47 Idioms for Great
Sometimes saying “good” or “nice” just isn’t enough. When something is really amazing, we want our words to show just how special it is. That’s where idioms come in. Idioms are colorful phrases that help us express big feelings with style. They make our language more fun and help others understand exactly what we mean.
This article will explore idioms that mean “great.” These phrases can help you speak with more excitement and describe amazing things in fresh, interesting ways. You’ll also find a short activity to practice using these idioms in everyday conversations.
Idioms for Great
1. Out of this world
Meaning: Something so amazing it seems impossible.
Sentence Example: The pizza at that new restaurant is out of this world! / Her singing voice is truly out of this world.
Other Ways to Say: Incredible / Amazing
2. Top-notch
Meaning: The very best quality.
Sentence Example: The school’s new computer lab is top-notch. / My dad’s cooking skills are absolutely top-notch.
Other Ways to Say: First-class / Excellent
3. Second to none
Meaning: The absolute best, with nothing better.
Sentence Example: Our soccer team’s teamwork is second to none. / Grandma’s apple pie is second to none.
Other Ways to Say: Unbeatable / The best
4. The bee’s knees
Meaning: Something really wonderful and special.
Sentence Example: This new video game is the bee’s knees! / Everyone thinks the new teacher is the bee’s knees.
Other Ways to Say: Fantastic / Awesome
5. Off the charts
Meaning: So good it goes beyond what you can measure.
Sentence Example: His basketball skills are off the charts. / The excitement at the concert was off the charts.
Other Ways to Say: Incredible / Beyond amazing
6. Blow your mind
Meaning: Something so great it’s hard to believe.
Sentence Example: The magic show will blow your mind! / That science experiment blew my mind completely.
Other Ways to Say: Astounding / Mind-blowing
7. Knock your socks off
Meaning: Impress someone in a big way.
Sentence Example: The fireworks display will knock your socks off. / Her art project knocked the teacher’s socks off.
Other Ways to Say: Amaze / Impress greatly
8. Cut above the rest
Meaning: Better than everything else.
Sentence Example: This restaurant is a cut above the rest. / My sister’s dance moves are a cut above the rest.
Other Ways to Say: Superior / Outstanding
9. Cream of the crop
Meaning: The very best of a group.
Sentence Example: These students are the cream of the crop. / The winning science projects were the cream of the crop.
Other Ways to Say: The finest / Top quality
10. First-rate
Meaning: Of the highest quality or standard.
Sentence Example: The school play was absolutely first-rate. / Mom’s homemade cookies are always first-rate.
Other Ways to Say: Excellent / Superior
11. Top of the line
Meaning: The best and most expensive kind.
Sentence Example: Dad bought a top of the line computer for school. / This bicycle is definitely top of the line.
Other Ways to Say: Premium / High-end
12. Worth its weight in gold
Meaning: Extremely valuable or useful.
Sentence Example: This dictionary is worth its weight in gold for studying. / A good friend is worth their weight in gold.
Other Ways to Say: Priceless / Invaluable
13. Hit it out of the park
Meaning: Do something amazingly well.
Sentence Example: She hit it out of the park with her presentation. / The school band hit it out of the park at the concert.
Other Ways to Say: Nail it / Ace it
14. Ace in the hole
Meaning: A secret advantage that makes something great.
Sentence Example: His sense of humor is his ace in the hole. / Being bilingual was her ace in the hole for the job.
Other Ways to Say: Secret weapon / Special advantage
15. On fire
Meaning: Performing incredibly well.
Sentence Example: The basketball player was on fire during the game. / Our debate team is on fire this season.
Other Ways to Say: Hot streak / Doing great
16. Through the roof
Meaning: Extremely high or great.
Sentence Example: The excitement in the classroom went through the roof. / His grades went through the roof after getting help.
Other Ways to Say: Sky-high / Extremely high
17. Off the hook
Meaning: Really cool or impressive.
Sentence Example: That new skateboard trick is off the hook! / The school dance was totally off the hook.
Other Ways to Say: Cool / Awesome
18. The cat’s pajamas
Meaning: Something really special and wonderful.
Sentence Example: Everyone thinks the new playground is the cat’s pajamas. / This ice cream flavor is the cat’s pajamas.
Other Ways to Say: The best / Wonderful
19. One in a million
Meaning: Very rare and special.
Sentence Example: A teacher like Mr. Johnson is one in a million. / Finding a friend like her is one in a million.
Other Ways to Say: Rare / Special
20. Head and shoulders above
Meaning: Much better than others.
Sentence Example: This book is head and shoulders above the rest. / Her artwork is head and shoulders above her classmates.
Other Ways to Say: Far better / Way ahead
21. In a league of its own
Meaning: So good it can’t be compared to anything else.
Sentence Example: This pizza place is in a league of its own. / His kindness is in a league of its own.
Other Ways to Say: Unique / Incomparable
22. Gold standard
Meaning: The best example of something.
Sentence Example: This textbook is the gold standard for learning math. / Her behavior is the gold standard for all students.
Other Ways to Say: Perfect example / The benchmark
23. Take the cake
Meaning: Be the best or most impressive.
Sentence Example: Of all the science projects, yours really takes the cake. / That joke takes the cake for being the funniest.
Other Ways to Say: Win the prize / Be the best
24. Knock it out of the ballpark
Meaning: Do something extremely well.
Sentence Example: She knocked it out of the ballpark with her speech. / The whole team knocked it out of the ballpark.
Other Ways to Say: Exceed expectations / Do wonderfully
25. Above and beyond
Meaning: Much more than expected.
Sentence Example: The librarian went above and beyond to help us. / This restaurant service is above and beyond.
Other Ways to Say: Extra special / More than enough
26. World-class
Meaning: Among the best in the world.
Sentence Example: The school has a world-class music program. / He’s a world-class athlete even in middle school.
Other Ways to Say: International quality / Top-tier
27. Five-star
Meaning: The highest quality rating.
Sentence Example: This hotel restaurant deserves five-star rating. / Her science fair project was five-star quality.
Other Ways to Say: Top quality / Premium
28. Picture-perfect
Meaning: So good it looks perfect.
Sentence Example: The school garden looks picture-perfect today. / Her handwriting is always picture-perfect.
Other Ways to Say: Flawless / Perfect
29. Smooth as silk
Meaning: Very smooth and excellent.
Sentence Example: His presentation went smooth as silk. / The dance performance was smooth as silk.
Other Ways to Say: Flawless / Perfectly smooth
30. Sharp as a tack
Meaning: Very smart and quick-thinking.
Sentence Example: My little sister is sharp as a tack in math. / The new student is sharp as a tack.
Other Ways to Say: Very smart / Quick-witted
31. Bright as a button
Meaning: Very smart and cheerful.
Sentence Example: That kindergartener is bright as a button. / She’s always been bright as a button in science class.
Other Ways to Say: Very clever / Smart and happy
32. Cool as a cucumber
Meaning: Very calm and great under pressure.
Sentence Example: She stayed cool as a cucumber during the test. / The team captain is cool as a cucumber in tough games.
Other Ways to Say: Very calm / Unflappable
33. Fit as a fiddle
Meaning: In excellent physical condition.
Sentence Example: Grandpa is still fit as a fiddle at age 80. / After soccer practice, I feel fit as a fiddle.
Other Ways to Say: Very healthy / In great shape
34. Right as rain
Meaning: Perfect and exactly as it should be.
Sentence Example: After fixing it, the computer works right as rain. / Her answer was right as rain.
Other Ways to Say: Perfect / Exactly right
35. Solid as a rock
Meaning: Very strong and reliable.
Sentence Example: His friendship is solid as a rock. / The team’s defense is solid as a rock.
Other Ways to Say: Very reliable / Dependable
36. Pure gold
Meaning: Extremely valuable and wonderful.
Sentence Example: Her advice is pure gold for new students. / This old book is pure gold for history lovers.
Other Ways to Say: Extremely valuable / Precious
37. Mint condition
Meaning: Perfect condition, like new.
Sentence Example: His baseball cards are all in mint condition. / The library books came back in mint condition.
Other Ways to Say: Perfect condition / Like new
38. A perfect ten
Meaning: The highest possible score or rating.
Sentence Example: Her gymnastics routine was a perfect ten. / The school talent show was a perfect ten.
Other Ways to Say: Flawless / Perfect score
39. Blue ribbon
Meaning: First place or highest quality.
Sentence Example: This pie deserves a blue ribbon at the fair. / Her science project earned blue ribbon quality.
Other Ways to Say: First-place / Award-winning
40. Red carpet treatment
Meaning: The very best service or attention.
Sentence Example: The hotel gave us red carpet treatment. / New students get red carpet treatment here.
Other Ways to Say: VIP treatment / Special care
41. Diamond in the rough
Meaning: Something great that others might not notice.
Sentence Example: This small restaurant is a diamond in the rough. / He’s a diamond in the rough on the basketball court.
Other Ways to Say: Hidden gem / Undiscovered treasure
42. Hidden gem
Meaning: Something wonderful that not many people know about.
Sentence Example: This little bookstore is a hidden gem. / She’s a hidden gem in the school choir.
Other Ways to Say: Secret treasure / Special find
43. Crown jewel
Meaning: The very best part of something.
Sentence Example: The new library is the crown jewel of our school. / Math class is the crown jewel of her day.
Other Ways to Say: Best part / Highlight
44. Jewel in the crown
Meaning: The most valuable or impressive part.
Sentence Example: The art program is the jewel in the crown of this school. / Her singing voice is the jewel in the crown of the choir.
Other Ways to Say: Most valuable part / Greatest treasure
45. Piece of cake
Meaning: Something that’s easy and goes great.
Sentence Example: The math test was a piece of cake after studying. / Helping my neighbor was a piece of cake.
Other Ways to Say: Very easy / No problem
46. Smooth sailing
Meaning: Going really well without problems.
Sentence Example: The school project has been smooth sailing so far. / After the first day, everything was smooth sailing.
Other Ways to Say: Going well / No troubles
47. Home run
Meaning: A great success.
Sentence Example: Your presentation was a total home run! / The bake sale was a home run for the class.
Other Ways to Say: Big success / Winner
Exercise to Practice
- My teacher said my science project was absolutely _______.
- The new playground equipment is _______ compared to the old stuff.
- After weeks of practice, the school play was _______.
- This homemade pizza is _______ – I can’t believe how good it tastes!
- Her artwork is _______ among all the entries in the contest.
- The basketball team’s performance was _______ during the championship.
- This math problem was _______ once I understood the steps.
- The school’s music program is truly _______.
- His helpful attitude makes him _______ as a friend.
- The science fair projects were _______ this year.
- After fixing my bike, it runs _______.
- That restaurant is a _______ in this neighborhood.
- The new teacher’s methods are _______ for helping students learn.
- Her dance routine was a _______ at the talent show.
- The team captain stayed _______ during the difficult game.
Answer Key
- top-notch
- head and shoulders above
- out of this world
- off the charts
- second to none
- on fire
- a piece of cake
- world-class
- one in a million
- the cream of the crop
- right as rain
- hidden gem
- pure gold
- perfect ten
- cool as a cucumber
Conclusion
Using idioms makes talking about great things much more exciting. They help your words come alive and show others exactly how amazing something really is. Whether you’re describing a friend, a meal, or an experience, these phrases can help you express your excitement in creative ways.
Try using a few of these idioms in your conversations today. A simple “that’s out of this world” or “you knocked it out of the park” can make someone feel proud and understood. Great words help us share great feelings.
