Hangman words
Hangman Idioms
Real English idioms for hangman, from piece of cake to once in a blue moon, with meanings in the notes. Play online or print an answer key.
Read the phrase list
An idiom is a phrase whose meaning is not the sum of its words. Nobody is literally under the weather or spilling beans, yet native speakers understand both instantly. Idioms are a staple of ESL lessons and middle-school language arts, and hangman is a lively way to practice them because players have to recall the exact wording, not just the general idea.
The list runs from the very short, such as piece of cake and in hot water, to the sprawling, like you can't judge a book by its cover. Short idioms are harder than their length suggests: with few letters to find, there is less to build on. The long ones fill in step by step and often become obvious midway. Alongside the list, the notes give plain-English meanings for a handful of entries, which makes them useful for teaching as well as playing.
- piece of cake
- break the ice
- under the weather
- spill the beans
- hit the sack
- once in a blue moon
- cost an arm and a leg
- raining cats and dogs
- a blessing in disguise
- barking up the wrong tree
- beat around the bush
- better late than never
- cut corners
- cold feet
- hold your horses
- jump on the bandwagon
- add fuel to the fire
- back to square one
- bite off more than you can chew
- burst your bubble
- call it a day
- cry over spilled milk
- cross that bridge when you come to it
- don't count your chickens
- every cloud has a silver lining
- the cold shoulder
- go the extra mile
- head over heels
- in hot water
- it takes two to tango
- keep your chin up
- last straw
- make a long story short
- on cloud nine
- out of the blue
- pull someone's leg
- the best of both worlds
- throw in the towel
- when pigs fly
- wild goose chase
- you can't judge a book by its cover
- actions speak louder than words
- a dime a dozen
- hit the nail on the head
- play it by ear
- see eye to eye
- sit on the fence
- steal the show
- a grain of salt
- water under the bridge
Words worth a closer look
- piece of cakeSomething very easy. A good first idiom for new learners because the pictured meaning is easy to imagine.
- break the iceTo start a conversation in an awkward setting. Often used for icebreaker games, which is a nice link for a first-day class.
- under the weatherFeeling slightly unwell. The double e and the th make the middle of the phrase easy to fill.
- spill the beansTo reveal a secret by accident. Short words and two s's make it quick to solve.
- once in a blue moonVery rarely. The double o and the four o's overall make o a strong first guess.
- when pigs flySomething that will never happen. Four short words with a short sound pattern makes it harder than it looks.
- hold your horsesWait, slow down. Both holds and horses start with h, which helps.
- cold feetTo feel nervous right before something you had planned to do. Used for weddings and performances.
How to use this list
Play a round, then pause on the solved idiom and ask students to explain it in their own words or give an example from their life. This is where the activity pays off for language learners. Keep a list of idioms from each round on the wall.
Another option is a picture round: students draw the literal meaning of an idiom, such as raining cats and dogs, and the class guesses the saying before the hangman begins. Idioms vary by region, so if your class uses a different version of one, treat that as a talking point rather than a mistake.
Print a Hangman Idioms worksheet
Eight puzzles on one US Letter page, with a clue, letter blanks, an empty frame to draw in, an alphabet strip to cross off and circles to count misses. Page two is the answer key.
Need another sheet?
Draw eight different words from this list, right here. Same layout, new answer key.
Keep going
- Hangman PhrasesCommon everyday phrases for hangman, from good morning to piece of cake. Play online or print a sheet with an answer key for classroom or home.
- Funny Hangman PhrasesSilly, family-friendly phrases and tongue twisters for hangman, from pickled pepper party to snoring snowman. Play online or print a sheet.
- Hangman Phrases for AdultsSophisticated vocabulary and phrases for grown-up hangman rounds at book clubs, dinner parties and game nights. Play online or print a sheet.
- Hangman SentencesComplete short sentences for hangman, five to nine words each, written for classrooms and English learners. Play online or print an answer key.
- Two Word Hangman WordsEveryday two-word compounds and pairs for hangman, from ice cream and fire truck to high school. Play online or print a sheet with an answer key.
- Hardest Hangman WordsThe hardest hangman words in everyday English, ranked by how many wrong guesses a sensible player makes. Play the list online or print it.