50 Common Idioms About People With Meaning & Sentences
Idioms About People
1. A Big Cheese
Meaning: An important or powerful person.
In a Sentence: Mr. Carter is the big cheese at our school because he’s the principal. / The mayor is the big cheese in our town.
Other Ways to Say: A top dog, A big shot
2. A Couch Potato
Meaning: Someone who spends a lot of time sitting and watching TV.
In a Sentence: My brother is such a couch potato; he watches cartoons all day. / Stop being a couch potato and go outside to play!
Other Ways to Say: A TV addict, Lazybones
3. A People Person
Meaning: Someone who enjoys being with and working with others.
In a Sentence: Jenny is a people person; she gets along with everyone at the office.
Other Ways to Say: Outgoing, Sociable
4. The Black Sheep
Meaning: A person who is different from the rest of the group in a negative way.
In a Sentence: Uncle Mike is the black sheep of the family because of his wild behavior.
Other Ways to Say: Outcast, Misfit
5. The Apple of Someone’s Eye
Meaning: A person who is loved very much by someone.
In a Sentence: Her daughter is the apple of her eye. / Grandpa calls me the apple of his eye.
Other Ways to Say: Favorite, Beloved
6. A Go-Getter
Meaning: A person who is ambitious and works hard to succeed.
In a Sentence: She’s a go-getter who never waits for opportunities—she creates them.
Other Ways to Say: Achiever, Hustler
7. A Class Clown
Meaning: Someone who tries to make others laugh in a school setting.
In a Sentence: Tom was always the class clown, joking around during lessons.
Other Ways to Say: Joker, Prankster
8. A Know-It-All
Meaning: A person who acts as though they know everything.
In a Sentence: Stop being a know-it-all and let others speak too.
Other Ways to Say: Smart aleck, Show-off
9. A Lone Wolf
Meaning: Someone who prefers to do things alone.
In a Sentence: He’s a lone wolf who keeps to himself at work.
Other Ways to Say: Introvert, Independent
10. A Busy Bee
Meaning: A very active or hardworking person.
In a Sentence: Mom is a busy bee every morning, getting everyone ready.
Other Ways to Say: Hard worker, Energetic person
11. A Pain in the Neck
Meaning: An annoying person.
In a Sentence: My little brother can be a real pain in the neck sometimes.
Other Ways to Say: Nuisance, Bother
12. The Life of the Party
Meaning: A fun and entertaining person at social events.
In a Sentence: Everyone invites Jake because he’s the life of the party.
Other Ways to Say: Entertainer, Crowd-pleaser
13. A Smart Cookie
Meaning: A clever or intelligent person.
In a Sentence: That kid is a smart cookie; he solved the puzzle in no time!
Other Ways to Say: Brainy, Sharp
14. A Jack of All Trades
Meaning: Someone who can do many different things well.
In a Sentence: My dad is a jack of all trades—he can fix anything!
Other Ways to Say: Multitalented, Handyman
15. A Bad Apple
Meaning: A person who negatively influences others.
In a Sentence: He was the bad apple who always got others into trouble.
Other Ways to Say: Troublemaker, Negative influence
16. A Social Butterfly
Meaning: A person who loves to socialize.
In a Sentence: Claire is a social butterfly who makes friends everywhere she goes.
Other Ways to Say: Extrovert, People person
17. A Wet Blanket
Meaning: A person who spoils the fun.
In a Sentence: Don’t invite him—he’s such a wet blanket at parties.
Other Ways to Say: Party pooper, Killjoy
18. A Bookworm
Meaning: Someone who loves reading.
In a Sentence: Emma is a bookworm; she finishes a novel every week.
Other Ways to Say: Avid reader, Bibliophile
19. A Cold Fish
Meaning: A person who is emotionally distant.
In a Sentence: He didn’t smile once—he’s such a cold fish.
Other Ways to Say: Unfriendly, Emotionless
20. A Good Egg
Meaning: A kind and trustworthy person.
In a Sentence: She’s a good egg—always ready to help.
Other Ways to Say: Kind soul, Reliable person
21. A Social Butterfly
Meaning: A person who loves to socialize and be around people.
In a Sentence: Jenny is a social butterfly—she’s always out meeting new friends.
Other Ways to Say: Outgoing person, People person
22. A Know-It-All
Meaning: Someone who acts like they know everything.
In a Sentence: Nobody likes a know-it-all in class who always corrects others.
Other Ways to Say: Smart aleck, Mr. Expert
23. A Loose Cannon
Meaning: An unpredictable person who may cause trouble.
In a Sentence: He’s a loose cannon—he might say something that ruins the meeting.
Other Ways to Say: Wild card, Unstable person
24. A Fair-Weather Friend
Meaning: Someone who is only around in good times.
In a Sentence: I realized he was a fair-weather friend when he disappeared during tough times.
Other Ways to Say: Temporary friend, Inconsistent companion
25. A Rolling Stone
Meaning: A person who doesn’t stay in one place for long.
In a Sentence: My uncle is a rolling stone—always traveling and changing jobs.
Other Ways to Say: Wanderer, Drifter
26. A Jack of All Trades
Meaning: A person who can do many different types of work.
In a Sentence: She’s a jack of all trades—she can cook, sew, and fix electronics.
Other Ways to Say: Multi-talented person, Versatile worker
27. A Class Clown
Meaning: Someone who jokes and tries to make people laugh in class.
In a Sentence: Tommy was always the class clown, keeping everyone entertained.
Other Ways to Say: Joker, Comedian
28. A Smart Cookie
Meaning: A clever or intelligent person.
In a Sentence: You’re a smart cookie—you figured that out so fast!
Other Ways to Say: Sharp thinker, Bright individual
29. A Cold Fish
Meaning: A person who is emotionally distant.
In a Sentence: He’s a bit of a cold fish—hard to talk to and doesn’t show much emotion.
Other Ways to Say: Distant person, Emotionless
30. A Goody Two-Shoes
Meaning: Someone who always follows rules and avoids trouble.
In a Sentence: She’s such a goody two-shoes—never breaks a single rule.
Other Ways to Say: Rule-follower, Teacher’s pet
31. A Big Mouth
Meaning: Someone who talks too much or reveals secrets.
In a Sentence: Don’t tell him your secrets—he’s got a big mouth.
Other Ways to Say: Gossip, Blabbermouth
32. A Penny Pincher
Meaning: Someone who is very careful with money.
In a Sentence: My dad is a penny pincher—he reuses teabags!
Other Ways to Say: Frugal person, Cheapskate
33. A Night Owl
Meaning: Someone who stays up late at night.
In a Sentence: I’m a night owl; I do my best work after midnight.
Other Ways to Say: Late riser, Evening person
34. A Ray of Sunshine
Meaning: A cheerful and uplifting person.
In a Sentence: Her smile is like a ray of sunshine on a cloudy day.
Other Ways to Say: Positive person, Joyful soul
35. A Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing
Meaning: Someone who pretends to be good but is actually dangerous.
In a Sentence: Be careful—he’s a wolf in sheep’s clothing.
Other Ways to Say: Pretender, Deceiver
36. A Wet Blanket
Meaning: Someone who ruins fun.
In a Sentence: Don’t invite him—he’s a wet blanket at every party.
Other Ways to Say: Party pooper, Buzzkill
37. A Happy Camper
Meaning: A person who is content or pleased.
In a Sentence: After getting her promotion, she was a happy camper.
Other Ways to Say: Satisfied person, Content individual
38. A Man of His Word
Meaning: A reliable person who keeps promises.
In a Sentence: You can trust him—he’s a man of his word.
Other Ways to Say: Reliable man, Trustworthy person
39. A People Pleaser
Meaning: Someone who tries too hard to make others happy.
In a Sentence: She’s such a people pleaser, always saying yes to everything.
Other Ways to Say: Yes-man, Over-accommodating person
40. A Wallflower
Meaning: Someone who is shy and avoids social activities.
In a Sentence: At the party, she was a wallflower, sitting quietly in the corner.
Other Ways to Say: Shy person, Observer
41. An Early Bird
Meaning: A person who wakes up or arrives early.
In a Sentence: The early bird gets the worm, and he’s always first in line.
Other Ways to Say: Morning person, Punctual individual
42. A Black Sheep
Meaning: A person who is different or doesn’t fit in.
In a Sentence: He’s the black sheep of the family, always doing his own thing.
Other Ways to Say: Outcast, Rebel
43. A Pain in the Neck
Meaning: An annoying person.
In a Sentence: My little brother can be a real pain in the neck sometimes.
Other Ways to Say: Nuisance, Irritating person
44. A Bundle of Nerves
Meaning: A very nervous person.
In a Sentence: Before her speech, she was a bundle of nerves.
Other Ways to Say: Nervous wreck, Anxious person
45. A Mover and Shaker
Meaning: A person who gets things done and influences others.
In a Sentence: She’s a mover and shaker in the fashion world.
Other Ways to Say: Influencer, Game-changer
46. A Brown-Noser
Meaning: Someone who flatters people to get ahead.
In a Sentence: He’s a brown-noser who’s always complimenting the boss.
Other Ways to Say: Suck-up, Teacher’s pet
47. A Feather in One’s Cap
Meaning: An achievement to be proud of.
In a Sentence: Winning the spelling bee was a feather in his cap.
Other Ways to Say: Major accomplishment, Proud moment
48. A Fish Out of Water
Meaning: A person who feels out of place.
In a Sentence: I felt like a fish out of water at the dance party.
Other Ways to Say: Misfit, Outsider
49. A Born Leader
Meaning: Someone with natural leadership skills.
In a Sentence: Even as a child, she was a born leader.
Other Ways to Say: Natural head, Commanding presence
50. A Jerk of All Trades
Meaning: Someone who knows a little about everything but annoys others with it.
In a Sentence: He’s a jerk of all trades—always interrupting to show off.
Other Ways to Say: Know-it-all, Arrogant dabbler
