English is full of colorful idioms that capture different personality traits in just a few words. From “social butterfly” to “cold fish,” these expressions help us describe how people behave, think, and interact—often more vividly than plain adjectives ever could.
Whether you’re learning English, preparing for exams like IELTS or TOEFL, teaching, writing stories, or simply wanting to sound more natural in conversation, understanding personality idioms will make your language richer and more precise.
In this comprehensive guide, I’ve compiled 30 of the most common personality idioms in English, complete with clear explanations, example sentences, and the contexts where they’re typically used. You’ll learn exactly what each idiom means, how to use it correctly, and even some opposites or related expressions.
Ready to expand your vocabulary and describe anyone—from the life of the party to the stubborn mule—with spot-on accuracy?
Let’s dive into these 30 essential personality idioms!
This topic is part of our English Idioms & Phrases for English learners.
A bundle of nerves
Meaning: Someone who is extremely anxious, tense and nervous.
Example: Before the big presentation, Sarah was a bundle of nerves.
A smooth talker
Meaning: Someone skilled at persuasive or flattering speech to get what they want.
Example: The salesman was a real smooth talker and convinced me to upgrade.
A stuffed shirt
Meaning: A person who is excessively formal, pompous or self-important.
Example: Despite his wealth, he wasn’t a stuffed shirt at all – very down-to-earth.
A wolf in sheep’s clothing
Meaning: Someone who seems harmless but is actually dangerous or deceitful.
Example: That charity worker seemed so kind, but turned out to be a wolf in sheep’s clothing, stealing funds.
Easygoing
Meaning: Having a calm and relaxed nature, not getting upset easily.
Example: Jack is very easygoing and never lets things stress him out.
Get cold feet
Meaning: To lose your nerve or confidence about doing something.
Example: I was going to quit my job, but got cold feet at the last minute.
Hothead
Meaning: A person who becomes angry very quickly over little things.
Example: Don’t provoke him – he’s a real hothead who blows up over anything.
Keep a cool head
Meaning: Remain calm and clearheaded in a difficult situation.
Example: In the crisis, the teachers managed to keep a cool head and evacuate everyone safely.
Let sleeping dogs lie
Meaning: To avoid restarting an unpleasant situation that has now settled down.
Example: I know he insulted you, but sometimes it’s better to let sleeping dogs lie.
On the ball
Meaning: Quick to understand and act upon things.
Example: The new manager is really on the ball and gets tasks done efficiently.
Quit cold turkey
Meaning: To suddenly stop a habit completely rather than gradually.
Example: I decided to quit smoking cold turkey.
Scatterbrain
Meaning: A very forgetful, disorganized person.
Example: Mom’s such a scatterbrain, she’s always misplacing her keys!
Stir crazy
Meaning: Feeling bored, restless, and confined from staying somewhere too long.
Example: After being snowed in for a week, the kids were getting stir crazy.
Workaholic
Meaning: Someone who compulsively works excessively hard.
Example: My boss responds to emails 24/7 – he’s a total workaholic.
A big cheese
Meaning: An important, powerful, or influential person.
Example: The big cheeses running the company gave the green light for expansion.
Apple of my eye
Meaning: Someone who is cherished above all others.
Example: My youngest child is the apple of my eye.
Bury the hatchet
Meaning: To make peace and forgive after a conflict or argument.
Example: After years of feuding, the families finally decided to bury the hatchet.
Call a spade a spade
Meaning: To speak honestly and directly without avoiding unpleasant issues.
Example: My grandfather always called a spade a spade – he never sugarcoated things.
Cut from the same cloth
Meaning: People or things that are very similar in nature or characteristics.
Example: Those twin brothers were cut from the same cloth – both hilarious pranksters.
Don’t count your chickens before they hatch
Meaning: Don’t anticipate a successful outcome before you’ve achieved it.
Example: I got into my top college choice, but Mom reminded me not to count my chickens yet until I got the financial aid details.
Don’t judge a book by its cover
Meaning: Don’t judge something primarily on appearance.
Example: He may look rough, but don’t judge a book by its cover – he’s brilliant.
Eat humble pie
Meaning: To make a humble apology after being wrong about something.
Example: The coach had to eat humble pie after his team won against expectations.
Every cloud has a silver lining
Meaning: Even difficulties or setbacks have a positive side or hopeful outcome.
Example: Losing my job was stressful, but every cloud has a silver lining – it let me switch careers.
In a nutshell
Meaning: To summarize or state the main point briefly.
Example: In a nutshell, I think we should go with Plan B.
Kill two birds with one stone
Meaning: To accomplish two things with a single action or effort.
Example: I’ll kill two birds with one stone by going to the grocery store on my way home.
Make a long story short
Meaning: To give an abbreviated or condensed account of something.
Example: Make a long story short, we got lost trying to find the place.
Speak of the devil
Meaning: Referring to someone who has just arrived while they were being discussed.
Example: Speak of the devil! We were just wondering when you’d get here.
The blind leading the blind
Meaning: People attempting to advise others when neither has true knowledge.
Example: With those amateur directors calling the shots, it was the blind leading the blind.
The elephant in the room
Meaning: An obvious major problem or issue that everyone consciously ignores.
Example: We need to address the elephant in the room and talk about the company’s financial troubles.
When it rains, it pours
Meaning: When one has a series of problems or misfortunes occurring successively.
Example: First my car broke down, then the washing machine died – when it rains, it pours!
I hope these explanations have made it easier to understand 30 common personality idioms in English!
Knowing idioms makes conversations more interesting and meaningful.
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