60 Idioms for Ups And Downs

Idioms are fun phrases where the words together mean something totally different from what they say one by one. People use them to make talking and writing more colorful, exciting, and full of life. Today, you are going to learn a bunch of helpful idioms that all have to do with ups and downs, changing luck, and life’s mixed experiences.

In this lesson, we’ll look at idioms for ups and downs that mean experiencing good and bad times, changing fortune, and variable luck. Let’s get started and explore some of these helpful expressions.

Idioms for Ups And Downs

1. Roller coaster ride

Meaning: A situation filled with sudden, wild changes of good and bad luck.

For Example: Learning to play a new musical instrument can feel like a roller coaster ride. / The exciting soccer match turned out to be a true roller coaster ride.

Other Ways to Say: Wild fluctuations / Changing times

2. Through thick and thin

Meaning: Staying loyal and supportive through both good and bad times.

For Example: True friends promise to stick together through thick and thin. / The faithful puppy stayed by his side through thick and thin.

Other Ways to Say: Through all challenges / Good and bad

3. Highs and lows

Meaning: The alternating combination of great successes and difficult failures.

For Example: Every sports season comes with its own set of highs and lows. / Building the model house had various highs and lows.

Other Ways to Say: Successes and failures / Mixed times

4. Swings and roundabouts

Meaning: A situation where the good and bad parts balance each other out equally.

For Example: Losing some points here and gaining some there is just swings and roundabouts. / Life choices often involve simple swings and roundabouts.

Other Ways to Say: Balanced trade-offs / Equal mix

5. Mixed bag

Meaning: A collection containing a combination of both good and bad elements.

For Example: The weekly weather forecast turned out to be a mixed bag of sun and rain. / His report card grades were a mixed bag of highs and lows.

Other Ways to Say: Variety / Combination

6. Feast or famine

Meaning: Having either an abundance of success or complete lack of it.

For Example: Scoring five goals in one game and zero in the next felt like feast or famine. / Art project supplies in our classroom can sometimes be feast or famine.

Other Ways to Say: Extremes / All or nothing

7. Hitting a rough patch

Meaning: Experiencing a brief difficult period during an otherwise normal time.

For Example: The basketball team hit a rough patch of losing two games. / When math problems got tricky, he knew he was hitting a rough patch.

Other Ways to Say: Difficult phase / Short struggle

8. Weathering the storm

Meaning: Successfully surviving a difficult period of bad luck or trouble.

For Example: The small shop managed to weather the storm during slow months. / With help from friends, she could weather the storm.

Other Ways to Say: Survive trouble / Persevere

9. Ups and downs

Meaning: The natural alternation of fortunate and unfortunate events in life.

For Example: Every family experiences various ups and downs over the years. / Accepting the ups and downs of learning helps you grow.

Other Ways to Say: Good and bad / Fluctuations

10. Topsy-turvy

Meaning: Completely confused, upside down, and changing unpredictably.

For Example: Shuffling the game rules turned the afternoon upside down and topsy-turvy. / Moving to a new school made his daily routine feel topsy-turvy.

Other Ways to Say: Disordered / Chaotic

11. Seesaw battle

Meaning: A contest where the lead changes back and forth repeatedly.

For Example: The basketball game turned into a seesaw battle until the final minute. / Scoring points back and forth created a seesaw battle.

Other Ways to Say: Back and forth / Close contest

12. Back and forth

Meaning: Moving repeatedly in alternating opposite directions or moods.

For Example: The argument went back and forth before they agreed on a game. / Swinging on the park swings means moving back and forth.

Other Ways to Say: Alternating / Reciprocating

13. Ebbs and flows

Meaning: The natural rising and falling movements of success or energy.

For Example: Studying habits often have natural ebbs and flows throughout the school term. / Ocean tides demonstrate the constant ebbs and flows of water.

Other Ways to Say: Rises and falls / Fluctuations

14. Rise and fall

Meaning: The gradual increase and subsequent decrease of power or luck.

For Example: History class discussed the rise and fall of ancient kingdoms. / We watched the rise and fall of our toy tower blocks.

Other Ways to Say: Growth and decline / Changes

15. Hit and miss

Meaning: Unreliable results that alternate between success and failure.

For Example: Finding matching socks in the clean pile can be a bit hit and miss. / His basketball shots were hit and miss during practice.

Other Ways to Say: Unpredictable / Inconsistent

16. Trials and tribulations

Meaning: Difficult experiences and challenges test a person’s patience.

For Example: Passing the final exam required overcoming many trials and tribulations. / Pioneer families faced numerous trials and tribulations.

Other Ways to Say: Hardships / Difficulties

17. Upswing

Meaning: A sudden upward movement or improvement in luck and success.

For Example: After studying hard, his math grades experienced a welcome upswing. / The team saw an upswing in victories during spring.

Other Ways to Say: Improvement / Growth

18. Downswing Meaning: A sudden downward turn in success, mood, or fortune.

Meaning: A sudden downward turn in success, mood, or fortune.

For Example: Losing the match caused a brief downswing in team morale. / Economic downswings happen, but things improve later.

Other Ways to Say: Decline / Drop

19. Turn of events Meaning: An unexpected change in how a situation is progressing.

Meaning: An unexpected change in how a situation is progressing.

For Example: Winning three points in a row brought a happy turn of events. / Weather changes caused a sudden turn of events on our hike.

Other Ways to Say: Shift / Change

20. Changing fortunes Meaning: Alternating periods of wealth, luck, and misfortune.

Meaning: Alternating periods of wealth, luck, and misfortune.

For Example: The card game featured rapidly changing fortunes for every player. / History is filled with stories of changing fortunes.

Other Ways to Say: Variable luck / Shifted success

21. Stroke of luck Meaning: A sudden, unexpected event of good fortune.

Meaning: A sudden, unexpected event of good fortune.

For Example: Finding his lost pencil right before the test was a lucky stroke of luck. / Winning the raffle ticket felt like a wonderful stroke of luck.

Other Ways to Say: Lucky break / Unexpected fortune

22. Bad break Meaning: An unfortunate and unfair twist of bad fortune.

Meaning: An unfortunate and unfair twist of bad fortune.

For Example: Breaking his arm right before track season was a really bad break. / Getting sick on field trip day was an unexpected bad break.

Other Ways to Say: Unlucky turn / Poor fortune

23. Fortunes smiling Meaning: A period where good luck and success favor you.

Meaning: A period where good luck and success favor you.

For Example: Winning the art prize made it feel like fortunes were smiling on her. / With great weather, our fortunes were smiling.

Other Ways to Say: Good luck / Favorable times

24. Out of luck Meaning: Lacking good fortune during a competitive moment.

Meaning: Lacking good fortune during a competitive moment.

For Example: He tried to buy the last cookie, but he was out of luck. / When the store closed early, we were completely out of luck.

Other Ways to Say: Unlucky / Lacking fortune

25. Feast today, famine tomorrow Meaning: Experiencing great abundance now followed by sudden shortage.

Meaning: Experiencing great abundance now followed by sudden shortage.

For Example: Eating all the snacks at once felt like feast today, famine tomorrow. / Budgeting allowance coins prevents feast today, famine tomorrow.

Other Ways to Say: Extremes / Inconsistent supply

26. Blessing in disguise Meaning: An initial bad event that unluckily or luckily turns out good.

Meaning: An initial bad event that unluckily or luckily turns out good.

For Example: Breaking his bicycle forced him to walk, which proved to be a blessing in disguise. / Missing the first flight turned out to be a blessing in disguise.

Other Ways to Say: Hidden benefit / Lucky misfortune

27. Mixed blessing Meaning: An event that brings both positive and negative results.

Meaning: An event that brings both positive and negative results.

For Example: A snow day canceling school is wonderful, but delaying tests is a mixed blessing. / Winning the energetic puppy was a mixed blessing for sleep.

Other Ways to Say: Good and bad / Double-edged event

28. Silver lining Meaning: A comforting, positive aspect hidden inside a difficult situation.

Meaning: A comforting, positive aspect hidden inside a difficult situation.

For Example: Rain canceled our game, but the silver lining was baking cookies with mom. / Finding a new friend after moving was a bright silver lining.

Other Ways to Say: Positive note / Bright side

29. Bright side Meaning: The more positive aspect of an otherwise gloomy situation.

Meaning: The more positive aspect of an otherwise gloomy situation.

For Example: We missed the bus, but looked on the bright side by walking together. / Finding the silver lining means focusing on the bright side.

Other Ways to Say: Positive view / Optimism

30. Wheel of fortune Meaning: A metaphor for life’s constantly turning cycle of good and bad luck.

Meaning: A metaphor for life’s constantly turning cycle of good and bad luck.

For Example: Winning and losing games reminded him of the spinning wheel of fortune. / Life’s wheel of fortune keeps turning for everyone.

Other Ways to Say: Cycle of luck / Turning fate

31. Twist of fate Meaning: A strange and unexpected change in life circumstances.

Meaning: A strange and unexpected change in life circumstances.

For Example: Through a funny twist of fate, they sat next to each other on the train. / Winning the award was a wonderful twist of fate.

Other Ways to Say: Chance turn / Accidental shift

32. Pendulum swinging Meaning: A situation shifting back and forth between two extremes.

Meaning: A situation shifting back and forth between two extremes.

For Example: Public opinion on favorite playground games felt like a pendulum swinging. / The score kept shifting with the pendulum swinging.

Other Ways to Say: Shifting extremes / Alternating mood

33. Tide turning Meaning: A sudden reversal in the direction of success or luck.

Meaning: A sudden reversal in the direction of success or luck.

For Example: Scoring two goals in a row meant the tide was turning for our team. / With new study habits, his academic tide was turning.

Other Ways to Say: Reversal / Shift in luck

34. Weathering ups and downs Meaning: Surviving both good and bad phases with resilience.

Meaning: Surviving both good and bad phases with resilience.

For Example: Long-term friendships involve weathering ups and downs together. / The family business succeeded by weathering ups and downs.

Other Ways to Say: Enduring changes / Staying strong

35. Bouncing back Meaning: Recovering quickly from a failure or period of bad luck.

Meaning: Recovering quickly from a failure or period of bad luck.

For Example: After losing the first round, the team did a great job bouncing back. / Making a mistake is fine as long as you focus on bouncing back.

Other Ways to Say: Recover / Rebound

36. Rebounding Meaning: Recovering strength or success after a setback.

Meaning: ReboundingStrength or success after a setback.

For Example: Rebounding after a low test score shows great student determination. / The basketball player excelled at rebounding missed shots.

Other Ways to Say: Recovering / Bouncing back

37. On top of the world Meaning: Feeling immensely happy and successful during good times.

Meaning: Feeling immensely happy and successful during good times.

For Example: Winning the spelling bee made her feel on top of the world. / Scoring the winning goal put him on top of the world.

Other Ways to Say: Extremely happy / Victorious

38. Down in the dumps Meaning: Feeling sad and discouraged during low times.

Meaning: Feeling sad and discouraged during low times.

For Example: Losing his favorite toy left him feeling down in the dumps. / Don’t stay down in the dumps when things get tough.

Other Ways to Say: Sad / Discouraged

39. Hitting rock bottom Meaning: Reaching the absolute lowest possible point of bad fortune.

Meaning: Reaching the absolute lowest possible point of bad fortune.

For Example: Missing the bus and forgetting homework felt like hitting rock bottom before noon. / Things can only improve after hitting rock bottom.

Other Ways to Say: Lowest point / Worst stage

40. Turning a corner Meaning: Passing the worst part of a difficult situation and improving.

Meaning: Passing the worst part of a difficult situation and improving.

For Example: After days of studying, he felt like he was turning a corner in math. / The sick puppy started eating again, turning a corner.

Other Ways to Say: Improving / Recovering

41. Light at the end of the tunnel Meaning: Seeing hope and the end of a difficult period.

Meaning: Seeing hope and the end of a difficult period.

For Example: Finishing the final chapter gave us light at the end of the tunnel for homework. / Seeing summer vacation meant light at the end of the tunnel.

Other Ways to Say: Hope / End of trouble

42. Out of the woods Meaning: Escaping danger and entering a safe period after trouble.

Meaning: Escaping danger and entering a safe period after trouble.

For Example: After fixing the flat tire, our car was finally out of the woods. / Passing the difficult test meant he was out of the woods.

Other Ways to Say: Safe / Out of danger

43. Smooth sailing Meaning: An easy period of life with zero bumps or problems.

Meaning: An easy period of life with zero bumps or problems.

For Example: Once exams finished, the rest of the term was smooth sailing. / The rest of our road trip proved to be smooth sailing.

Other Ways to Say: Easy progress / Trouble-free

44. Rough seas Meaning: Experiencing a difficult, stormy period of challenges.

Meaning: Experiencing a difficult, stormy period of challenges.

For Example: Navigating group project disagreements felt like sailing through rough seas. / Economic changes brought rough seas for shops.

Other Ways to Say: Difficult times / Stormy phase

45. Rocky road Meaning: A path or journey filled with obstacles and challenges.

Meaning: A path or journey filled with obstacles and challenges.

For Example: Learning to play guitar involved a rocky road of practice. / Their early business efforts faced a rocky road.

Other Ways to Say: Difficult path / Hard journey

46. Smooth road Meaning: An easy journey without any potholes or obstacles.

Meaning: An easy journey without any potholes or obstacles.

For Example: Driving down the newly paved highway felt like a smooth road. / Learning multiplication felt like a smooth road after adding.

Other Ways to Say: Easy path / Clear journey

47. Every dog has its day Meaning: Everyone experiences a period of good luck eventually.

Meaning: Everyone experiences a period of good luck eventually.

For Example: Even though he lost today, remember that every dog has its day. / Keep trying because every dog has its day in sports.

Other Ways to Say: Your turn for luck / Everyone succeeds

48. Sunshine after the rain Meaning: Good times and happiness following a difficult period.

Meaning: Good times and happiness following a difficult period.

For Example: Winning the game felt like sunshine after the rain of losses. / Hard study brought good grades like sunshine after the rain.

Other Ways to Say: Joy after sorrow / Better times

49. After the storm comes the calm Meaning: Peaceful times always follow periods of high stress.

Meaning: Peaceful times always follow periods of high stress.

For Example: Finishing exam week brought relief, proving after the storm comes the calm. / After the noisy playground argument, after the storm comes the calm.

Other Ways to Say: Peace after chaos / Quiet follows

50. Swings and roundabouts routine Meaning: Accepting that life’s gains and losses balance out.

Meaning: Accepting that life’s gains and losses balance out.

For Example: Missing recess for chores was just part of the swings and roundabouts routine. / He handled wins and losses as a swings and roundabouts routine.

Other Ways to Say: Balanced life / Trade-offs

51. Variable fortunes Meaning: Success and luck that change frequently over time.

Meaning: Success and luck that change frequently over time.

For Example: The sports tournament featured variable fortunes for every team. / History books show kingdoms with variable fortunes.

Other Ways to Say: Changing luck / Mixed success

52. Mixed fortunes Meaning: Experiencing a combination of successes and failures.

Meaning: Experiencing a combination of successes and failures.

For Example: The school sports day brought mixed fortunes with wins and losses. / His art career had mixed fortunes early on.

Other Ways to Say: Varied success / Good and bad

53. Hitting highs and lows Meaning: Experiencing extreme shifts in mood or success.

Meaning: Experiencing extreme shifts in mood or success.

For Example: Playing the video game involved hitting highs and lows of score levels. / Acting in the play meant hitting highs and lows of emotion.

Other Ways to Say: Alternating extremes / Great variation

54. Peaks and valleys Meaning: The natural highs and lows of any long project.

Meaning: The natural highs and lows of any long project.

For Example: Writing a long story has its natural peaks and valleys of ideas. / Building the Lego castle featured peaks and valleys of progress.

Other Ways to Say: Highs and lows / Variations

55. Fortunes rising and falling Meaning: Success levels changing constantly over time.

Meaning: Success levels changing constantly over time.

For Example: Watching the stock market or game scores shows fortunes rising and falling. / The club membership saw fortunes rising and falling.

Other Ways to Say: Changing success / Variable luck

56. Turning tides Meaning: A major shift in luck, attitude, or competitive success.

Meaning: A major shift in luck, attitude, or competitive success.

For Example: Scoring three goals in a row marked the turning tides of the match. / Better study habits led to turning tides in grades.

Other Ways to Say: Shift in luck / Reversal

57. Ups and downs cycle Meaning: The repetitive pattern of good and bad life events.

Meaning: The repetitive pattern of good and bad life events.

For Example: Learning a difficult sport involves an ups and downs cycle of practice. / Market prices follow an ups and downs cycle.

Other Ways to Say: Cycle of change / Alternating pattern

58. Seesaw of life Meaning: The constant shifting between success and struggle.

Meaning: The constant shifting between success and struggle.

For Example: Winning and losing matches felt like riding the seesaw of life. / Everyone experiences the seesaw of life.

Other Ways to Say: Life’s balance / Alternating fortunes

59. Changing winds Meaning: Shifts in luck, circumstances, or public opinion.

Meaning: Shifts in luck, circumstances, or public opinion.

For Example: Sailing boats require adjusting sails to changing winds. / The team adjusted their strategy to changing winds in the game.

Other Ways to Say: Shifts in fortune / New direction

60. Pure fluctuation Meaning: The absolute peak state of continuous up and down changes.

Meaning: The absolute peak state of continuous up and down changes.

For Example: The thermometer reading showed pure fluctuation all afternoon. / Game scores exhibited pure fluctuation until the final buzzer.

Other Ways to Say: Constant change / Total variation

Exercise to Practice

1. Learning to play a new musical instrument can feel like a roller coaster ________.
2. True friends promise to stick together through thick and ________.
3. Every sports season comes with its own set of highs and ________.
4. Losing some points here and gaining some there is just swings and ________.
5. The weekly weather forecast turned out to be a mixed ________ of sun and rain.
6. Scoring five goals in one game and zero in the next felt like feast or ________.
7. The basketball team hit a rough ________ of losing two games.
8. The small shop managed to weather the ________ during slow months.
9. Every family experiences various ups and ________ over the years.
10. Shuffling the game rules turned the afternoon upside down and topsy-________.
11. The basketball game turned into a seesaw ________ until the final minute.
12. The argument went back and ________ before they agreed on a game.
13. Studying habits often have natural ebbs and ________ throughout the school term.
14. History class discussed the rise and ________ of ancient kingdoms.
15. Finding matching socks in the clean pile can be a bit hit and ________.

Answer Key

1. ride
2. thin
3. lows
4. roundabouts
5. bag
6. famine
7. patch
8. storm
9. downs
10. turvy
11. battle
12. forth
13. flows
14. fall
15. miss

Conclusion

Learning idioms for ups and downs helps you understand stories, character journeys, and everyday expressions of changing life events much better. When you know what these colorful phrases mean, you can use them to describe mixed fortunes and turning points in your own writing.

Try using a few of these expressions the next time you talk about a busy week or a close game. Practicing them out loud is a great way to remember them and make your communication sound awesome.