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…
43 Light Idioms And Phrases (Meaning & Examples)
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!
