50 Idioms for Outdoors With Meanings & Sentences
Idioms for Outdoors
1. A Breath of Fresh Air
Meaning: Something refreshing or new.
In a Sentence: Her visit to the countryside was a breath of fresh air. / That outdoor yoga class was truly a breath of fresh air.
Other Ways to Say: A welcome change, Something refreshing
2. Fresh as a Daisy
Meaning: Feeling refreshed and energetic.
In a Sentence: After a good night’s sleep, I felt fresh as a daisy. / The kids came back from the hike fresh as daisies.
Other Ways to Say: Full of energy, Feeling great
3. Down to Earth
Meaning: Practical and sensible, often connected to nature.
In a Sentence: He’s so down to earth despite his success. / Living on a farm keeps her down to earth.
Other Ways to Say: Humble, Grounded
4. Make Hay While the Sun Shines
Meaning: Take advantage of a good opportunity while it lasts.
In a Sentence: We should play outside before it rains—make hay while the sun shines! / She decided to study hard during the weekend to make hay while the sun shines.
Other Ways to Say: Seize the moment, Don’t waste time
5. Under the Weather
Meaning: Feeling sick or unwell.
In a Sentence: I couldn’t go hiking because I was feeling under the weather. / He looked a bit under the weather after the long trek.
Other Ways to Say: Not feeling well, A bit sick
6. Come Rain or Shine
Meaning: No matter what the circumstances.
In a Sentence: We’ll go camping this weekend, come rain or shine. / The farmers work come rain or shine.
Other Ways to Say: No matter what, Regardless of the weather
7. Out in the Open
Meaning: In plain view; outdoors or exposed.
In a Sentence: Let’s talk about this out in the open. / We camped out in the open last night.
Other Ways to Say: In plain sight, Outdoors
8. Gone to Seed
Meaning: Something once beautiful is now neglected.
In a Sentence: The garden has gone to seed since they moved. / That park has really gone to seed.
Other Ways to Say: Overgrown, Neglected
9. Chase Rainbows
Meaning: To pursue unrealistic dreams.
In a Sentence: He left his job to chase rainbows in the wilderness. / Chasing rainbows won’t pay the bills.
Other Ways to Say: Pursue dreams, Be unrealistic
10. Touch Grass
Meaning: Take a break from virtual life and go outside.
In a Sentence: You’ve been online all day—go touch grass! / After finals, I just needed to touch grass.
Other Ways to Say: Go outside, Reconnect with nature
11. Hit the Trail
Meaning: Start a journey or go for a hike.
In a Sentence: Let’s hit the trail before the sun gets too hot. / They hit the trail at dawn for the mountain trek.
Other Ways to Say: Start hiking, Begin the journey
12. Off the Beaten Path
Meaning: Away from common routes or places.
In a Sentence: We found a quiet spot off the beaten path. / That hidden waterfall is really off the beaten path.
Other Ways to Say: Hidden gem, Less traveled
13. Like a Fish Out of Water
Meaning: Uncomfortable in an unfamiliar setting.
In a Sentence: He looked like a fish out of water at the campfire. / I felt like a fish out of water in the forest.
Other Ways to Say: Out of place, Uncomfortable
14. Get Your Hands Dirty
Meaning: Do hard or practical work.
In a Sentence: Gardening lets you get your hands dirty in the best way. / She loves to get her hands dirty in the backyard.
Other Ways to Say: Do physical work, Get involved
15. In the Wild
Meaning: In natural, uncontrolled surroundings.
In a Sentence: We saw deer in the wild during our hike. / The photos were taken in the wild, not a zoo.
Other Ways to Say: In nature, Outdoors
16. The Great Outdoors
Meaning: Nature and the wilderness.
In a Sentence: Nothing beats a weekend in the great outdoors. / I love the peace of the great outdoors.
Other Ways to Say: Nature, Wilderness
17. Beat Around the Bush
Meaning: Avoid the main topic or issue.
In a Sentence: Stop beating around the bush and tell me if we’re going camping! / Don’t beat around the bush—did we get the permit?
Other Ways to Say: Avoid the point, Be indirect
18. Weather the Storm
Meaning: Survive a difficult situation.
In a Sentence: We had to weather the storm during our climb. / The hikers weathered the storm under a rocky ledge.
Other Ways to Say: Get through trouble, Survive hardship
19. Barking Up the Wrong Tree
Meaning: Pursuing a mistaken idea.
In a Sentence: If you think I lost the map, you’re barking up the wrong tree. / She’s barking up the wrong tree blaming the guide.
Other Ways to Say: Mistaken, Off target
20. Take a Hike
Meaning: Leave or go away (often rude or humorous).
In a Sentence: He was so annoying I told him to take a hike! / Feeling stressed? Take a hike—it helps!
Other Ways to Say: Go away, Go for a walk
21. Clear Skies Ahead
Meaning: A sign of good times or positive outcomes ahead.
In a Sentence: With the project almost done, it looks like clear skies ahead. / After the storm passed, we saw clear skies ahead.
Other Ways to Say: Smooth sailing, Bright future
22. Gone Fishing
Meaning: Taking a break from work or being unavailable.
In a Sentence: Don’t call today—I’m gone fishing. / Her email auto-reply said she was gone fishing.
Other Ways to Say: Out of office, Taking time off
23. Breathe of Fresh Air
Meaning: Something refreshing or new.
In a Sentence: His positive attitude was a breath of fresh air. / The new manager is a breath of fresh air.
Other Ways to Say: Refreshing change, New perspective
24. Under the Weather
Meaning: Feeling ill or unwell.
In a Sentence: I’m feeling under the weather today. / She stayed home because she was under the weather.
Other Ways to Say: Not feeling well, Sick
25. Soak Up the Sun
Meaning: Enjoying sunny weather.
In a Sentence: We went to the beach to soak up the sun. / He laid on the grass to soak up the sun.
Other Ways to Say: Sunbathe, Relax outside
26. Snowed Under
Meaning: Overwhelmed with tasks.
In a Sentence: I’m snowed under with work this week. / She was snowed under with assignments.
Other Ways to Say: Buried in work, Swamped
27. In the Wild
Meaning: Out in nature or unstructured environments.
In a Sentence: We saw wolves in the wild. / It’s exciting to camp out in the wild.
Other Ways to Say: Out in nature, In the open
28. Blaze a Trail
Meaning: To be the first to do something new.
In a Sentence: She blazed a trail in outdoor education. / They’re blazing a trail in environmental science.
Other Ways to Say: Pioneer, Lead the way
29. Hit the Trail
Meaning: To start a journey or hike.
In a Sentence: Let’s hit the trail before noon. / The hikers hit the trail at sunrise.
Other Ways to Say: Begin the hike, Start the journey
30. Up a Tree
Meaning: In a difficult situation.
In a Sentence: Without a map, we were up a tree. / He’s up a tree with that broken tent.
Other Ways to Say: In trouble, In a bind
31. Out in the Open
Meaning: Something revealed or not hidden.
In a Sentence: The truth is finally out in the open. / We kept our feelings out in the open.
Other Ways to Say: Revealed, No longer secret
32. Pitch a Tent
Meaning: Set up camp.
In a Sentence: We pitched a tent by the lake. / They pitched a tent before nightfall.
Other Ways to Say: Set up camp, Make camp
33. Get Some Air
Meaning: To go outside for a break or fresh air.
In a Sentence: I need to get some air after that meeting. / She went for a walk to get some air.
Other Ways to Say: Take a breather, Step outside
34. Come Rain or Shine
Meaning: No matter the circumstances.
In a Sentence: We’re hiking tomorrow, come rain or shine. / She runs daily, come rain or shine.
Other Ways to Say: No matter what, Regardless
35. Into the Woods
Meaning: Deep into nature or a problem.
In a Sentence: They ventured into the woods at dusk. / I’m into the woods with this research project.
Other Ways to Say: In nature, Deep in thought
36. Off the Beaten Path
Meaning: Away from usual places or routines.
In a Sentence: We found a trail off the beaten path. / Her ideas are off the beaten path.
Other Ways to Say: Unconventional, Hidden gem
37. Lost in the Wilderness
Meaning: Feeling aimless or unsure.
In a Sentence: He felt lost in the wilderness after graduation. / Their company was lost in the wilderness without direction.
Other Ways to Say: Feeling lost, Without guidance
38. Sky’s the Limit
Meaning: Unlimited possibilities.
In a Sentence: With her talent, the sky’s the limit. / Out here, the sky’s the limit for exploration.
Other Ways to Say: No limits, Endless potential
39. A Stone’s Throw
Meaning: Very close distance.
In a Sentence: The cabin is a stone’s throw from the lake. / The trail starts just a stone’s throw away.
Other Ways to Say: Nearby, Close by
40. Deep Roots
Meaning: Strong connection or heritage.
In a Sentence: He has deep roots in the countryside. / This family has deep roots here.
Other Ways to Say: Strong ties, Long history
41. Camp Out
Meaning: To stay outdoors overnight.
In a Sentence: We decided to camp out in the forest. / Let’s camp out by the river.
Other Ways to Say: Sleep outdoors, Stay overnight
42. In Full Bloom
Meaning: At the peak of growth or success.
In a Sentence: The garden was in full bloom. / Her talent is in full bloom.
Other Ways to Say: Flourishing, Thriving
43. Go Out on a Limb
Meaning: Take a risk.
In a Sentence: She went out on a limb for that idea. / I’ll go out on a limb and say he’ll win.
Other Ways to Say: Take a chance, Risk it
44. Run Like the Wind
Meaning: Run very fast.
In a Sentence: He ran like the wind to catch the bus. / The dog runs like the wind at the park.
Other Ways to Say: Dash, Sprint
45. Come Out of One’s Shell
Meaning: Become more outgoing.
In a Sentence: Camping helped him come out of his shell. / She came out of her shell on the trip.
Other Ways to Say: Open up, Be more social
46. As Free as a Bird
Meaning: Feeling completely free.
In a Sentence: Out in nature, I felt as free as a bird. / Retirement made him feel as free as a bird.
Other Ways to Say: Unburdened, Unchained
47. Leaf Through
Meaning: To skim or casually browse.
In a Sentence: I leafed through a nature magazine. / She leafed through her field guide.
Other Ways to Say: Flip through, Glance over
48. One with Nature
Meaning: Deeply connected to the outdoors.
In a Sentence: He felt one with nature in the mountains. / Yoga outside made her feel one with nature.
Other Ways to Say: In harmony, Deeply connected
49. Touch Grass
Meaning: Take a break from digital life and go outside.
In a Sentence: You’ve been online too long—go touch grass! / I logged off to touch grass and feel better.
Other Ways to Say: Step outside, Reconnect with nature
50. Rooted in the Earth
Meaning: Grounded or connected to nature.
In a Sentence: The outdoor retreat left me feeling rooted in the earth. / Their traditions are rooted in the earth.
Other Ways to Say: Grounded, Earth-connected
