ISTOCK
Have you ever made your friends laugh so hard at lunch that you felt like you “brought down the house”? Or packed so much for a school trip that you took “everything but the kitchen sink”? English is full of expressions that turn our homes—roofs, kitchens, carpets, and all—into colourful ways of describing everyday life. From getting in trouble and “hitting the roof” to finding your “home away from home” at your best friend’s place, these sayings are as familiar as your own front door.
Meaning: Make the audience applaud or react enthusiastically.
Example: The school play brought down the house with its final song.
Meaning: Become very angry or upset.
Example: Dad hit the roof when he saw the muddy footprints on the carpet.
Meaning: Increase rapidly; also, to become very angry.
Example: The price of ice cream went through the roof this summer.
Meaning: Don’t criticise others if you have similar faults.
Example: You forgot your homework too—people in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones!
Meaning: Your home is wherever your loved ones are.
Example: I’ve moved a lot, but home is where the heart is.
Meaning: Free of charge, paid for by the host.
Example: The restaurant gave us dessert on the house for my birthday.
Meaning: Solve your own problems before criticising others.
Example: Before blaming the team, you should get your own house in order.
Meaning: Make unrealistic or impractical plans.
Example: He’s always building castles in the air about becoming a famous actor.
Meaning: Eat a lot of someone else’s food.
Example: My friends eat me out of house and home whenever they visit!
Meaning: A situation or plan that is weak and likely to fail.
Example: Their plan to finish the project without help was a house of cards.
Meaning: Force someone to leave your home.
Example: Mum threatened to throw us out of the house if we didn’t clean our room.
Meaning: A place where you feel as comfortable as you do at home.
Example: My grandmother’s house is a home away from home.
Meaning: Very safe and secure.
Example: Don’t worry—your bike is safe as houses in our garage.
Meaning: Affecting someone personally.
Example: The story about kindness really hit close to home for me.
Meaning: Almost everything has been included.
Example: She packed everything but the kitchen sink for the picnic!
Meaning: Hide or ignore something embarrassing or unpleasant.
Example: The school can’t just sweep this issue under the carpet.
Meaning: Become very friendly very quickly.
Example: Riya and Asha got on like a house on fire from day one.
Meaning: Keep things running smoothly at home during someone’s absence.
Example: Dad worked late while Mum kept the home fires burning.
Meaning: Do something drastic or destructive (sometimes used for major change).
Example: Don’t burn the house down just to fix a small problem!
Meaning: Cause everyone to laugh or cheer (alternate to #1, often for comedy).
Example: His jokes always bring the house down at parties.