Technology is part of our daily life. We use it to play games, do homework, and talk to friends. When we talk about computers, phones, or smart ideas, we sometimes use idioms. These are fun expressions that don’t mean exactly what the words say. But they help us talk in a more interesting way.
In this article, you will learn many idioms that people use when they talk about technology. Each one will show how people describe smart ideas, digital tools, or tech problems. You will also see how to use them in real life. This can help you understand what others are saying and also help you sound smarter when you speak or write.
Idioms for Technology
1. Pull the plug
Meaning: To stop something completely.
Example: The school pulled the plug on the old computer lab. / Mom pulled the plug on my screen time.
Put Differently: They stopped it completely. / It’s no longer working or allowed.
2. Hit the reset button
Meaning: To start over or fix a problem.
Example: Let’s hit the reset button and try again. / She hit the reset button after making a mistake.
Put Differently: Start fresh. / Begin again from the start.
3. Go viral
Meaning: To become very popular online very fast.
Example: His funny video went viral. / That dance challenge went viral overnight.
Put Differently: Everyone saw it online quickly. / It spread fast on the internet.
4. Short-circuit
Meaning: To stop working because of a problem.
Example: The robot short-circuited during the demo. / My brain short-circuited during the quiz.
Put Differently: It stopped working suddenly. / It broke down.
5. Light years ahead
Meaning: Much more advanced.
Example: This phone is light years ahead of our old one. / Her idea was light years ahead of mine.
Put Differently: Very far ahead in progress. / Much better than before.
6. On the same wavelength
Meaning: To understand each other well.
Example: We were on the same wavelength during our project. / My partner and I were thinking alike.
Put Differently: We agreed easily. / We understood each other.
7. Plug in
Meaning: To get connected or start using something.
Example: I plugged in my laptop for the presentation. / Plug in your tablet to charge.
Put Differently: Connect it. / Get it ready to use.
8. Boot up
Meaning: To start a computer or device.
Example: I booted up my computer for homework. / It took a while to boot up.
Put Differently: Turn it on. / Start it.
9. Crash
Meaning: When a device or program stops working.
Example: My game crashed in the middle of the level. / The computer crashed before I saved.
Put Differently: It broke suddenly. / It stopped working.
10. Wired
Meaning: Connected to electricity or full of energy.
Example: I was wired after playing video games too long. / My desk is wired with cords.
Put Differently: Full of energy or connections. / Very active or plugged in.
11. Unplug
Meaning: To disconnect or take a break.
Example: We unplug every Sunday. / I unplugged from the internet to rest.
Put Differently: Took a break. / Stopped using it.
12. Run out of juice
Meaning: Battery is dead.
Example: My tablet ran out of juice. / I can’t play it’s out of juice.
Put Differently: The battery died. / It needs charging.
13. In the loop
Meaning: Being informed.
Example: Keep me in the loop about the new app. / I like being in the loop during group work.
Put Differently: Keep me updated. / Let me know what’s going on.
14. Out of the loop
Meaning: Not informed.
Example: I was out of the loop about the update. / She felt out of the loop in class.
Put Differently: Didn’t know what happened. / Missed the info.
15. Bells and whistles
Meaning: Extra features.
Example: This phone has all the bells and whistles. / My computer has fancy bells and whistles.
Put Differently: Extra cool parts. / Special features.
16. Blown a fuse
Meaning: Very angry or upset.
Example: Dad blew a fuse when I broke the laptop. / She blew a fuse over her deleted file.
Put Differently: Got really mad. / Lost temper.
17. Not rocket science
Meaning: Not hard to understand.
Example: This app is easy it’s not rocket science. / Learning to save files isn’t rocket science.
Put Differently: It’s simple. / Not difficult.
18. Download
Meaning: To get something from the internet.
Example: I downloaded a new game. / She downloaded the song last night.
Put Differently: Got it from online. / Saved it to a device.
19. Upload
Meaning: To send something to the internet.
Example: I uploaded my photo to the site. / He uploaded the homework to Google Classroom.
Put Differently: Sent it online. / Put it on the internet.
20. Get with the program
Meaning: Start understanding or following rules.
Example: He needs to get with the program in class. / I got with the program and used the new system.
Put Differently: Catch up. / Start doing things the right way.
21. Glitch
Meaning: A small error.
Example: The screen had a glitch. / A glitch made the game freeze.
Put Differently: A tiny problem. / Small tech issue.
22. Hardwired
Meaning: Something that’s built-in or natural.
Example: I’m hardwired to love tech. / Some people are hardwired to solve problems.
Put Differently: It’s just how I am. / Built to do it.
23. In sync
Meaning: Working together perfectly.
Example: We were in sync during the group task. / The music and lights were in sync.
Put Differently: Matched perfectly. / At the same pace.
24. Out of sync
Meaning: Not matching.
Example: The video was out of sync with the sound. / We were out of sync today.
Put Differently: Not together. / Off track.
25. Push someone’s buttons
Meaning: To annoy someone.
Example: My brother loves to push my buttons. / Stop pushing my buttons!
Put Differently: Make someone mad. / Annoy on purpose.
26. Recharge
Meaning: Rest to get energy back.
Example: I need to recharge after school. / We recharge by napping.
Put Differently: Take a break. / Get energy back.
27. On standby
Meaning: Ready but not active yet.
Example: My tablet is on standby. / I’m on standby to help.
Put Differently: Waiting and ready. / Not on but ready to go.
28. Power up
Meaning: Turn something on.
Example: Power up the system before class. / I powered up my game.
Put Differently: Turned it on. / Started the machine.
29. Blow up
Meaning: Become very popular or get many views.
Example: That clip blew up online. / His joke blew up on TikTok.
Put Differently: Got a lot of attention. / Went big.
30. Tech-savvy
Meaning: Good at using technology.
Example: My sister is really tech-savvy. / He’s the most tech-savvy kid in class.
Put Differently: Good with devices. / Knows a lot about tech.
31. Log in
Meaning: Sign in to a device or site.
Example: I logged in to start my quiz. / Don’t forget your password to log in.
Put Differently: Signed on. / Entered the system.
32. Log out
Meaning: Sign out or leave a device.
Example: Log out when you’re done. / She logged out before lunch.
Put Differently: Signed off. / Closed the session.
33. Up and running
Meaning: Working again.
Example: The system is up and running now. / My email is up and running.
Put Differently: It’s working. / Fixed and ready.
34. Debug
Meaning: Fix problems in software.
Example: We debugged the program in class. / He learned to debug his game.
Put Differently: Found and fixed errors. / Solved software problems.
35. Frozen
Meaning: Stuck and not moving.
Example: My screen is frozen. / The app froze during the video.
Put Differently: It won’t move. / Stuck on one screen.
36. Firewall
Meaning: A tool to block online danger.
Example: The firewall keeps out bad websites. / Our school uses a firewall for safety.
Put Differently: Online safety wall. / Blocks harmful sites.
37. System overload
Meaning: Too much to handle.
Example: My brain feels like system overload. / The server had a system overload.
Put Differently: Too much at once. / Couldn’t handle more.
38. Digital footprint
Meaning: Your history online.
Example: Be careful with your digital footprint. / What you post becomes part of your digital footprint.
Put Differently: Online trail. / What people see from your posts.
39. Bandwidth
Meaning: How much you can handle or send online.
Example: We don’t have enough bandwidth for all the videos. / I don’t have the bandwidth to help now.
Put Differently: Space to do it. / Enough room or energy.
40. Clickbait
Meaning: A title meant to trick you into clicking.
Example: That headline was clickbait. / Don’t fall for clickbait.
Put Differently: Tricky title. / Makes you click for no good reason.
“Rewrite the Sentence” Activity: Idioms for Technology
Rewrite each sentence using one of the idioms you learned above.
Sentences to Rewrite
- I had to restart my phone because it stopped working.
- Emma felt really tired after doing so much homework.
- The funny video got shared by everyone in class.
- Josh and I had the same idea during the science project.
- The computer stopped suddenly during my game.
- Liam turned off his laptop and took a break.
- I want to know what’s going on with the new school app.
- Bella got really upset when her project was deleted.
- This new smartwatch is way better than the old one.
- I used the internet to get a new game.
Answer Key
- I had to hit the reset button on my phone.
- Emma needed to recharge after all that homework.
- The funny video went viral in class.
- Josh and I were on the same wavelength.
- The computer crashed during my game.
- Liam unplugged and took a break.
- I want to stay in the loop about the new school app.
- Bella blew a fuse when her project was deleted.
- This smartwatch is light years ahead of the old one.
- I downloaded a new game from the internet.
Conclusion
Technology idioms help us talk in fun and clear ways. They make it easier to explain how we use computers, phones, and apps in real life. These expressions are used in school, at home, and with friends.
By learning these idioms, you can speak and write about tech like a pro. Keep practicing, and soon using these phrases will feel easy and natural.
