Ever wondered how camping language can be funny and wise at the same time? Well, camping has its own set of phrases that are used in everyday English. These expressions, or idioms, are fun to learn and even more fun to use. Let’s dive into the world of camping idioms to understand their meanings and see how they are used in sentences.
Camping Idioms
Here are 20 camping idioms in English with meaning and example sentence for each.
1. Happy camper
Meaning: A satisfied person
Example: He’s a happy camper after getting his new tent.
2. Not a happy camper
Meaning: An unsatisfied person
Example: She was not a happy camper after the hike.
3. Set up camp
Meaning: Establish a base or position
Example: They set up camp near the lake.
4. Break camp
Meaning: To pack up and leave a campsite
Example: We broke camp at dawn.
5. Camp out
Meaning: To stay somewhere overnight
Example: They camped out to get concert tickets.
6. Trailblazer
Meaning: A pioneer or innovator
Example: He’s a trailblazer in environmental science.
7. Under the stars
Meaning: Sleeping outdoors
Example: They slept under the stars.
8. Off the beaten path
Meaning: In a remote location
Example: Their campsite is off the beaten path.
9. Hit the trail
Meaning: To start hiking
Example: They hit the trail early.
10. Rough it
Meaning: Live with basic conditions
Example: They like to rough it on weekends.
11. Cabin fever
Meaning: Restlessness from being indoors
Example: I’ve got cabin fever this winter.
12. Make a mountain out of a molehill
Meaning: Exaggerate a small problem
Example: He made a mountain out of a molehill.
13. Out in the wild
Meaning: In a natural, untamed environment
Example: They are out in the wild camping.
14. Light a fire under someone
Meaning: Motivate someone to act quickly
Example: This project will light a fire under him.
15. Build a fire
Meaning: To create a sense of urgency or to start a campfire
Example: We need to build a fire; it’s getting cold.
16. Burn the midnight oil
Meaning: Work late into the night
Example: We burned the midnight oil to finish the shelter.
17. Lost in the woods
Meaning: Confused or without direction
Example: He’s been lost in the woods since graduation.
18. Back to nature
Meaning: Return to a simpler lifestyle
Example: This weekend we’re going back to nature.
19. Blaze a trail
Meaning: To create a new path or way of doing something
Example: She blazed a trail in her scientific field.
20. No picnic
Meaning: Not an easy task
Example: Climbing this mountain is no picnic.