Welcome to our fun guide on pressure idioms! Idioms are phrases with meanings that aren’t obvious just from the words themselves. This post will help you understand some common English idioms related to the idea of ‘pressure.’ These are easy to learn and fun to use!
Pressure Idioms
Here are 20 pressure idioms in English with meaning and example sentence for each.
Under Pressure
Meaning: Feeling stressed due to demands.
Example: She performs well under pressure.
Feel the Heat
Meaning: To feel intense pressure.
Example: He started to feel the heat as deadlines approached.
Buckle Under Pressure
Meaning: To collapse under stress.
Example: He might buckle under pressure during exams.
Turn up the Heat
Meaning: To increase pressure.
Example: They will turn up the heat on the opposing team.
Blow Off Steam
Meaning: To relieve stress.
Example: He goes running to blow off steam.
In Hot Water
Meaning: In trouble or under pressure.
Example: She’s in hot water with her boss.
On the Boil
Meaning: In a state of activity or agitation.
Example: His emotions were on the boil after the argument.
Boiling Point
Meaning: The peak of pressure or tension.
Example: The situation reached its boiling point last night.
Crack Under Pressure
Meaning: To fail because of stress.
Example: He tends to crack under pressure in interviews.
Under the Gun
Meaning: Under great pressure.
Example: They were under the gun to finish the project.
Full Steam Ahead
Meaning: With maximum energy or force.
Example: It’s full steam ahead with the new strategy.
Steamroller
Meaning: Overwhelm with pressure.
Example: She will steamroller through any opposition.
Pressure Cooker
Meaning: A situation of high stress.
Example: The office was a pressure cooker of activity.
Burst One’s Bubble
Meaning: To ruin someone’s happy but naive belief.
Example: Reality soon burst her bubble.
Keep One’s Cool
Meaning: Remain calm under stress.
Example: He always keeps his cool during crises.
Lose One’s Cool
Meaning: To become angry or agitated.
Example: She lost her cool when provoked.
Under the Wire
Meaning: Just within a deadline.
Example: He finished the task under the wire.
Tighten the Screws
Meaning: To increase pressure.
Example: They decided to tighten the screws on policy enforcement.
On Edge
Meaning: Nervous or tense.
Example: She’s been on edge all week.
At the Breaking Point
Meaning: Near emotional collapse.
Example: He’s at the breaking point with his workload.
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