47 Idioms for Important
Sometimes we need to say that something really matters. Using the word “important” all the time can get boring. That’s where idioms come in. Idioms are special phrases that make our words more colorful and interesting. When we use them, people can better understand how much something means to us.
This article will look at idioms that show importance. These phrases can help you speak more clearly about things that matter and express your feelings in a simple but powerful way. You’ll also find a short activity to try using these idioms in real-life situations.
Idioms for Important
1. Make or break
Meaning: Something that will decide if you succeed or fail.
Sentence Example: This test is make or break for my final grade. / The big game tomorrow is make or break for our team’s championship hopes.
Other Ways to Say: Do or die / Crucial moment
2. Life and death
Meaning: Something extremely important or serious.
Sentence Example: Getting to the hospital quickly was a life and death situation. / For some students, getting good grades feels like life and death.
Other Ways to Say: Critical / Vital
3. The bottom line
Meaning: The most important point or fact.
Sentence Example: The bottom line is we need to study harder for the next test. / The bottom line is safety comes first on this trip.
Other Ways to Say: The main point / What really matters
4. First and foremost
Meaning: Most important of all.
Sentence Example: First and foremost, we need to finish our homework. / First and foremost, remember to be kind to everyone.
Other Ways to Say: Above all / Most importantly
5. Top priority
Meaning: The most important thing to focus on.
Sentence Example: Cleaning my room is my top priority this weekend. / Getting enough sleep should be your top priority during exam week.
Other Ways to Say: Main focus / Number one goal
6. Cut to the chase
Meaning: Get to the most important part quickly.
Sentence Example: Let me cut to the chase – we need to work together on this project. / The teacher cut to the chase and told us about the pop quiz.
Other Ways to Say: Get to the point / Skip the details
7. At the heart of
Meaning: The most important part of something.
Sentence Example: Friendship is at the heart of our soccer team’s success. / Good communication is at the heart of solving problems.
Other Ways to Say: The center of / The core of
8. High on the list
Meaning: Very important among other things.
Sentence Example: Getting into college is high on the list for most seniors. / Buying new shoes is high on the list for back-to-school shopping.
Other Ways to Say: Top of the list / High priority
9. Of the essence
Meaning: Extremely important, especially when time matters.
Sentence Example: Speed is of the essence when helping someone who is hurt. / Accuracy is of the essence when taking this math test.
Other Ways to Say: Critical / Essential
10. The be-all and end-all
Meaning: The most important thing there is.
Sentence Example: Getting good grades is important, but it’s not the be-all and end-all of life. / Winning the game felt like the be-all and end-all to our team.
Other Ways to Say: Everything / The ultimate goal
11. Worth its weight in gold
Meaning: Extremely valuable and important.
Sentence Example: My grandmother’s advice is worth its weight in gold. / That study guide was worth its weight in gold for the final exam.
Other Ways to Say: Priceless / Invaluable
12. The name of the game
Meaning: The most important thing in a situation.
Sentence Example: In basketball, teamwork is the name of the game. / When studying for tests, focus is the name of the game.
Other Ways to Say: What matters most / The key thing
13. Front and center
Meaning: In the most important position.
Sentence Example: Safety rules should be front and center in every science class. / The school talent show put student creativity front and center.
Other Ways to Say: Main focus / In the spotlight
14. Above and beyond
Meaning: More important or better than expected.
Sentence Example: My teacher went above and beyond to help me understand math. / The volunteers went above and beyond to make the event special.
Other Ways to Say: Extra special / Beyond the call of duty
15. At all costs
Meaning: No matter what happens, this must be done.
Sentence Example: We must avoid being late to the wedding at all costs. / The team was determined to win at all costs.
Other Ways to Say: No matter what / Whatever it takes
16. The whole nine yards
Meaning: Everything that’s important or needed.
Sentence Example: For the science fair, she prepared the whole nine yards with charts, experiments, and a presentation. / Mom went the whole nine yards for my birthday party.
Other Ways to Say: Everything / The full package
17. Move heaven and earth
Meaning: Do everything possible because it’s very important.
Sentence Example: My parents would move heaven and earth to help me succeed in school. / The rescue team moved heaven and earth to find the lost hiker.
Other Ways to Say: Do everything / Go all out
18. No small matter
Meaning: Something quite important and serious.
Sentence Example: Choosing which high school to attend is no small matter. / Getting your driver’s license is no small matter for a teenager.
Other Ways to Say: Big deal / Serious business
19. The key to success
Meaning: The most important thing needed to do well.
Sentence Example: Practice is the key to success in learning piano. / Good study habits are the key to success in school.
Other Ways to Say: Secret to winning / Main ingredient
20. Par for the course
Meaning: What’s normally important or expected.
Sentence Example: Doing homework every night is par for the course in middle school. / Being nervous before a big test is par for the course.
Other Ways to Say: Normal / Standard
21. A big deal
Meaning: Something very important or special.
Sentence Example: Getting an A on the science test was a big deal for me. / Graduating from high school is a big deal for the whole family.
Other Ways to Say: Really important / Major event
22. Crystal clear
Meaning: Very important and easy to understand.
Sentence Example: The teacher made it crystal clear that we need to turn in our projects on time. / It’s crystal clear that practice makes perfect.
Other Ways to Say: Perfectly obvious / Very clear
23. Tip of the iceberg
Meaning: Only a small part of something much more important.
Sentence Example: Learning multiplication is just the tip of the iceberg in math class. / The messy room was just the tip of the iceberg of his disorganization.
Other Ways to Say: Just the beginning / Small part
24. In the driver’s seat
Meaning: Having control over important decisions.
Sentence Example: As class president, she’s in the driver’s seat for planning the school dance. / You’re in the driver’s seat when it comes to choosing your classes.
Other Ways to Say: In control / In charge
25. The final word
Meaning: The most important decision that won’t change.
Sentence Example: The principal has the final word on school rules. / Mom always has the final word about bedtime.
Other Ways to Say: Last say / Ultimate decision
26. Set in stone
Meaning: So important it can’t be changed.
Sentence Example: The date for graduation is set in stone. / Family dinner time is set in stone in our house.
Other Ways to Say: Fixed / Unchangeable
27. Worth one’s salt
Meaning: Good enough or important enough.
Sentence Example: Any teacher worth their salt cares about their students. / A friend worth their salt will help you when you need it.
Other Ways to Say: Good enough / Worthy
28. The real deal
Meaning: Something genuinely important or authentic.
Sentence Example: This science project is the real deal – it could win the state fair. / My new math tutor is the real deal and really knows how to teach.
Other Ways to Say: The genuine thing / Authentic
29. Dead serious
Meaning: Extremely important and not joking.
Sentence Example: I’m dead serious about getting better grades this semester. / The coach was dead serious when he said we need to practice more.
Other Ways to Say: Very serious / Not kidding
30. Under the gun
Meaning: In an important situation with pressure or time limits.
Sentence Example: We’re under the gun to finish the group project by Friday. / The team felt under the gun with only five minutes left in the game.
Other Ways to Say: Under pressure / Running out of time
31. The moment of truth
Meaning: The important time when something is decided.
Sentence Example: Taking the final exam was the moment of truth for passing the class. / Walking on stage for the talent show was her moment of truth.
Other Ways to Say: The big test / Decision time
32. Pull out all the stops
Meaning: Do everything important to succeed.
Sentence Example: The school pulled out all the stops for the homecoming dance. / I’m pulling out all the stops to get ready for the spelling bee.
Other Ways to Say: Go all out / Do everything
33. Cross the line
Meaning: Do something that goes beyond what’s important or acceptable.
Sentence Example: Cheating on the test would cross the line. / Teasing someone about their looks crosses the line.
Other Ways to Say: Go too far / Break the rules
34. Make waves
Meaning: Do something important that gets attention.
Sentence Example: The new student council president is making waves with her creative ideas. / His science project made waves at the school fair.
Other Ways to Say: Get noticed / Create buzz
35. Hold your horses
Meaning: Wait because something important needs more thought.
Sentence Example: Hold your horses before you choose your classes – think about what you really want. / Hold your horses before spending all your allowance on candy.
Other Ways to Say: Slow down / Wait a minute
36. Get down to brass tacks
Meaning: Focus on the most important facts.
Sentence Example: Let’s get down to brass tacks about what we need for the school play. / The coach got down to brass tacks about what the team needed to improve.
Other Ways to Say: Focus on facts / Get serious
37. A matter of life and death
Meaning: Extremely important and urgent.
Sentence Example: Getting help during the storm was a matter of life and death. / For some students, passing the test feels like a matter of life and death.
Other Ways to Say: Extremely urgent / Critical
38. The straw that broke the camel’s back
Meaning: The final important thing that causes a big problem.
Sentence Example: Forgetting to do homework again was the straw that broke the camel’s back. / Being late for practice was the straw that broke the camel’s back for the coach.
Other Ways to Say: The last thing / Final problem
39. Put your money where your mouth is
Meaning: Prove something is important to you by taking action.
Sentence Example: If you say friendship matters, put your money where your mouth is and help your friend. / She put her money where her mouth is by joining the environmental club.
Other Ways to Say: Prove it / Take action
40. The elephant in the room
Meaning: An important problem everyone knows about but won’t talk about.
Sentence Example: The failing grades were the elephant in the room during the parent meeting. / Bullying was the elephant in the room that the school needed to address.
Other Ways to Say: Obvious problem / Ignored issue
41. Strike while the iron is hot
Meaning: Act when the timing is most important.
Sentence Example: She struck while the iron was hot and asked for extra credit right after acing the quiz. / Strike while the iron is hot and sign up for the trip today.
Other Ways to Say: Act now / Perfect timing
42. Don’t count your chickens before they hatch
Meaning: Don’t assume something important will happen before it actually does.
Sentence Example: Don’t count your chickens before they hatch about getting into that college. / I won’t count my chickens before they hatch about making the team.
Other Ways to Say: Don’t assume / Wait and see
43. Have skin in the game
Meaning: Be personally involved in something important.
Sentence Example: Since it’s her project too, she has skin in the game to make it successful. / All team members have skin in the game for winning the championship.
Other Ways to Say: Be invested / Have a stake
44. The proof is in the pudding
Meaning: The real importance shows in the results.
Sentence Example: You say you studied hard, but the proof is in the pudding when you take the test. / The proof is in the pudding – let’s see if our science experiment works.
Other Ways to Say: Results matter / Show, don’t tell
45. Put all your eggs in one basket
Meaning: Risk everything important on one choice.
Sentence Example: Don’t put all your eggs in one basket by applying to only one college. / She put all her eggs in one basket by only studying math for the test.
Other Ways to Say: Risk everything / One chance
46. The writing is on the wall
Meaning: The important signs show what will happen.
Sentence Example: With all the snow clouds, the writing is on the wall for a snow day. / The writing was on the wall that the team needed a new strategy.
Other Ways to Say: Clear signs / Obviously coming
47. When push comes to shove
Meaning: When the important moment arrives and action is needed.
Sentence Example: When push comes to shove, studying hard is what gets you good grades. / When push comes to shove, teamwork wins games.
Other Ways to Say: When it matters / Crunch time
Exercise to Practice
- This math test is _______ for my final grade in the class.
- First and _______, we need to listen to the safety rules.
- Let me _______ and tell you the most important news.
- Getting enough sleep should be your _______ during finals week.
- The coach made it _______ that practice starts at 3 PM sharp.
- Friendship is _______ our team’s success this season.
- My teacher’s advice is _______ when it comes to studying.
- Speed is _______ when we’re trying to catch the bus.
- The school play put student talent _______.
- We must finish this project on time _______.
- Choosing a college is _______ for high school students.
- Practice is _______ in learning to play guitar.
- Getting ready for the talent show was _______ for our family.
- The principal has _______ about school policies.
- When _______, hard work is what leads to success.
Answer Key
- make or break
- foremost
- cut to the chase
- top priority
- crystal clear
- at the heart of
- worth its weight in gold
- of the essence
- front and center
- at all costs
- no small matter
- the key to success
- a big deal
- the final word
- push comes to shove
Conclusion
Using idioms is a great way to show how much something matters. They help your words feel stronger and more interesting. Whether you’re talking about school, friends, or family, these phrases can help you speak with more impact.
Try to use a few of these idioms in your day. A simple “that’s a big deal” or “first and foremost” can help people understand what’s really important to you. The right words at the right time can make all the difference.
