Welcome to our exploration of English idioms that capture the feeling of being alone. Even though being alone might feel sad, the way we talk about it can be interesting! We’re going to learn some special phrases that people use when they talk about feeling lonely.
Lonely Idioms
Here are 20 lonely idioms in English with meaning and example sentence for each.
1. Lonely as a cloud
Meaning: Feeling very isolated
Example: He felt lonely as a cloud at the party.
2. On one’s lonesome
Meaning: Alone, by oneself
Example: She spent the day on her lonesome.
3. Solitary as a hermit
Meaning: Extremely isolated
Example: He lives solitary as a hermit.
4. No man is an island
Meaning: Everyone needs companionship
Example: You can’t keep working alone; no man is an island.
5. Isolate like an island
Meaning: To be completely alone
Example: She isolated like an island during her studies.
6. Alone in the crowd
Meaning: Feeling lonely among many people
Example: He felt alone in the crowd at the concert.
7. Lone wolf
Meaning: A person who prefers to be alone
Example: He’s a real lone wolf at work.
8. Single as a dollar
Meaning: Completely single and alone
Example: She’s been single as a dollar since May.
9. Deserted island
Meaning: Completely deserted or lonely
Example: His house feels like a deserted island.
10. Stranded soul
Meaning: Someone feeling left alone and helpless
Example: Without her phone, she was a stranded soul.
11. Only the lonely
Meaning: Referring to those who feel loneliness
Example: Only the lonely understand this silence.
12. Lonely heart
Meaning: A person desiring companionship
Example: She wrote a poem for the lonely hearts.
13. Left in solitude
Meaning: Left completely alone
Example: He was left in solitude at the park.
14. Sole survivor
Meaning: The only one left
Example: After the layoffs, he felt like a sole survivor.
15. One is the loneliest number
Meaning: Being alone can be sad and isolating
Example: After the party, one is the loneliest number.
16. Island of isolation
Meaning: Completely isolated from others
Example: Living abroad felt like an island of isolation.
17. Solo flyer
Meaning: Someone who acts alone
Example: She was always a solo flyer in competitions.
18. Marooned mind
Meaning: Feeling isolated in one’s own thoughts
Example: His thoughts left him a marooned mind.
19. Alone at the helm
Meaning: Being in charge but feeling lonely
Example: She was alone at the helm of the company.
20. Hermit’s life
Meaning: Living alone, away from others
Example: He chose a hermit’s life after retirement.
