Do you want to sound more natural in English? Then learning beach idioms is a great way to go! Idioms about the beach are fun expressions that can make your conversations more interesting and lively.
In this article, you’ll discover 50 popular idioms beach lovers use all the time. With simple meanings and easy examples, you’ll be speaking like a local in no time. So let’s jump in and start learning these cool expressions together!
Contents
Hide
50 Must-Know Beach Idioms: Easy Meanings & Examples
- Catch some rays
Meaning: To sit in the sun to get a tan.
Example: They went to the beach to catch some rays and relax.
- Make waves
Meaning: To create a big change or cause trouble.
Example: Her new idea made waves in the company.
- In deep water
Meaning: To be in a difficult or dangerous situation.
Example: After forgetting his homework again, he was in deep water with his teacher.
- On the sand
Meaning: To be near the beach or at the beach.
Example: We spent the day on the sand, watching the sunset.
- Smooth sailing
Meaning: Something that is easy or going well.
Example: The project went smoothly; it was all smooth sailing.
- A drop in the ocean
Meaning: A small amount compared to what is needed.
Example: The money we raised is just a drop in the ocean compared to what is needed.
- Between a rock and a hard place
Meaning: To be in a situation where you must choose between two difficult options.
Example: He was between a rock and a hard place, trying to decide between two jobs.
- Ride the wave
Meaning: To take advantage of an opportunity or situation.
Example: After their successful launch, they decided to ride the wave and expand their business.
- A beach bum
Meaning: A person who spends a lot of time on the beach, relaxing.
Example: She is a true beach bum, always at the shore when the weather is nice.
- Like a fish out of water
Meaning: To feel uncomfortable in a new or unfamiliar situation.
Example: He felt like a fish out of water at the party because he didn’t know anyone.
For more idioms, take a look at this article: 50 Essential Tree Idioms.
- Walking on water
Meaning: To be in a situation where everything seems perfect.
Example: After winning the award, he felt like he was walking on water.
- Tide is turning
Meaning: A change is happening, often for the better.
Example: The tide is turning in their favor after the new manager arrived.
- Chasing the tide
Meaning: Trying to catch something that is difficult or impossible to get.
Example: He was chasing the tide by trying to finish all the tasks in one day.
- Take it with a grain of salt
Meaning: To not take something too seriously or literally.
Example: You should take his advice with a grain of salt; he doesn’t always know what he’s talking about.
- Sink or swim
Meaning: To succeed or fail based on your own efforts.
Example: In the new job, it’s sink or swim – you have to learn quickly.
- All at sea
Meaning: To be confused or lost.
Example: She was all at sea trying to understand the new software at work.
- Ride the tide
Meaning: To follow the flow of events or circumstances.
Example: They decided to ride the tide and see where the new project would take them.
- Like a sea of troubles
Meaning: A large number of problems or difficulties.
Example: He’s facing a sea of troubles at work with all the deadlines.
- Make a splash
Meaning: To attract a lot of attention or create a big impact.
Example: Her new book made a splash when it was released last week.
- The coast is clear
Meaning: It is safe to do something; there is no danger.
Example: Once the boss left, the coast was clear, and we could leave early.
For more idioms, take a look at this article: Discover 35 Laugh Idioms.
- Ride the crest of a wave
Meaning: To be at the height of success or popularity.
Example: After the successful launch, the company was riding the crest of a wave.
- A sea change
Meaning: A dramatic or big change.
Example: There has been a sea change in how people think about climate change.
- Get your feet wet
Meaning: To start doing something new or try something for the first time.
Example: She got her feet wet by volunteering for the first time at the event.
- By the sea
Meaning: Located near or at the beach.
Example: They live in a house by the sea, where they can hear the waves at night.
- Don’t rock the boat
Meaning: To avoid causing trouble or making a situation worse.
Example: It’s best not to rock the boat at work by complaining too much.
- Catch the tide
Meaning: To take advantage of an opportunity before it passes.
Example: If you want to succeed, you need to catch the tide when it’s in your favor.
- Throwing sand in someone’s eyes
Meaning: To deceive or confuse someone.
Example: He’s always throwing sand in her eyes to hide the truth.
- Salt of the earth
Meaning: A very good, honest, and trustworthy person.
Example: He’s the salt of the earth, always helping his neighbors.
- High tide
Meaning: The highest point or moment of something.
Example: The high tide of his career came when he was promoted to manager.
- Like water off a duck’s back
Meaning: Something that does not affect you or bother you.
Example: His criticism was like water off a duck’s back; it didn’t bother her at all.
For more idioms, take a look at this article: 45 Stress Idioms Explained.
- Down by the beach
Meaning: To be near or in the area of the beach.
Example: Let’s grab a coffee down by the beach and enjoy the view.
- Under the tide
Meaning: To be overwhelmed or unable to handle something.
Example: He was under the tide with all the work he had to do in a short time.
- A fish in the sea
Meaning: There are many people or opportunities available.
Example: Don’t worry about that one relationship; there are plenty of fish in the sea.
- At sea
Meaning: To be confused or unsure of what to do.
Example: I was at sea when they asked me to lead the meeting for the first time.
- Caught in the undertow
Meaning: To be overwhelmed by a situation or by events.
Example: He was caught in the undertow of office politics and couldn’t get out.
- Drown your sorrows
Meaning: To drink alcohol in an attempt to forget about problems or sadness.
Example: After the breakup, he decided to drown his sorrows with a few beers.
- Going with the flow
Meaning: To accept things as they come and not try to change them.
Example: I’m just going with the flow and seeing where the trip takes me.
- In hot water
Meaning: To be in trouble or facing difficulties.
Example: He was in hot water after missing an important meeting.
- Salt in the wound
Meaning: To make an already bad situation even worse.
Example: Missing the flight was bad enough, but the canceled hotel reservation was salt in the wound.
- Treading water
Meaning: To make no progress or be stuck in the same situation.
Example: She felt like she was treading water in her current job with no opportunity for growth.
For more idioms, take a look at this article: 35 Mountain Idioms You Need to Know.
- A wave of emotion
Meaning: A strong feeling that comes suddenly.
Example: She felt a wave of emotion when she saw her old friend again.
- Swim against the tide
Meaning: To do something that goes against the common opinion or what others are doing.
Example: He decided to swim against the tide and start his own business, even though most people were working in big companies.
- Out of your depth
Meaning: To be in a situation where you don’t have the knowledge or skills to manage.
Example: He felt out of his depth when asked to lead the important project.
- The calm before the storm
Meaning: A peaceful period before a difficult or chaotic situation happens.
Example: The office was quiet in the morning, but it was the calm before the storm of meetings.
- Like a tide that never stops
Meaning: Something that is constant or never-ending.
Example: His optimism is like a tide that never stops, always lifting others up.
For more idioms, take a look at this article: Happy Idioms for Everyday English.
- A safe harbor
Meaning: A place or situation that provides safety and comfort.
Example: After a stressful week, her home was a safe harbor.
- Riding the waves of life
Meaning: To face the challenges of life with a positive attitude.
Example: Despite everything, he’s been riding the waves of life and staying happy.
- Out of the blue
Meaning: Something that happens unexpectedly.
Example: Out of the blue, she got a job offer from a company she had applied to months ago.
- Make a big splash
Meaning: To attract a lot of attention in a noticeable way.
Example: The movie made a big splash when it was first released, breaking box office records.
- Caught in the net
Meaning: To be trapped or involved in something, often unexpectedly.
Example: He was caught in the net of rumors after his promotion was announced.
Continue your idiom journey with this article: 45 Angry Idioms You Need to Know.
Exercises to Practice Beach Idioms
Exercise 1: Match the idiom with its meaning
- Catch some rays
- In deep water
- Make waves
- Tide is turning
- Like a fish out of water
- A drop in the ocean
a. To be in a difficult situation.
b. To create a big change or cause trouble.
c. To try something new and feel uncomfortable.
d. A very small amount compared to what is needed.
e. To sit in the sun and relax.
f. A situation where things are starting to improve.
Answers:
- e
- a
- b
- f
- c
- d
Exercise 2: Fill in the blanks with the correct idiom
- After a long week of work, she went to the beach to ________________ and relax.
- They decided to leave the company because they felt ________________ in the new office.
- The company was ________________ after the new manager arrived, everything started going better.
- He didn’t want to cause trouble at the meeting, so he decided not to ________________.
- His complaint about the new policy was just ________________ compared to the bigger problems in the company.
Answers:
- catch some rays
- like a fish out of water
- the tide is turning
- make waves
- a drop in the ocean
Exercise 3: Choose the correct idiom for each situation
- Julia was excited about her promotion; she felt as if she were ____________.
a. in deep water
b. walking on water
c. caught in the undertow - The new product launch ____________ in the media, getting a lot of attention.
a. made a splash
b. riding the crest of a wave
c. out of the blue - Sarah wanted to leave her job but felt she had no choice. She was ____________.
a. at sea
b. between a rock and a hard place
c. riding the tide - The teacher told us that we need to study hard, or we will be ____________ in the class.
a. caught in the net
b. in deep water
c. like water off a duck’s back - It was quiet for a moment, and then suddenly the boss came in, and we all felt the tension. It was the ____________.
a. calm before the storm
b. like a sea of troubles
c. riding the tide
Answers:
- b
- a
- b
- b
- a
Exercise 4: True or False
- “Make waves” means to stay calm and avoid causing any problems.
Answer: False. It means to create a big change or cause trouble. - “A fish in the sea” means there are few opportunities or people around.
Answer: False. It means there are many opportunities or people. - “Riding the wave” means to take advantage of a situation.
Answer: True. - “Out of your depth” means you are confident in a situation.
Answer: False. It means you are in a situation where you don’t have enough knowledge or skills to handle it. - “Catch the tide” means to ignore an opportunity.
Answer: False. It means to take advantage of an opportunity.
Exercise 5: Complete the sentence with the correct idiom
- He tried to ____________ when his boss asked him to stay late, but it didn’t work.
- She was _______________ at her new job and had to learn quickly.
- We had a great time at the beach, just sitting there, _____________.
- After the meeting, the ____________ came, and we all felt like we could relax.
- The new movie has been a huge success; it’s really _______________.
Answers:
- make waves
- in deep water
- catching some rays
- calm before the storm
- making a splash
Congratulations! Now you know 50 beach idioms that can take your English to the next level.
These idioms about the beach will help you sound more like a native speaker and add some fun to your conversations.
Remember, practice makes perfect, so keep using these idioms beach style, and soon they’ll feel like second nature. Enjoy the ride, and keep exploring new ways to improve your English!
Continue your idiom journey with this article: 80 Money Idioms Explained.
