early bird gets the worm",
"hard work never killed anyone",
"work smarter not harder", "rise and grind",
"no rest for the wicked", "idle hands"
CROSS-GENERATIONAL INTERNET SLANG
"send tweet", "this you", "thanks I hate it",
"I'm in this photo and I don't like it",
"why would you say something so controversial yet so brave",
"sir this is a Wendy's", "name a more iconic duo",
"change my mind", "fight me", "come at me",
"hot take", "unpopular opinion", "controversial opinion",
"plot twist", "character development", "redemption arc",
"full circle moment", "came back around",
"aged like milk", "aged like wine", "aged poorly",
"this aged well", "this aged badly",
"called it", "told you so", "I knew it",
"same energy", "different energy", "new energy",
"it's not that deep", "that's deep", "we live in a society"
I’m sure there are more.
Send ’em over.
