Idioms are short phrases we use to talk about difficult topics more gently. One topic people sometimes find hard to discuss is abortion. Abortion means ending a pregnancy before a baby is born. People use idioms to express their feelings or opinions without saying things directly. These idioms help people talk about abortion more easily.
In this article, we will explore idioms that people use when talking about abortion. We will see what these idioms mean, and practice rewriting sentences to understand them better. Learning about these phrases will help you notice how language is used carefully when discussing topics like abortion.
Idioms for Abortion
1. Tough Choice
Meaning: Deciding whether or not to have an abortion.
Example: Having an abortion was a tough choice for Jenna.
Put Differently: Jenna found it hard to make this decision. / It was difficult for Jenna to decide about the pregnancy.
2. Ending Early
Meaning: Stopping a pregnancy before the baby is born.
Example: Lily talked about ending early because she wasn’t ready.
Put Differently: Lily considered not having the baby. / Lily decided she couldn’t continue her pregnancy.
3. Letting Go
Meaning: Choosing abortion to stop a pregnancy.
Example: For Mary, letting go was a sad decision.
Put Differently: Mary felt sad about choosing abortion./ Mary chose not to continue the pregnancy.
4. Saying Goodbye
Meaning: Ending a pregnancy through abortion.
Example: Saying goodbye was very difficult for Sarah.
Put Differently: Sarah had difficulty deciding on abortion. / Sarah felt emotional about stopping the pregnancy.
5. Closing the Door
Meaning: Making the final decision about abortion.
Example: Anna was scared but ended up closing the door.
Put Differently: Anna felt scared but decided on abortion. / Anna made a final decision to stop the pregnancy.
6. Turning the Page
Meaning: Moving on after choosing abortion.
Example: After the abortion, Lisa started turning the page in her life.
Put Differently: Lisa began moving forward after her decision. / Lisa started to focus on the future again.
7. Walking Away
Meaning: Choosing abortion to end a pregnancy.
Example: Walking away wasn’t easy for Kate.
Put Differently: Kate struggled with choosing abortion. / Kate felt upset about ending the pregnancy.
8. Choosing a Different Path
Meaning: Deciding to have an abortion.
Example: Emma chose a different path for her future.
Put Differently: Emma decided abortion was best. / Emma didn’t feel ready for a baby.
9. Stopping Short
Meaning: Ending a pregnancy before birth.
Example: Stopping short was what Jane thought was best.
Put Differently: Jane decided to end the pregnancy. / Jane chose abortion because she wasn’t prepared.
10. Hitting Pause
Meaning: Having an abortion to delay having children.
Example: Amy hit pause on motherhood for now.
Put Differently: Amy chose abortion to wait before having kids. / Amy wasn’t ready to have a baby yet.
11. Pressing Stop
Meaning: Deciding on abortion to end pregnancy.
Example: Mia knew pressing stop was her only choice.
Put Differently: Mia decided abortion was necessary. / Mia couldn’t continue her pregnancy.
12. Taking a Step Back
Meaning: Choosing abortion to reconsider life plans.
Example: Taking a step back allowed Sophie to plan better for her future.
Put Differently: Sophie chose abortion to think about her future. / Sophie wasn’t ready for a baby right now.
13. Changing Course
Meaning: Deciding to have an abortion.
Example: Changing course was important for Rachel’s goals.
Put Differently: Rachel chose abortion to reach her goals. / Rachel decided not to have the baby.
14. Halting Plans
Meaning: Stopping pregnancy through abortion.
Example: Julia decided on halting plans because of school.
Put Differently: Julia chose abortion so she could finish school. / Julia decided not to continue her pregnancy.
15. Taking Control
Meaning: Choosing abortion as a personal decision.
Example: Olivia felt taking control was necessary.
Put Differently: Olivia chose abortion as the best decision. / Olivia decided to make her own choice about pregnancy.
16. Closing a Chapter
Meaning: Ending a pregnancy through abortion.
Example: Closing a chapter helped Tina move forward.
Put Differently: Tina had an abortion to start fresh. / Tina decided not to continue her pregnancy.
17. Putting on the Brakes
Meaning: Choosing abortion to delay motherhood.
Example: Chloe put on the brakes to finish college first.
Put Differently: Chloe chose abortion to complete her education. / Chloe decided to wait longer to have children.
18. Turning Back
Meaning: Deciding abortion is the best choice.
Example: Turning back was the best choice for Megan right now.
Put Differently: Megan chose abortion at this point. / Megan wasn’t ready to have a baby yet.
19. Moving Past
Meaning: Choosing abortion and moving forward.
Example: Kim was ready for move past her decision.
Put Differently: Kim decided abortion was best. / Kim started to move forward after ending her pregnancy.
20. Ending the Journey
Meaning: Having an abortion.
Example: Ending the journey helped Maria plan for her future.
Put Differently: Maria chose abortion to better plan her life. / Maria ended her pregnancy for personal reasons.
21. Taking Another Road
Meaning: Choosing abortion instead of continuing pregnancy.
Example: Hannah felt taking another road was important.
Put Differently: Hannah decided abortion was her best choice. / Hannah chose to end the pregnancy.
22. Choosing Differently
Meaning: Deciding abortion is best.
Example: Amber knew choosing differently was needed right now.
Put Differently: Amber decided on abortion. / Amber wasn’t ready to become a mom.
23. Shortening the Trip
Meaning: Deciding to have an abortion.
Example: Shortening the trip was hard but needed for Ellie.
Put Differently: Ellie decided abortion was necessary. / Ellie stopped the pregnancy early.
24. Saying Not Yet
Meaning: Choosing abortion to delay motherhood.
Example: Saying not yet was how Claire decided to handle it.
Put Differently: Claire chose abortion to wait longer. / Claire felt she needed more time before becoming a mother.
25. Pulling Back
Meaning: Choosing abortion.
Example: Pulling back helped Sara feel better about her life choices.
Put Differently: Sara chose abortion to feel more prepared later. / Sara wasn’t ready to continue her pregnancy.
26. Ending the Wait
Meaning: Deciding to have an abortion.
Example: Katie felt ending the wait was the right choice.
Put Differently: Katie chose abortion now instead of waiting. / Katie made a decision about her pregnancy.
27. Changing the Story
Meaning: Choosing abortion.
Example: Ava decided changing the story was best for her.
Put Differently: Ava ended her pregnancy to plan her future differently. / Ava chose abortion to reshape her goals.
28. Taking a Different Turn
Meaning: Deciding abortion is necessary.
Example: Lauren chose taking a different turn this time.
Put Differently: Lauren decided abortion was needed. / Lauren chose not to continue her pregnancy.
29. Letting the Moment Pass
Meaning: Choosing abortion now, hoping for kids later.
Example: Grace was comfortable letting the moment pass for now.
Put Differently: Grace chose abortion to have kids later./ Grace wasn’t ready yet.
30. Stopping the Clock
Meaning: Choosing abortion to delay family plans.
Example: Riley felt stopping the clock was best right now.
Differently: Riley chose abortion to wait longer before having kids. / Riley wanted more time before motherhood.
31. Starting Fresh
Meaning: Choosing abortion to have a new beginning.
Example: Alexis decided that starting fresh was best for her right now.
Put Differently: Alexis chose abortion so she could have a new beginning. / Alexis felt she needed to reset her plans.
32. Changing the Plans
Meaning: Deciding to have an abortion.
Example: Emma thought changing the plans was necessary for her future.
Put Differently: Emma chose abortion to make new plans. / Emma didn’t feel ready to have a child now.
33. Saying No for Now
Meaning: Deciding abortion is the right choice currently.
Example: Sofia felt saying no for now was the best decision.
Put Differently: Sofia chose abortion because it wasn’t the right time. / Sofia decided she wasn’t ready yet.
34. Making a U-Turn
Meaning: Choosing abortion instead of continuing pregnancy.
Example: Leah made a U-turn because she wasn’t prepared.
Put Differently: Leah decided abortion was needed. / Leah chose not to move forward with her pregnancy.
35. Pressing Reset
Meaning: Choosing abortion to start over.
Example: Pressing reset helped Bella feel better about her choices.
Put Differently: Bella had an abortion to rethink her plans. / Bella chose abortion to have a fresh start.
36. Backing Out
Meaning: Choosing abortion to stop a pregnancy.
Example: Zoe decided backing out was the best choice.
Put Differently: Zoe chose abortion to stop the pregnancy. / Zoe wasn’t ready to have a baby yet.
37. Closing the Book
Meaning: Deciding to end a pregnancy through abortion.
Example: Maddie knew closing the book was necessary.
Put Differently: Maddie decided abortion was the right decision.’ / Maddie chose not to continue her pregnancy.
38. Putting it on Hold
Meaning: Choosing abortion to delay motherhood.
Example: Hailey felt putting it on hold was needed right now.
Put Differently: Hailey chose abortion to wait before having children. / Hailey decided to delay motherhood.
39. Making the Call
Meaning: Choosing abortion after careful thought.
Example: Brooke found making the call very challenging.
Put Differently: Brooke decided abortion was necessary. / Brooke carefully chose to stop her pregnancy.
40. Setting it Aside
Meaning: Choosing abortion to revisit motherhood later.
Example: Carly decided setting it aside was best at this moment.
Put Differently: Carly chose abortion to wait until she was ready. / Carly decided motherhood would wait.
Rewrite the Sentence Activity: Idioms for Acceptance
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
- Jake finally agreed to join the soccer team.
- Mia understood that she didn’t win the spelling bee.
- Sarah realized her friend couldn’t come to her birthday.
- Tom decided to stop arguing with his sister.
- Ava felt okay about moving to a new school.
- Lucas accepted the fact he wasn’t chosen for class president.
- Emily wasn’t upset anymore about getting second place.
Noah understood why his parents said no to a new bike. - Olivia was fine with not going to the party.
- Ethan decided he couldn’t change the rainy weather.
Answer Key
- Jake finally came to terms with joining the soccer team.
- Mia made peace with losing the spelling bee.
- Sarah accepted the fact that her friend couldn’t come to her birthday.
- Tom decided to let it go and stopped arguing with his sister.
- Ava came around to moving to a new school.
- Lucas had to face the music about not being chosen for class president.
- Emily decided to live with getting second place.
- Noah came to grips with his parents saying no to a new bike.
- Olivia learned to go with the flow and stayed home from the party.
- Ethan decided to roll with it and accepted the rainy weather.
Conclusion
Idioms can help us talk clearly about accepting things. They show how people feel or act in real life. Learning these idioms helps you understand others better. Try using them at school, with friends, or at home. They will make your speaking and writing better and more interesting.
