Sometimes, people use idioms to talk about things in a more interesting or simple way. Idioms are phrases that don’t mean exactly what the words say. Instead, they have a special meaning that people understand through everyday use. In this lesson, we will look at idioms related to addiction not just to harmful things, but also to habits like playing video games too much or always needing candy.
These idioms can help us talk about these habits in a clear and honest way. You might hear someone say, “He’s hooked on soda,” or “She can’t kick the habit.” These phrases don’t mean someone is really caught on a hook or kicking something. They mean someone has trouble stopping something they do too often. Let’s explore what these idioms mean and how we can use them.
Idioms for Addiction
1. Hooked on
Meaning: Really liking something so much it’s hard to stop.
Example: My brother is hooked on video games. / Sarah is hooked on soda and drinks it every day.
Put Differently:He can’t stop playing games. / She drinks soda all the time.
2. Can’t kick the habit
Meaning: Having a hard time stopping a habit.
Example:I can’t kick the habit of biting my nails. / Dad can’t kick the habit of drinking coffee every morning.
Put Differently:I still bite my nails. / He still drinks coffee every single day.
3. Slave to
Meaning: Controlled by something or someone.
Example:He’s a slave to his phone. / She’s a slave to sugar snacks.
Put Differently:He can’t stay off his / phone.She eats sugary snacks all the time.
4. Crave it like crazy
Meaning: Wanting something very badly.
Example: crave ice cream like crazy after school. / She craves candy like crazy during class.
Put Differently:I always want ice cream. / She keeps thinking about candy.
5. Habit you can’t break
Meaning: A behavior that’s hard to stop.
Example:Picking my nose is a habit I can’t break. / Watching TV late is a habit I can’t break.
Put Differently:I always do it even when I try to stop. / I stay up late even though I shouldn’t.
6. Under its spell
Meaning: Controlled or drawn to something strongly.
Example:I was under the spell of that new game. / She’s under the spell of her favorite show.
Put Differently:I couldn’t stop playing. / She kept watching episodes.
7. Can’t get enough of
Meaning: Always wanting more.
Example:I can’t get enough of mac and cheese. / He can’t get enough of YouTube videos.
Put Differently:I want more and more. / He watches them all day.
8. Addicted to
Meaning: Needing something all the time.
Example:She’s addicted to her phone. / He’s addicted to snacks.
Put Differently:She’s always using her phone. / He eats snacks nonstop.
9. Eat, sleep, and breathe it
Meaning: Thinking about it all the time.
Example:He eats, sleeps, and breathes baseball. / She eats, sleeps, and breathes TikTok.
Put Differently:He talks about baseball all day. / She’s always on TikTok.
10. Glued to
Meaning: Not moving away from something.
Example:He’s glued to the TV. / She’s glued to her tablet.
Put Differently:He watches TV nonstop. / She won’t put her tablet down.
11. Junkie for
Meaning: Someone who always wants something.
Example:I’m a junkie for chocolate. / He’s a junkie for video games.
Put Differently:I always want chocolate. / He plays games all the time.
12. Can’t live without it
Meaning: Feeling like you must have something.
Example:She can’t live without her music. / I can’t live without snacks in my lunch.
Put Differently:She needs music every day. / I always bring snacks.
13. Obsessed with
Meaning: Thinking about something too much.
Example:He’s obsessed with basketball cards. / She’s obsessed with her dog.
Put Differently:He talks about them all the time. / She always plays with her dog.
14. Won’t put it down
Meaning: Always using or holding something.
Example:He won’t put his game controller down. / She won’t put her phone down.
Put Differently:He’s always playing. / She’s always texting or scrolling.
15. Stuck on
Meaning: Always using or doing the same thing.
Example:I’m stuck on that new book series. / She’s stuck on her favorite show.
Put Differently:I keep reading it. / She keeps watching the same thing.
16. Eyes glued to the screen
Meaning: Watching something closely for a long time.
Example:His eyes were glued to the screen during the movie. / Her eyes are always glued to her tablet.
Put Differently:He didn’t look away. / She watches without stopping.
17. Deep in
Meaning: Focused or involved too much.
Example:He’s deep in his video game. / She’s deep in her comic books.
Put Differently:He can’t stop playing. / She keeps reading and won’t look up.
18. Always on it
Meaning: Using something all the time.
Example:She’s always on her phone. / He’s always on the computer.
Put Differently:She uses her phone too much. / He stays on the computer for hours.
19. Lost in it
Meaning: Forgetting time while doing something.
Example:He gets lost in his art. / She gets lost in her favorite app.
Put Differently:He draws for hours. / She forgets what time it is.
20. Can’t stop
Meaning: Having trouble stopping something.
Example:I can’t stop watching that cartoon. / He can’t stop eating cookies.
Put Differently:I keep watching over and over. / He eats a bunch at once.
21. One more won’t hurt
Meaning: Saying it’s okay to do it again, even if it’s a habit.
Example:I’ll just have one more soda, it won’t hurt. / One more episode won’t hurt.
Put Differently:I tell myself it’s fine to keep going. / I say it’s okay even when I know I’ve had enough.
22. Feeding the habit
Meaning: Doing something that keeps the habit going.
Example:Buying more candy is feeding the habit. / Watching more shows is feeding the habit.
Put Differently:It makes the habit stronger. / It keeps the habit going.
23. Can’t walk away
Meaning: Not able to stop or leave something.
Example:I can’t walk away from my favorite game. / She can’t walk away from her phone.
Put Differently:I keep playing. / She checks her phone a lot.
24. Drawn to it
Meaning: Feeling pulled in.
Example:I’m drawn to candy when I see it. / He’s drawn to video games after school.
Put Differently:I want it right away. / He plays right after homework.
25. Caught up in it
Meaning: Too busy or stuck in doing something.
Example:She’s caught up in her games. / He’s caught up in his music.
Put Differently:She won’t stop playing. / He keeps listening and ignores everything.
26. In too deep
Meaning: Too involved to stop easily.
Example:He’s in too deep with that game and skips dinner. / She’s in too deep with that TV show.
Put Differently:He won’t stop playing even when it’s time to eat. / She keeps watching and doesn’t do anything else.
27. Can’t resist
Meaning: Not able to say no.
Example:I can’t resist cookies at snack time. / She can’t resist checking her messages.
Put Differently:I eat them every time. / She looks at her phone again and again.
28. Always comes back to it
Meaning: Returning to something again and again.
Example:He always comes back to his favorite app. / I always come back to playing that game.
Put Differently:He uses it again and again. / I play it even after taking breaks.
29. Can’t put it down
Meaning: Hard to stop using or doing.
Example:She can’t put down her comic book. / He can’t put down his game controller.
Put Differently:She keeps reading without stopping. / He keeps playing and won’t take a break.
30. Goes overboard
Meaning: Doing something too much.
Example:He goes overboard with snacks. / She goes overboard with shopping games.
Put Differently:He eats way too many snacks. / She plays too long and forgets to stop.
31. Just one more
Meaning: Saying you’ll stop soon, but you don’t.
Example:Just one more level, then I’ll stop. / Just one more cookie, I promise.
Put Differently:Saying you’ll stop, but keep going. / You say one more, but take more again.
32. Can’t help it
Meaning: Not able to control what you’re doing.
Example:I can’t help playing every night. / She can’t help singing along to every song.
Put Differently:I play even when I try not to. / She sings every time without thinking.
33. Too into it
Meaning: Liking something too much.
Example:He’s too into that new app. / She’s too into soda drinks.
Put Differently:He won’t stop using it. / She drinks them more than she should.
34. Always reaching for it
Meaning: Using something again and again.
Example:She’s always reaching for candy. / He’s always reaching for the remote.
Put Differently:She eats candy all day. / He watches shows nonstop.
35. Feels like a must
Meaning: Feels like you have to do it.
Example:Playing that game feels like a must for him. / Drinking soda every day feels like a must to her.
Put Differently:He thinks he has to play. / She thinks she can’t skip a day.
36. Locked in
Meaning: Fully focused and not stopping.
Example:He’s locked in when playing games. / She’s locked in on her favorite book.
Put Differently:He ignores everything else. / She doesn’t stop reading.
37. Always finds time for it
Meaning: Making sure to do it every day.
Example:He always finds time for his game. / She always finds time for her favorite snack.
Put Differently:He plays no matter what. / She eats it even on busy days.
38. On it day and night
Meaning: Doing something all the time.
Example:He’s on his tablet day and night. / She’s on her favorite app day and night.
Put Differently:He barely takes a break. / She uses it all the time.
39. Always going back to it
Meaning: Returning to a habit even after stopping.
Example:I always go back to watching cartoons. / She always goes back to that candy.
Put Differently:I keep watching even after stopping. / She eats it again later.
40. All wrapped up in it
Meaning: Fully into something.
Example: He’s all wrapped up in playing Minecraft. / She’s all wrapped up in her drawing app.
Put Differently: He can’t think about anything else. / She forgets time while using it.
“Rewrite the Sentence” Activity: Idioms for Addiction
Below are 10 sentences expressing feelings or situations about aging without using idioms. Your task is to rewrite each sentence using one of the idioms from the previous sections. Be sure to make the new sentences sound natural and keep the meaning the same.
Sentences to Rewrite
- Jason plays video games every day and never wants to stop.
- Emily eats too much candy and says she can’t help it.
- Noah listens to the same songs every day after school.
- Mia won’t stop using her tablet, even during dinner.
- Liam always has his eyes on the TV when cartoons are on.
- Olivia eats chips every afternoon, even when she’s not hungry.
- Ethan draws so much that he doesn’t notice anything else.
- Sophia says she needs to watch one more episode before bed.
- Daniel checks his phone all the time, even in class.
- Ava keeps going back to the same book series over and over.
Answer Key
- Jason is hooked on video games.
- Emily can’t kick the habit of eating candy.
- Noah can’t get enough of those songs.
- Mia is glued to her tablet.
- Liam’s eyes are glued to the screen when cartoons come on.
- Olivia is feeding the habit of eating chips every day.
- Ethan gets lost in his drawings.
- Sophia says, “Just one more episode,” every night.
- Daniel is always on his phone, even in class.
- Ava always comes back to the same book series.
Conclusion
Understanding idioms about addiction helps us talk about habits in a clear way. These phrases can explain when someone does something too much, like playing games or eating candy all the time.
By learning these idioms, you can speak and write more naturally. Keep practicing and try using them in your daily conversations.
