47 Idioms for Loud

Sometimes we need to talk about loud sounds, but saying “loud” over and over gets boring. That’s where idioms come in. Idioms are special phrases that paint a picture with words. They help us describe sounds in fun and colorful ways that make our speaking and writing more interesting.

This article will explore idioms that describe loud sounds and noises. These phrases can help you express yourself in creative ways and make your conversations more lively. You’ll also find a short activity to practice using these idioms in real situations.

Idioms for Loud

1. Make a racket

Meaning: Create a lot of noise or loud sounds.

Sentence Example: The kids were making a racket in the playground during recess. / Stop making such a racket while I’m trying to study.

Other Ways to Say: Make noise / Be loud

2. Loud as thunder

Meaning: Extremely loud, like the sound of thunder.

Sentence Example: The fireworks were loud as thunder on the Fourth of July. / His voice was loud as thunder when he called my name.

Other Ways to Say: Very loud / Booming

3. Raise the roof

Meaning: Make a lot of noise, especially with cheering or music.

Sentence Example: The crowd raised the roof when our team scored the winning goal. / The band raised the roof at the school dance.

Other Ways to Say: Make lots of noise / Cheer loudly

4. Loud and clear

Meaning: Easy to hear because it’s very loud.

Sentence Example: I heard your message loud and clear from across the room. / The teacher spoke loud and clear so everyone could understand.

Other Ways to Say: Very clear / Easy to hear

5. At the top of your lungs

Meaning: Shouting or singing as loudly as possible.

Sentence Example: She sang at the top of her lungs during the school concert. / He called for help at the top of his lungs.

Other Ways to Say: Very loudly / With full voice

6. Sound like a freight train

Meaning: Make a very loud, rumbling noise.

Sentence Example: The storm sounded like a freight train passing through town. / My old car sounds like a freight train when I start it.

Other Ways to Say: Very loud / Rumbling noise

7. Wake the dead

Meaning: So loud it could wake people who are sleeping deeply.

Sentence Example: That alarm clock is loud enough to wake the dead. / The neighbors’ party music could wake the dead.

Other Ways to Say: Extremely loud / Very noisy

8. Ear-splitting

Meaning: So loud it hurts your ears.

Sentence Example: The fire truck’s siren was ear-splitting as it raced down the street. / The baby’s crying was ear-splitting in the quiet library.

Other Ways to Say: Very loud / Painfully loud

9. Like a bull in a china shop

Meaning: Making loud noises while being clumsy or careless.

Sentence Example: My brother moves around like a bull in a china shop when he gets ready for school. / The dog ran through the house like a bull in a china shop.

Other Ways to Say: Noisy and clumsy / Loud and careless

10. Roar like a lion

Meaning: Make a very loud, deep sound.

Sentence Example: The motorcycle roared like a lion when Dad started it up. / The wind roared like a lion during the big storm.

Other Ways to Say: Very loud / Deep and loud

11. Scream bloody murder

Meaning: Scream very loudly, usually from fear or pain.

Sentence Example: My little sister screamed bloody murder when she saw the spider. / The kids screamed bloody murder on the roller coaster.

Other Ways to Say: Scream loudly / Yell very loud

12. Blow your horn

Meaning: Make a loud noise to get attention.

Sentence Example: Don’t blow your horn in the neighborhood early in the morning. / The taxi driver blew his horn to let us know he was here.

Other Ways to Say: Honk loudly / Make noise

13. Shout from the rooftops

Meaning: Tell everyone something in a very loud or public way.

Sentence Example: I want to shout from the rooftops that I made the soccer team. / She shouted from the rooftops about her good grades.

Other Ways to Say: Tell everyone loudly / Announce loudly

14. Sound like a banshee

Meaning: Make a loud, scary, wailing sound.

Sentence Example: The wind sounded like a banshee during the hurricane. / My cat sounds like a banshee when she wants food.

Other Ways to Say: Loud and scary / Wailing sound

15. Make a din

Meaning: Create a lot of loud, unpleasant noise.

Sentence Example: The construction workers made a din all morning with their tools. / The cafeteria made quite a din during lunch time.

Other Ways to Say: Make loud noise / Create noise

16. Loud as a siren

Meaning: Very loud and attention-getting.

Sentence Example: The smoke alarm was loud as a siren when it went off. / Her laugh is loud as a siren but makes everyone smile.

Other Ways to Say: Very loud / Attention-getting

17. Boom like a cannon

Meaning: Make a very loud, explosive sound.

Sentence Example: The thunder boomed like a cannon during the storm. / The drums boomed like cannons at the parade.

Other Ways to Say: Very loud / Explosive sound

18. Howl like a wolf

Meaning: Make a long, loud crying or wailing sound.

Sentence Example: The wind howled like a wolf through the trees. / My dog howls like a wolf when he hears sirens.

Other Ways to Say: Long and loud / Wailing sound

19. Ring like a bell

Meaning: Make a clear, loud sound that carries well.

Sentence Example: Her voice rings like a bell when she sings in the choir. / The school bell rings like a bell that can be heard everywhere.

Other Ways to Say: Clear and loud / Carrying sound

20. Crash like cymbals

Meaning: Make a loud, clashing metallic sound.

Sentence Example: The pots and pans crashed like cymbals when they fell. / The thunder crashed like cymbals overhead.

Other Ways to Say: Loud crash / Clashing sound

21. Trumpet like an elephant

Meaning: Make a very loud, trumpeting sound.

Sentence Example: The old car trumpeted like an elephant when it started. / Dad trumpeted like an elephant when he sneezed.

Other Ways to Say: Loud trumpet sound / Blaring noise

22. Pound like a drum

Meaning: Make a steady, loud beating sound.

Sentence Example: My heart was pounding like a drum before my speech. / The rain pounded like drums on the roof.

Other Ways to Say: Steady loud sound / Beating noise

23. Crack like a whip

Meaning: Make a sharp, loud snapping sound.

Sentence Example: The tree branch cracked like a whip in the wind. / The coach’s voice cracked like a whip across the field.

Other Ways to Say: Sharp loud sound / Snapping noise

24. Hiss like a snake

Meaning: Make a sharp, loud “s” sound.

Sentence Example: The tea kettle hissed like a snake when the water boiled. / The angry cat hissed like a snake at the dog.

Other Ways to Say: Sharp hissing / Loud “s” sound

25. Clap like thunder

Meaning: Make a sudden, very loud sound.

Sentence Example: The door clapped like thunder when the wind slammed it shut. / Her hands clapped like thunder when she applauded.

Other Ways to Say: Sudden loud sound / Thunder-like noise

26. Whistle like a train

Meaning: Make a loud, high-pitched sound.

Sentence Example: The wind whistled like a train through the canyon. / He whistled like a train to call his dog.

Other Ways to Say: High and loud / Piercing sound

27. Bellow like a bull

Meaning: Shout in a deep, loud voice.

Sentence Example: The coach bellowed like a bull during practice. / Dad bellowed like a bull when he stubbed his toe.

Other Ways to Say: Shout loudly / Deep loud voice

28. Screech like an owl

Meaning: Make a loud, high, unpleasant sound.

Sentence Example: The old door screeched like an owl when we opened it. / The brakes screeched like an owl when the car stopped.

Other Ways to Say: High loud sound / Unpleasant noise

29. Rumble like an earthquake

Meaning: Make a deep, rolling loud sound.

Sentence Example: The truck rumbled like an earthquake down our street. / My stomach rumbled like an earthquake when I was hungry.

Other Ways to Say: Deep rolling sound / Loud rumbling

30. Squawk like a parrot

Meaning: Make loud, harsh sounds, especially when complaining.

Sentence Example: My little brother squawks like a parrot when he doesn’t get his way. / The bird squawked like a parrot in its cage.

Other Ways to Say: Loud complaining / Harsh sounds

31. Blast like a horn

Meaning: Make a very loud, sudden sound.

Sentence Example: The music blasted like a horn from the car radio. / The foghorn blasted like a horn to warn the ships.

Other Ways to Say: Very loud / Sudden blast

32. Echo like a canyon

Meaning: Sound loud because it bounces back and repeats.

Sentence Example: His voice echoed like a canyon in the empty gym. / The footsteps echoed like a canyon in the hallway.

Other Ways to Say: Repeating sound / Bouncing noise

33. Pop like a firecracker

Meaning: Make a sudden, sharp loud sound.

Sentence Example: The balloon popped like a firecracker at the party. / The gum popped like a firecracker when she blew a bubble.

Other Ways to Say: Sharp pop / Sudden loud pop

34. Buzz like a bee

Meaning: Make a loud, continuous humming sound.

Sentence Example: The drill buzzed like a bee while Dad fixed the shelf. / The alarm clock buzzed like a bee every morning.

Other Ways to Say: Loud humming / Continuous buzz

35. Clatter like marbles

Meaning: Make loud sounds of things hitting each other.

Sentence Example: The hail clattered like marbles on the roof. / The dishes clattered like marbles when I put them away.

Other Ways to Say: Rattling sound / Objects hitting

36. Honk like a goose

Meaning: Make a loud, harsh sound like a horn.

Sentence Example: The car honked like a goose in the traffic jam. / He honked like a goose when he laughed.

Other Ways to Say: Loud honking / Harsh horn sound

37. Wail like a siren

Meaning: Make a long, loud crying sound that goes up and down.

Sentence Example: The ambulance wailed like a siren as it rushed to the hospital. / The baby wailed like a siren when she was hungry.

Other Ways to Say: Long loud cry / Up and down sound

38. Explode like a bomb

Meaning: Make a sudden, very loud sound.

Sentence Example: The fireworks exploded like bombs in the sky. / My dad exploded like a bomb when he saw the mess.

Other Ways to Say: Very loud explosion / Sudden loud sound

39. Chirp like a cricket

Meaning: Make a loud, high, repeated sound.

Sentence Example: The smoke detector chirped like a cricket when the battery was low. / The birds chirped like crickets outside my window.

Other Ways to Say: High repeated sound / Loud chirping

40. Thump like a heartbeat

Meaning: Make a steady, loud beating sound.

Sentence Example: The music thumped like a heartbeat at the dance. / The washing machine thumped like a heartbeat when it was broken.

Other Ways to Say: Steady beating / Rhythmic thumping

41. Shriek like a banshee

Meaning: Scream in a very high, loud, scary way.

Sentence Example: She shrieked like a banshee when she saw the mouse. / The wind shrieked like a banshee during the storm.

Other Ways to Say: High loud scream / Scary scream

42. Clang like a bell

Meaning: Make a loud, ringing metallic sound.

Sentence Example: The pots clanged like bells when they fell in the kitchen. / The church bells clanged like bells every hour.

Other Ways to Say: Loud ringing / Metallic sound

43. Whoop like an owl

Meaning: Make a loud, calling sound.

Sentence Example: The kids whooped like owls when they won the game. / He whooped like an owl to get our attention.

Other Ways to Say: Loud calling / Excited yelling

44. Splash like a whale

Meaning: Make a very loud sound when hitting water.

Sentence Example: He splashed like a whale when he jumped in the pool. / The rain splashed like whales against the windows.

Other Ways to Say: Big loud splash / Water noise

45. Crack like lightning

Meaning: Make a sudden, very sharp loud sound.

Sentence Example: The bat cracked like lightning when it hit the ball. / The ice cracked like lightning on the frozen pond.

Other Ways to Say: Sharp crack / Sudden snap

46. Stomp like an elephant

Meaning: Walk or move making very loud, heavy sounds.

Sentence Example: My brother stomps like an elephant when he goes upstairs. / The dancers stomped like elephants during the show.

Other Ways to Say: Heavy footsteps / Loud walking

47. Blare like a trumpet

Meaning: Make a loud, harsh sound that demands attention.

Sentence Example: The car radio blared like a trumpet down the street. / The horn blared like a trumpet to wake everyone up.

Other Ways to Say: Loud and harsh / Demanding attention

Exercise to Practice

1. The thunder was _______ during the storm last night.
2. My alarm clock can _______ every morning at 6 AM.
3. The kids _______ when they played in the backyard.
4. She called my name _______ from across the playground.
5. The motorcycle _______ when it started up.
6. The wind _______ through the trees during the hurricane.
7. The fire truck’s siren was _______ as it raced by.
8. He moves around the house _______ in the morning.
9. The drums _______ at the school band concert.
10. My dog _______ when he hears other dogs barking.
11. The construction work _______ all day long.
12. She wanted to _______ about her good test score.
13. The old car _______ like it needs to be fixed.
14. The rain _______ on the roof during the storm.
15. The referee’s whistle _______ during the soccer game.

Answer Key

1. loud as thunder
2. wake the dead
3. made a racket
4. at the top of her lungs
5. roared like a lion
6. howled like a wolf
7. ear-splitting
8. like a bull in a china shop
9. boomed like cannons
10. howls like a wolf
11. made a din
12. shout from the rooftops
13. sounds like a freight train
14. pounded like drums
15. blared like a trumpet

Conclusion

Using idioms to describe loud sounds makes your talking and writing much more fun and interesting. Instead of just saying “loud” all the time, you can paint pictures with words that help people really hear what you mean.

Try using a few of these idioms when you talk about sounds around you. Whether it’s describing a thunderstorm that “boomed like cannons” or a dog that “howls like a wolf,” these phrases will make your words come alive. Remember, the best way to learn idioms is to practice using them in your everyday conversations.