Welcome to our fun exploration of English idioms that include the number “five” or relate to the theme of “five.” Idioms are phrases that have a meaning different from the words in them. Even if you’re a beginner, you’ll enjoy learning how these phrases are used in everyday English!
Five Idioms
Here are 20 five-themed idioms in English.
1. Take five
Meaning: Rest for a short time
Example: Let’s take five before we continue hiking.
2. High five
Meaning: A celebratory hand gesture
Example: We high-fived after scoring a goal.
3. Five o’clock shadow
Meaning: Stubble seen late in the day
Example: He had a five o’clock shadow by evening.
4. Five-finger discount
Meaning: Stealing something
Example: He joked about a five-finger discount.
5. Five-second rule
Meaning: Brief rule for dropped food
Example: She applied the five-second rule to the cookie.
6. At the eleventh hour
Meaning: At the last possible moment
Example: He finished the work at the eleventh hour.
7. Alive and kicking
Meaning: Still active and lively
Example: Grandma is ninety-five and still alive and kicking.
8. Five senses
Meaning: Sight, smell, taste, touch, hearing
Example: Use your five senses to experience the world.
9. Dressed to the nines
Meaning: Wearing fashionable clothing
Example: She was dressed to the nines at the party.
10. Hang five
Meaning: Surf with one hand trailing in the water
Example: He can hang five like a pro surfer.
11. Five by five
Meaning: Everything is good; fine
Example: The project is five by five, boss.
12. Into the fifth
Meaning: Extending beyond normal limits
Example: He drank deep into the fifth of vodka.
13. Pent-up
Meaning: Held back; not expressed
Example: He released his pent-up anger yesterday.
14. Fifth wheel
Meaning: Superfluous person or thing
Example: I felt like a fifth wheel on their date.
15. Nickel-and-dime
Meaning: Charge small amounts frequently
Example: This shop likes to nickel-and-dime its customers.
16. On cloud nine
Meaning: Extremely happy
Example: She’s been on cloud nine since the engagement.
17. A stitch in time saves nine
Meaning: Solving a problem early helps avoid bigger ones
Example: Fix that leak now; a stitch in time saves nine.
18. Look alive
Meaning: Pay attention and act lively
Example: Look alive! The boss is coming.
19. Nine days’ wonder
Meaning: Something that attracts attention for a short time
Example: The scandal was a nine days’ wonder.
20. Nine-to-five
Meaning: Typical work hours
Example: He works a regular nine-to-five job.
