Idioms are special phrases where the words together have a different meaning than their usual meanings. In English, there are many idioms about women. These phrases show how people think about women in different ways. Some are old, and some are new. In this article, we talk about 30 common idioms for women. We explain what they mean and how to use them. These idioms are interesting and help us understand how language can tell us about people’s ideas and feelings. Let’s learn about these idioms and what they tell us about women.
Idioms for Women
English idioms about women are expressions that convey more than their literal meanings, often reflecting cultural attitudes and beliefs. These idioms offer insight into how women are viewed and represented in language. Here are some examples along with their meanings and usage:
“A woman of substance”
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- Meaning: A woman with strong character, intelligence, and depth.
- Example: “She’s not just beautiful, she’s a woman of substance.”
“Miss goody two-shoes”
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- Meaning: A woman who is always well-behaved and does everything right.
- Example: “She’s known as Miss goody two-shoes in her office.”
“A knight in shining armor”
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- Meaning: A man who comes to a woman’s rescue.
- Example: “She’s always dreamed of a knight in shining armor to sweep her off her feet.”
“Like mother, like daughter”
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- Meaning: A daughter’s habits or characteristics are similar to her mother’s.
- Example: “She loves gardening just like her mom – like mother, like daughter.”
“A woman’s intuition”
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- Meaning: A woman’s ability to understand or know something without conscious reasoning.
- Example: “Her woman’s intuition told her that something was wrong.”
“To be someone’s better half”
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- Meaning: A person’s spouse or significant other.
- Example: “I’ll have to check with my better half before I make any plans.”
“Queen bee”
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- Meaning: A woman who holds the most power in a particular group.
- Example: “She’s the queen bee of her social circle.”
“To be on the warpath”
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- Meaning: To be very angry and ready to argue or confront.
- Example: “She’s on the warpath after hearing about the broken vase.”
“To be a trophy wife”
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- Meaning: A young, attractive wife regarded as a status symbol for an older man.
- Example: “He’s only interested in finding a trophy wife.”
“A woman’s touch”
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- Meaning: A gentle or careful way of doing something.
- Example: “The living room looked much warmer after a woman’s touch was added.”
“To tie the knot”
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- Meaning: To get married.
- Example: “They’re finally tying the knot next summer.”
“Iron lady”
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- Meaning: A strong-willed or strict woman leader.
- Example: “She’s the iron lady of the company, very firm in her decisions.”
“To wear one’s heart on one’s sleeve”
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- Meaning: To openly and freely express emotions.
- Example: “She always wears her heart on her sleeve, showing her emotions.”
“A scarlet woman”
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- Meaning: An outdated term for a woman who has had many sexual partners.
- Example: “In those days, she was unfairly labeled as a scarlet woman.”
“Behind every great man, there’s a great woman”
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- Meaning: Successful men often have a supportive woman in their life.
- Example: “He always credits his success to his wife. Behind every great man, there’s a great woman.”
“A shrinking violet”
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- Meaning: A shy or modest woman.
- Example: “She’s a bit of a shrinking violet, avoiding the spotlight.”
“Lady luck”
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- Meaning: Personification of luck as a lady.
- Example: “Lady luck was on his side during the poker game.”
“A kitchen witch”
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- Meaning: A woman skilled in cooking and household magic.
- Example: “My grandmother is a real kitchen witch, her meals are always delicious and comforting.”
“Domestic goddess”
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- Meaning: A woman who excels in household duties and cooking.
- Example: “She’s a real domestic goddess, always keeping her home spotless.”
“A battle-axe”
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- Meaning: A domineering, aggressive, and often older woman.
- Example: “The new supervisor is a bit of a battle-axe.”
“Girl Friday”
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- Meaning: A female assistant who does a variety of tasks.
- Example: “She’s the CEO’s Girl Friday, handling everything from scheduling to emails.”
“Mother hen”
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- Meaning: A woman who looks after others, especially in an overprotective or fussing manner.
- Example: “She’s always been the mother hen of the group.”
“To be the belle of the ball”
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- Meaning: To be the most attractive or admired woman at a social gathering.
- Example: “She was the belle of the ball in her stunning dress.”
“The hand that rocks the cradle”
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- Meaning: The person who raises a child has a significant influence on their character.
- Example: “She’s a great mother. Remember, the hand that rocks the cradle rules the world.”
“To play second fiddle”
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- Meaning: To be regarded as less important than someone else.
- Example: “She’s tired of playing second fiddle to her famous sister.”
“Wear the pants”
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- Meaning: To be the dominant decision-maker in a relationship.
- Example: “In their relationship, it’s clear that she wears the pants.”
“The fairer sex”
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- Meaning: A polite or old-fashioned way of referring to women.
- Example: “He believes in being chivalrous towards the fairer sex.”
“The power behind the throne”
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- Meaning: A person who secretly controls a country, organization, etc., through someone else.
- Example: “Everyone knows that she is the power behind the throne in that organization.”
“A damsel in distress”
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- Meaning: A young woman in trouble and in need of help.
- Example: “He saw himself as the hero saving the damsel in distress.”
“Old wives’ tale”
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- Meaning: A traditional belief that is regarded as unscientific or incorrect.
- Example: “Believing that you’ll catch a cold from being cold is just an old wives’ tale.”
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