If you’re interested in learning more about idioms with the word house or home, you’ve come to the right place! Our blog post is packed with helpful information and fun examples that will make you a master of these common expressions in no time.
| A House Divided Against Itself Cannot Stand A House Is Not A Home A Man’s Home Is His Castle Bring Down The House Bring Home The Bacon Charity Begins At Home Chickens Come Home To Roost Close To Home Drive Something Home Eat Out Of House And Home Go Big Or Go Home Home Away From Home Home Free Home Is Where The Heart Is | Home Is Where You Hang Your Hat Home Sweet Home House Of Cards House Of Horrors House Of Worship Make Yourself At Home Put One’s House In Order The House Always Wins The Lights Are On, But Nobody’s Home There’s No Place Like Home Until The Cows Come Home Wear The Pants In The House You Can’t Go Home Again |
By reading this blog post, you’ll gain a deeper understanding of the meanings of popular idioms like Make Yourself At Home and The House Always Wins. You’ll also discover new phrases you may not have heard before and learn how to use them correctly in conversation. But that’s not all. Download a free printable PDF wordlist to study these idioms anytime offline.
Common Idioms With House/Home
A House Divided Against Itself Cannot Stand
A group or organization that is divided and in conflict with itself will ultimately fail or be destroyed.
The political party was constantly fighting among themselves, they couldn’t agree on anything. In the end, they lost the election. A house divided against itself cannot stand.
A House Is Not A Home
A home is more than just a building with four walls, it’s a place full of people that care about each other.
He moved into a beautiful new bachelor apartment, but it still didn’t feel like home. He missed his family. A house is not a home without loved ones to share it with.
| What’s the difference between the words house and home? The words house and home are related, but they have different meanings. |
A house is a physical structure, a building, or a dwelling place where people live. It is usually made of bricks, concrete, wood, or other materials and it provides shelter and protection from the elements. A house can be rented or owned, and it can be big or small, simple or luxurious.
On the other hand, a home is a place where a person or a family lives and feels comfortable. It is a place where people have emotional connections, memories, and a sense of belonging. Home is not just a physical structure, but also the people and the atmosphere within it. A home can be a house, an apartment, a tent, a boat, or any other place where someone feels comfortable and at ease.
A Man’s Home Is His Castle
A person’s home is like their own kingdom. They control what happens inside.
After finally moving out of my parent’s house I was excited to decorate a control my own environment. My home was truly going to be my castle.
Bring Down The House
To cause great excitement or applause in a public setting, such as a concert or performance, to the point where the building may seem to shake.
The band’s performance was so amazing that they brought down the house.
The comedian’s jokes were so hilarious that she brought down the house every night.
Bring Home The Bacon
To earn money or provide for one’s family. It implies the idea of bringing home a prize or reward, as if from a hunting or gathering expedition.
He works long hours to bring home the bacon for his family.
Charity Begins At Home
One should prioritize helping and taking care of one’s own family and community before reaching out to help others outside of those circles.
Wendy volunteers at a local food bank helping those in her community. She believes charity begins at home.
Chickens Come Home To Roost
One’s actions or words will eventually come back to haunt them, often in a negative or harmful way. It suggests that one should be mindful of the consequences of their actions.
Rhys lied on his resume, he said that he went to NYU (New York University). Four of his new co-workers actually went there and started asking him questions about his time at school. The chickens are coming home to roost, his lie will soon be exposed.
Drive Something Home
To make a point very clear or emphasize something strongly.
He used statistics and examples to drive home the importance of wearing seat belts.
She recounted her personal experience to drive home the message that mental health is just as important as physical health.
Eat Out Of House And Home
To consume a lot of food, to the point of leaving very little behind.
My parents love when I visit for a few days, but I have a big appetite. I always end up eating them out of house and home. (They still love me though.)
Go Big Or Go Home
To take bold or ambitious actions or none at all.
She knew it was risky, but she decided to start her own business. Go big or go home.
To impress Emily, Jason needed to do something very special. Go big or go home he thought to himself.
Hit Close To Home
Something that is emotionally impactful because it is closely related to one’s personal experience or situation.
The movie was about a family coping with the loss of a loved one, and it hit close to home.
The article was about the dangers of distracted driving, and it hit close to home because she had been in a car accident caused by distracted driving.
Home Away From Home
A place where one feels comfortable and at ease, despite being away from one’s actual home.
Her grandparents’ house was always her home away from home, She spent many summer vacations there when she was young.
The hotel I stayed at during my business trip became my home away from home.
Home Free
To have completed the most difficult part of a task or challenge. Now the only things that remain are simple and easy.
After passing her final exams, she was home free and could finally relax.
He thought he had solved the problem, but it turned out he wasn’t home free yet – there were still a few more important steps to take.
| Looking for more great English idioms? Try these other awesome posts on my blog! 10 Idioms with PIG (Learn FAST with pictures and examples) 7 Idioms with TIGER (FUN infographic too) Dragon Idioms – 8 Common uses (Real example sentences) |
Home Is Where The Heart Is
One’s true home is where one’s loved ones are.
I grew up in Canada, but if home is where the heart is, my home is in Japan with my new family.
Home Is Where You Hang Your Hat
Wherever you choose to live or settle down can be considered your home.
*This expression goes against the idea that A House Is Not a Home. This is not an emotional expression, this is a practical one. Home is anywhere your belongings (your things) are.
He had moved so many times that he didn’t feel like he had a real home, but he remembered the saying that home is where you hang your hat.
“Papa Was A Rolling Stone“ is a popular song from 1972 by The Temptations. The chorus of the song uses a version of this idiom.
Papa was a rolling stone
Wherever he laid his hat was his home
And when he died, all he left us was alone
Home Sweet Home
This expression is used to show one’s pleasure and good feelings after returning home, especially after a long time away.
Home sweet home. Nothing feels better than sleeping in your own bed after a business trip.
Looking for more Idioms with the word Sweet? Click the link!
House Of Cards
A situation or organization that is unstable or likely to collapse.
The company’s finances were a house of cards – they were one small misstep away from bankruptcy.
The politician’s career was built on lies, and his reputation was a house of cards waiting to fall.
House Of Horrors
A place or situation that is extremely unpleasant or frightening.
After the car accident, the hospital became a house of horrors for him – he was afraid of being there.
The abandoned amusement had a house of horrors attraction. It was scary when I was younger, but now it’s just silly to me.
House Of Worship
A building where people gather to practice their religion.
The local community had a house of worship for many different faiths.
Make Yourself At Home
To make oneself comfortable and relaxed in someone else’s home. This expression is usually said by the host of a party or gathering to encourage people to feel comfortable in their home.
He was staying at a bed and breakfast for the first time, and the host told him to make himself at home.
It’s common for English speakers to use the Spanish idiom mi casa es su casa, which is saying my house is your house. This has the exact same feeling.
Welcome to my house everyone! Please enjoy yourselves, mi casa es su casa.
| The adjective COMFORTABLE is made by adding the suffix -ABLE to COMFORT. Do a deep dive into this suffix at my blog post – 32 Common Examples of the Suffix ~ABLE (With Definitions) |
Put One’s House In Order
To organize one’s personal affairs or solve any issues or problems that need attention.
She knew she needed to put her house in order before starting a new job.
After being diagnosed with a serious illness Allen had to put his house in order. He made a will and updated his insurance policies.
The House Always Wins
The casino or gambling establishment always makes a profit.
He thought he could win big at the blackjack table, but the house always wins in the end.
The Lights Are On, But Nobody’s Home
Someone appears to be present but is not mentally or emotionally present or aware.
He seemed to be listening, but his mind was elsewhere – the lights were on, but nobody was home.
There’s No Place Like Home
One’s own home is the most comfortable and enjoyable place to be.
After traveling for weeks, he was happy to be back with family and friends. It’s true, there’s no place like home.
She missed her family and friends while away at college. She was having new experiences and making new friends but there’s no place like home.
Until The Cows Come Home
A phrase that means for a very long time, often with the suggestion that the activity or action being discussed will never end.
He could argue about politics until the cows come home, but he was never going to change his uncle’s mind.
She could shop for shoes until the cows come home, and she would still want more.
Do you want more COW IDIOMS? 16 Common Cow Idioms (REAL Examples and Video)
Wear The Pants In The House
To be the person who makes the decisions and has the most authority in a household.
Nancy always deferred to her husband on household decisions. He wore the pants in the house.
You Can’t Go Home Again
Things change over time, and one can never truly return to a place or situation as it was before.
He had been away from his hometown for years, and when he returned, he felt like a stranger. He learned that you can’t go home again.
Popular Songs With House Or Home In The Title
Sweet Home Alabama by Lynyrd Skynyrd
Our House by Madness
Take Me Home, Country Roads by John Denver
Printable HOUSE/HOME Idiom PDF
Download the Idiom List as a printable PDF. Great for teachers to use with private or group classes. PDF contains the live links from the post.
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