Gold has been considered a precious and valuable metal throughout history. It has been used as a symbol of wealth, success, and prosperity in many cultures, and has inspired a variety of idiomatic expressions in the English language.
From “worth its weight in gold” to “all that glitters is not gold,” these idioms offer a creative and engaging way of expressing various aspects of human experience, from materialism to wisdom.
In this post, we will explore some of the most interesting and widely used gold idioms, examining their meanings and origins, and discovering the valuable insights they offer for everyday communication.
Through these idioms, we can gain a deeper appreciation for the richness and diversity of our language and the ways in which it reflects and shapes our experiences.
31 Gold Idioms & Phrases (Meaning & Examples)
1. As Good As Gold
- Meaning: to be very good. It can also be used to describe a well-behaved obedient person.
- Use In A Sentence: How were the kids this afternoon? They were as good as gold. They just played with their toys and watched a movie.
2. A Gold Mine
- Meaning: something that contains a lot of value.
- Use In A Sentence: Wow, my grandpa’s attic is a gold mine! I found just what I was looking for.
3. To Have A Heart Of Gold
- Meaning: used to describe a person who is very genuine. Someone that is always looking for ways to help others.
- Use In A Sentence: I love your grandmother. She has a heart of gold. She is always willing to lend a hand.
4. A Pot Of Gold
- Meaning: a large sum of money.
- Use In A Sentence: He may look like he doesn’t have much money, but I bet they are sitting on a pot of gold.
5. All That Glistens Is Not Gold
- Meaning: Not everything is as good as it seems.
- Use In A Sentence: Don’t think that just because a person is rich they are happy. Remember all that glistens is not gold
6. To Be Sitting On A Gold Mine
- Meaning: to have access to something that has a lot of value or is worth a lot of money.
- Use In A Sentence: I never knew all this time George was sitting on a gold mine of antiques that he has collected over the past 50 years.
7. To Be Worth One’s Weight In Gold
- Meaning: used to describe something that is very valuable or useful.
- Use In A Sentence: I think this website on idioms is worth its weight in gold.
8. Black Gold
- Meaning: Oil. It is called black gold because of its colors and its value.
- Use In A Sentence: We are going to be rich! They just told Dad that our property is sitting on black gold.
9. Crock Of Gold
- Meaning: a large sum of money.
- Use In A Sentence: I thought I was going to find a crock of gold when I started my marketing business, but I guess I was wrong.
10. Fool’s Gold
- Meaning: a yellow metal that is oftentimes confused with gold. It can also be used to refer to a situation that appears too good to be true.
- Use In A Sentence: You can imagine how disappointed he was when he learned that he dug up nothing but mere fool’s gold.
11. To Go For The Gold
- Meaning: to try your very best with hopes of winning. It is a reference to winning a gold medal at the Olympics.
- Use In A Sentence: Tomorrow I am going to compete in the State Spelling Bee. Nice, go for the gold!
12. A Gold Digger
- Meaning: a female who pursues a romantic relationship with men who have a lot of money.
- Use In A Sentence: I think Jessica is only planning on marrying him because of his money. I hope Jack comes to his senses before it is too late.
13. Gold Standard
- Meaning: a model of excellence in which other things are measured up against.
- Use In A Sentence: Her apple pies are now the gold standard for those competing in the competition.
14. A Goldbrick
- Meaning: a lazy person.
- Use In A Sentence: Jim is just a lazy brick. He doesn’t do anything but sit around the house and watch TV.
15. Gold-Plated
- Meaning: this terms literally means to put a layer of gold over something. However, it can also mean to add unnecessary refinements or embellishments to something.
- Use In A Sentence: Many of the people in this town are upset at how the government spends the taxpayer’s hard-earned money to gold plate the city’s infrastructure.
16. Like Gold Dust
- Meaning: used to describe something that is very valuable but difficult to get.
- Use In A Sentence: A hard-working person is like gold dust in this city. They are so hard to find.
17. Speech Is Silver, Silence Is Gold
- Meaning: an expression to say that silence is more valuable than too much talking.
- Use In A Sentence: I would be careful what you say around them. Remember, speech is silver and silence is gold.
18. To Strike Gold
- Meaning: to discover wealth or success. It usually refers to finding success by chance.
- Use In A Sentence: John struck gold when he discovered the 17-year old opera singer.
19. Streets Are Paved With Gold
- Meaning: a place where it is easy to make money or become successful.
- Use In A Sentence: Lily wants to move to L.A. because she thinks the streets are paved with gold.
20. There Is Gold In Them There Hills
- Meaning: there exists the possibility to make a lot of money it a certain place.
- Use In A Sentence: With the economy growing many investors know there is gold in them there hills and are acting fast.
21. A Golden Calf
- Meaning: to give an object unworthy wealth.
- Use In A Sentence: Wealth has become a golden calf in Western countries.
22. The Golden Years
- Meaning: the years after retirement.
- Use In A Sentence: After Jeff retires, he wants to spend his golden years living on a beach in a foreign country.
23. A Golden Handshake
- Meaning: a large severance package or a large amount of money a person is given to leave their job.
- Use In A Sentence: Jill was offered a golden handshake. She’d be a fool to refuse it.
24. A Golden Hello
- Meaning: an amount of money given to a new recruit as a bonus.
- Use In A Sentence: I can’t believe it! My first week on the job and my new boss was so impressed that he gave me a golden hello.
25. A Golden Key Can Open Any Door
- Meaning: with money a person can do just about anything.
- Use In A Sentence: I can’t believe Jessica was accepted into that university. Well, she comes from a rich family and a golden key can open any door.
26. A Golden Opportunity
- Meaning: a chance to do something. An opportunity that is very rare. Once in a lifetime.
- Use In A Sentence: This is a golden opportunity for you to do what you have always wanted to do. Please don’t pass up this opportunity.
27. To Have A Golden Touch
- Meaning: to be successful at whatever one does or touches.
- Use In A Sentence: Bill has a golden touch. It seems like whatever company he buys within a year it is making double the amount he paid for it.
29. The Golden Ticket
- Meaning: Something or someone that provides an opportunity for one to become very successful.
- Use In A Sentence: The piano his dad bought him was his golden ticket out of this small town. One day he will become a famous piano musician.
30. A Golden Oldie
- Meaning: a song that was popular in the past and still is popular today.
- Use In A Sentence: My dad loves to listen to the golden oldies. I can’t complain, I like to listen to them too.
31. Golden Age
- Meaning: a period of time when something or someone was very successful.
- Example: My grandma grew up in the golden age of good American Literature.
In conclusion, gold idioms provide a fascinating insight into the ways in which our language is shaped by our cultural experiences and values.
They offer a creative and engaging way of expressing a range of human experiences, from wealth and success to wisdom and value.
By mastering the art of using gold idioms, we can not only improve our language skills but also gain valuable insights into human behavior and interaction, and ultimately, increase our appreciation for the richness and diversity of our world.
Whether we are talking about the value of material possessions or the importance of inner qualities, gold idioms offer a timeless and powerful way of communicating complex ideas and emotions that continue to resonate with us today.
There you have it! 31 Gold Idioms! Which one is your favorite? Please share your thoughts in the comments section below.
