Are you looking for some good light idioms? If so, you have come to the right place.
In this post, we are going to look at 43 light idioms, what they mean and how to use them in a sentence.
Let’s get started…
1. All Sweetness And Light
- Meaning: used to describe a person as kind, pleasant, amiable or helpful.
- Use In A Sentence: The family was all sweetness and light when the guests were in their house, but as soon as they left, they continue to find like cats and dogs.
2. A Heavy Purse Make A Light Heart
- Meaning: a person that has a lot of money will feel happy and secure.
- Use In A Sentence: Everyone looks forward to payday. After all, a heavy purse makes a light heart.
3. A Light Purse Makes A Heavy Heart
- Meaning: a person that has very little money will worry more and won’t be happy. It can also mean that a person spends their money wastefully.
- Use In A Sentence: Jerry hasn’t been the same person since he lost his job. I guess a light purse makes a heavy heart.
4. To Be Out Like A Light
- Meaning: to fall asleep very quickly.
- Use In A Sentence: Ethan was really tired after the game. He was out like a light before we got to the house.
5. To Be In One’s Light
- Meaning: to physically block a light source.
- Use In A Sentence: I am sorry, but you are in my light. Would you mind moving over a bit? I am trying to read the map.
6. A Light Bulb Goes Off In One’s Head
- Meaning: a person suddenly has an ingenious or great idea.
- Use In A Sentence: I have been thinking about this situation all day. I went home, laid down on my bed and suddenly a light bulb went off in my head. I think I have found the solution.
7. To Be Light On Something
- Meaning: to use something sparingly.
- Use In A Sentence: Can you please go light on the mayo? I need to cut back on condiments.
8. To Be Light Years Away
- Meaning: To be very far away. It can be used to describe a location or something that is going to happen in the distant future.
- Use In A Sentence: They are light years away from developing a flying car.
9. To Begin To See The Light
- Meaning: to begin to understand something. Usually, something that a person was previously skeptical about or didn’t believe.
- Use In A Sentence: I never could understand why so many people didn’t like Karen until one day I heard her bad mouthing all the people in the office. That day I began to see the light about her and her attitude.
10. Candlelight
- Meaning: Another name for dusk, dawn or twighlight.
- Use In A Sentence: Be sure to wear your reflective vest when riding your bike during candlelight. It can be difficult for drivers to see riders during that time.
11. Cast / Shed / Throw Light On Something
- Meaning: to reveal information or details about something in order to help another person understand something better.
- Use In A Sentence: The new evidence presented help shed some new light on what really happened that night.
12. To First See The Light Of Day
- Meaning: to be born.
- Use In A Sentence: The nanny had been caring for Julius since he first saw the light of day. That’s why he considered her his best friend.
13. To Get Off Light
- Meaning: to escape punishment entirely or to receive lighter punishment than expected.
- Use In A Sentence: I thought Mom and Dad would have been really upset with Joey after he crashed the family car, but it looks like he got off light again.
14. To Give Someone The Green Light
- Meaning: to give someone permission to do something
- Use In A Sentence: As soon as Tom gives me the green light, I will start working on the new project. In the meantime, I need to get some of this other paperwork done.
15. To Go Light On Someone
- Meaning: to treat a person gently. To not criticize or punish them too harshly.
- Use In A Sentence: Please go light on Mary. She had a really bad day at work and is under a lot of stress. She doesn’t deserve to be treated too harshly.
16. To Hide One’s Light Under A Bushel
- Meaning: to hide one’s talents. To be extremely modest.
- Use In A Sentence: Please don’t hide your light under a bushel. You have real talent. You need to allow people to see your work.
17. In The Light Of Something
- Meaning: To consider something and new information is presented.
- Use In A Sentence: In light of what you just told us, we believe he is innocent.
18. To Light A Fire Under Someone
- Meaning: to motivate someone to take action.
- Example Sentence: It looks like whatever you said to Steve has lit a fire under him. He came into work today extrememly motivated.
19. To See Light At The End Of A Tunnel
- Meaning: to see an end to a difficult situation or a solution to a problem finally has emerged.
- Example Sentence: After 6 months of working on this difficult project, we finally are able to see light at the end of the tunnel.
19. The Light Dawned On Someone
- Meaning: to suddenly understand something that one wasn’t able to understand previously
- Example Sentence: I couldn’t figure out what I was doing wrong and then suddenly the light dawned on me. I had been putting the figures in wrong.
20. To Light Into Someone Or Something
- Meaning: to physically or verbally attack someone.
- Example Sentence: He was so upset about the terrible customer service that he called the company and lit into the manager.
21. Light Relief
- Meaning: distracting entertainment during or after something that was serious or tedious.
- Example Sentence: After the argument, the moderator provided a light relief with hopes to calm the situation, but no one bought into it.
22. To Light Up (Someone Or Something)
- Meaning #1: to become brighter.
- Meaning #2: to cause someone to be more animated, cheerful or excited.
- Example Sentence #1: The fire lit up the entire room.
- Example Sentence #2: The children’s eyes lit up when they heard the word cookies.
23. To Make Light Of Something
- Meaning: to joke about something or to treat something as though it is not serious or important.
- Example Sentence: Please don’t make light of the situation. Though your sister wasn’t physically injured, she still suffers from emotional trauma.
24. To See Something Or Someone In A New Light
- Meaning: to understand someone or something in a new, positive way.
- Example Sentence: After I had my first child, I began to see my parents in a new light.
25. To Be The Light Of One’s Life
- Meaning: used to describe a person that loved more than others.
- Example Sentence: Susan is his only daughter thus she became the light of his life.
26. With A Light Heart
- Meaning: to be in a cheerful, happy state.
- Example Sentence: After speaking with the doctor about the test results, Camile left the office with a light heart. Her family and friends were excited to see a smile on her face once again.
27. To Travel Light
- Meaning: to travel with very little luggage or baggage.
- Use In A Sentence: We decided to travel light in order to avoid having to check-in any luggage.
28. To Be As Light As A Feather
- Meaning: to be extremely light.
- Use In A Sentence: Don’t worry, it may look big, but it is as light as a feather.
29. A Leading Light
- Meaning: a person who is viewed as an important member of the group.
- Use In A Sentence: As a leading light of the organization, Rodger was able to help many people find a good-paying job.
30. To Bring Something To Light
- Meaning: to present information or evidence about something or someone.
- Use In A Sentence: This evidence brought to light what really happened on that dreadful night.
31. To Feel Light-Headed
- Meaning: to feel dizzy as is one is about to faint.
- Use In A Sentence: I need to sit down, I am starting to feel light-headed.
32. To Be In The Limelight / Spotlight
- Meaning: to be the center of attention.
- Use In A Sentence: People that love to be in the limelight annoy me.
33. To Be In A Good, Bad, Favorable Light
- Meaning: to be shown or depicted in a certain way.
- Use In A Sentence: He was angry because the news report didn’t portray him in a favorable light.
34. To Light The Fuse
- Meaning: to do something that ignites a widespread action.
- Use In A Sentence: The last-minute decision taken by the government was enough to light the fuse and start riots in the streets.
35. A Ray Of Light
- Meaning: something that brings hope to a difficult situation.
- Use In A Sentence: The news that he would get better was a ray of light that he would finally beat this sickness.
36. To Run A Red Light
- Meaning: to drive through a red stoplight.
- Use In A Sentence: The police stopped Mario after running a red light.
37. A Yellow Light
- Meaning: an indication to slow down.
- Use In A Sentence: Don’t ask her out just yet, she is giving you the yellow light.
38. To See The Light Of Day
- Meaning: to be made public.
- Use In A Sentence: I read his book, I’d be surprised if it ever saw the light of day.
39. In The Cold Light Of Day
- Meaning: to allow time to cool down one’s emotions. To think clearly about something without allowing your emotions to affect you.
- Use In A Sentence: John you are really upset about this right now. Let’s go home and tomorrow in the cold light of day we will see what we can do. How does that sound?
40. To Have A Light-Bulb Moment
- Meaning: to suddenly think of a good idea.
- Use In A Sentence: I was laying in my bed when suddenly I had a light-bulb moment.
41. At First Light
- Meaning: At dawn.
- Use In A Sentence: If we leave tomorrow at first light, we should arrive by 3 in the afternoon.
42. To Be Light On One’s Feet
- Meaning: to move gracefully. Often used with dancing.
- Use In A Sentence: Have you seen Larry dance? I didn’t expect such a big guy to be so light on his feet.
43. To Be As Light As Air
- Meaning: weighing very little. Extremely light.
- Use In A Sentence: Don’t worry, it may look big, but it is as light as air.
There you have it! 43 Light Idioms. Which one is your favorite? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
If you enjoy this post, you may also enjoy our Idiom Of The Day page. There we post a different idiom every day. Check it out!
Oh, ye only drink milk and refreshment from the light‘s udders!
No changes in English Inland lights for week ending Dec.
But, even at this height, it is wise to show no lights, lest she might learn something of our presence or absence.»
‘Good,’ said the soldier; ‘then in the first place help me out of this well.’ The little man took him by the hand, and led him through an underground passage, but he did not forget to take the blue light with him.
In his insistent crawling toward the light, he discovered in her a nose that with a sharp nudge administered rebuke, and later, a paw, that crushed him down and rolled him over and over with swift, calculating stroke.
Standing on the inner side of the tapestry, I found myself in a dark recess or passage, at the end of which a ray of light from the lamp showed me a closed door.
«General, the first soldier we meet will light us.»
«She has her work.» Her voice shook slightly, and the light swam like an ocean of gold behind her tears.
When night came again I found, with pleasure, that the fire gave light as well as heat and that the discovery of this element was useful to me in my food, for I found some of the offals that the travellers had left had been roasted, and tasted much more savoury than the berries I gathered from the trees.
«O King of blight and sorrow, send me not away till I have brought back the light and joy that will make your dark home bright and beautiful again.
In addition to the bright and circular flame, was now to be seen a fainter, though a vivid light, of an equal diameter to the other at the upper end, but which, after extending downward for many feet, gradually tapered to a point at its lower extremity.
And the Owls said, «Have we honored the summer-house by occupying it all these years—and is the horrid light of noonday to be let in on us at last?
It was a July midnight; and from out A full-orbed moon, that, like thine own soul, soaring, Sought a precipitate pathway up through heaven, There fell a silvery-silken veil of light, With quietude, and sultriness, and slumber, Upon the upturned faces of a thousand Roses that grew in an enchanted garden, Where no wind dared to stir, unless on tiptoe — Fell on the upturn’d faces of these roses That gave out, in return for the love-light, Their odorous souls in an ecstatic death — Fell on the upturn’d faces of these roses That smiled and died in this parterre, enchanted By thee, and by the poetry of thy presence.
human beings living in a underground den, which has a mouth open towards the light and reaching all along the den; here they have been from their childhood, and have their legs and necks chained so that they cannot move, and can only see before them, being prevented by the chains from turning round their heads.
They steered as straight as human hand could guide a tiller, for Fentolin’s light! And there they are, calling and calling at the bottom of the sea — my three boys and my man.
according to one’s own lights
In accordance with one’s conscience or inclinations.
Citizens should vote according to their own lights.
beat the — out of
lick the — out of
whale the — out of
knock the — out of
knock the tar out of
beat the living daylights out of
To beat hard; give a bad beating to. Used with several words after the, as daylights, living daylights, tar.
The big kid told Charlie that he would beat the daylights out of him if Charlie came in his yard again.
bring to light
To discover (something hidden); find out about; expose.
Many things left by the ancient Egyptians in tombs have been brought to light by scientists and explorers.
His enemies brought to light some foolish things he had done while young, but he was elected anyway because people trusted him.
cast light upon
shed light upon
throw light upon
cast light on
shed light on
throw light on
To explain; illuminate; clarify.
The letters that were found suddenly cast a new light on the circumstances of Tom’s disappearance.
Einstein’s General Theory of Relativity threw light upon the enigma of our universe.
come to light
To be discovered; become known; appear.
John’s thefts from the bank where he worked came to light when the bank examiners made an inspection.
When the old woman died it came to light that she was actually rich.
New facts about ancient Egypt have recently come to light.
dash light
A light on the front inside of a car or vehicle.
Henry stopped the car and turned on the dash lights to read the road map.
daylight robbery
highway robbery
A hold-up of or theft from a person committed on an open road or street usually by an armed man.
Highway robbery was common in England in Shakespeare’s day.
An extremely high price or charge; a profiteer’s excessive charge.
To someone from a small town, the prices of meals and theater tickets in New York often seem to be highway robbery.
daylight saving time
daylight saving
daylight time
fast time
A way of keeping time in summer that is one or two hours ahead of standard time. Abbreviation DST.
Many places in the United States keep their clocks on daylight saving time in the summer; in this way people get up earlier and have more free time in the afternoon and evening while it is still daylight.
Father said that next week it will get dark later because we will change to daylight saving lime.
We go off daylight saving in the fall.
phrases with adjectives – light
The word ‘light’ as an adjective can mean sufficient natural light, pale or not weighing much. For example:
- It’s getting light, we should go home and sleep. (sufficient natural light)
- I’m painting the bathroom a shade lighter. (pale)
- My bag feels light, I think i’ve forgotten something. (not weighing much)
Let’s take a look at some common expressions and sayings containing the word ‘light’.
late
long
- all sweetness and light – harmonious, benevolent
- in light of something – with something taken into consideration
- in the cold light of day – after one has had the time to properly consider a situation
- in the limelight/spotlight – in the centre of attention
- leading light – an influential person
- light at the end of the tunnel – a signal that a long period of hardship is coming to an end
- the light of one’s life – someone who is deeply loved
- to go out like a like – to fall asleep quickly or suddenly
- to bring something to light – to make something known, to expose something
- to come to light – to become known
- to give someone/something the green light – to give permission to someone/something
- to have a light bulb go off in one’s head/to have a lightbulb moment – to experience a moment of epiphany
- to hide one’s light under a bushel – to hide or stay quiet about one’s successes or talents
- to light a fire under someone – to cause someone to work in a quick and efficient manner
- to light up – to suddenly become animated or lively
- to punch someone’s lights out – to beat someone up
- to see in a good/bad/new light – to see in a good/bad/new way
- to see the light – to finally realise something
- to see the light of day – to be born, to become known or available to the public
- to throw light on – to explain something by providing more information
10 Nov 2020
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