60 Idioms for Liking Something

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 liking something and enjoying your favorite things.

In this lesson, we’ll look at idioms for liking something that mean loving an activity, having great enthusiasm, and finding something wonderful. Let’s get started and explore some of these helpful expressions.

Idioms for Liking Something

1. Right up your alley

Meaning: Something that matches your specific interests and likes perfectly.

For Example: Building a Lego spaceship is right up your alley if you love science. / The mystery book was right down her alley.

Other Ways to Say: Matching interest / Perfect fit

2. Right up your street

Meaning: An activity or topic that matches your exact preferences and skills.

For Example: Playing guitar in the talent show is right up your street. / Solving math puzzles is right up his street.

Other Ways to Say: Perfect match / Suited for you

3. Cup of tea

Meaning: Something that you enjoy doing or find very interesting.

For Example: Painting beautiful landscapes is really my cup of tea on a rainy afternoon. / Playing board games is not really his cup of tea.

Other Ways to Say: Favorite thing / Enjoyable activity

4. Apple of my eye

Meaning: Someone or something that you cherish, love, and like more than anything.

For Example: The sweet rescue kitten was the apple of her eye from day one. / His brand new bicycle was the apple of his eye.

Other Ways to Say: Cherished favorite / Dearest treasure

5. Fall head over heels

Meaning: To like or love something or someone completely and immediately.

For Example: As soon as she read the first chapter, she fell head over heels for the book series. / He fell head over heels for playing soccer after scoring his first goal.

Other Ways to Say: Love deeply / Be crazy about

6. Crazy about

Meaning: Having an intense liking and enthusiasm for an activity or hobby.

For Example: He is crazy about collecting shiny baseball cards with his friends. / She is crazy about drawing colorful comic books during recess.

Other Ways to Say: Love a lot / Highly enthusiastic

7. Fond of

Meaning: Having a warm, friendly liking for a person, food, or hobby.

For Example: Grandma is very fond of baking sweet apple pies for Sunday dinner. / He grew quite fond of reading adventure stories at school.

Other Ways to Say: Like much / Enjoy warmly

8. Keen on

Meaning: Showing great interest, enthusiasm, and liking for something new.

For Example: Are you keen on joining the school chess club this semester? / She is very keen on learning how to play the piano.

Other Ways to Say: Enthusiastic about / Interested in

9. Take a fancy to

Meaning: To start liking someone or something suddenly and pleasantly.

For Example: He took a fancy to building model airplanes during the summer break. / The dog took a fancy to the red squeaky toy right away.

Other Ways to Say: Start liking / Develop taste for

10. Soft spot for Meaning: Having a tender, caring feeling of fondness toward someone or something.

Meaning: Having a tender, caring feeling of fondness toward someone or something.

For Example: Grandma has a soft spot for stray kittens that need homes. / He has a soft spot for chocolate chip cookies.

Other Ways to Say: Tender affection / Fondness

11. Tickle your fancy Meaning: To appeal to your tastes or bring you amusement and joy.

Meaning: To appeal to your tastes or bring you amusement and joy.

For Example: Choose whichever flavor of ice cream tends to tickle your fancy. / The funny cartoon show really tickled his fancy.

Other Ways to Say: Appeal to you / Please your taste

12. Music to your ears Meaning: Good news or information that you are very happy to hear.

Meaning: Good news or information that you are very happy to hear.

For Example: Hearing that recess was extended by ten minutes was music to our ears. / Dad saying we could go to the park was music to our ears.

Other Ways to Say: Wonderful news / Great to hear

13. Eat up Meaning: To enjoy something eagerly and accept it with great enthusiasm.

Meaning: To enjoy something eagerly and accept it with great enthusiasm.

For Example: He would eat up every new adventure story the librarian recommended. / The kids ate up the exciting details of the magic show.

Other Ways to Say: Enjoy eagerly / Relish

14. Have a soft spot Meaning: Holding a special, affectionate liking for a specific thing or person.

Meaning: Holding a special, affectionate liking for a specific thing or person.

For Example: She has a soft spot for fluffy stuffed animals. / He has a soft spot for helping younger students learn math.

Other Ways to Say: Feel fond of / Cherish

15. Real page-turner Meaning: A book that you like so much you cannot stop reading it.

Meaning: A book that you like so much you cannot stop reading it.

For Example: The mystery story about the lost map was a real page-turner. / Once he started chapter one, the novel proved to be a real page-turner.

Other Ways to Say: Exciting book / Fascinating read

16. Right down your street Meaning: An interest that matches your favorite hobbies completely.

Meaning: An interest that matches your favorite hobbies completely.

For Example: Visiting the science museum is right down your street. / Building robot models is right down his street.

Other Ways to Say: Perfect match / Suited for you

17. Big fan of Meaning: Showing strong admiration and liking for a team, book, or band.

Meaning: Showing strong admiration and liking for a team, book, or band.

For Example: He is a big fan of reading comic books on Saturday mornings. / She is a big fan of the school soccer team.

Other Ways to Say: Great admirer / Enjoy greatly

18. Wild about Meaning: Having immense excitement and love for an activity.

Meaning: Having immense excitement and love for an activity.

For Example: The children are wild about playing tag on the playground. / He became wild about sketching dinosaurs after visiting the museum.

Other Ways to Say: Passionate about / Enthusiastic

19. Mad about Meaning: Being very fond of or deeply enthusiastic about something.

Meaning: Being very fond of or deeply enthusiastic about something.

For Example: She is mad about painting bright colors with water-based paints. / My brother is mad about collecting toy cars.

Other Ways to Say: Very fond / Enthusiastic

20. Hooked on Meaning: Enjoying something so much that you want to do it constantly.

Meaning: Enjoying something so much that you want to do it constantly.

For Example: After trying one puzzle piece, he was hooked on solving brain teasers. / She got hooked on playing the flute during music class.

Other Ways to Say: Addicted to / Loving it

21. Into the groove Meaning: Enjoying an activity and feeling comfortable and happy doing it.

Meaning: Enjoying an activity and feeling comfortable and happy doing it.

For Example: Once he started painting regularly, he got right into the groove. / The dancing partners were into the groove of the music.

Other Ways to Say: Enjoying flow / Comfortable

22. Get a kick out of Meaning: To find great amusement and enjoyment in something silly or fun.

Meaning: To find great amusement and enjoyment in something silly or fun.

For Example: The kids get a kick out of watching the puppy chase its tail. / He always gets a kick out of reading funny comic strips.

Other Ways to Say: Enjoy immensely / Find amusing

23. Have a ball Meaning: To enjoy an event or activity with immense happiness and liking.

Meaning: To enjoy an event or activity with immense happiness and liking.

For Example: The birthday guests were having a ball playing party games. / We went ice skating and were having a ball on the ice.

Other Ways to Say: Enjoy greatly / Have fun

24. Having the time of your life Meaning: Experiencing maximum enjoyment and happiness during an activity.

Meaning: Experiencing maximum enjoyment and happiness during an activity.

For Example: Riding the roller coaster at the theme park made her feel like she was having the time of her life. / The kids were having the time of their life at summer camp.

Other Ways to Say: Enjoying immensely / Having fun

25. Having a whale of a time Meaning: Enjoying yourself immensely and liking an experience very much.

Meaning: Enjoying yourself immensely and liking an experience very much.

For Example: We went to the amusement park and had a whale of a time on the rides. / The children were having a whale of a time playing games outside.

Other Ways to Say: Enjoy greatly / Have fun

26. In seventh heaven Meaning: A state of supreme happiness because you love what is happening.

Meaning: A state of supreme happiness because you love what is happening.

For Example: Receiving a brand new box of art supplies put her in seventh heaven. / He was in seventh heaven when allowed to pet the friendly horse.

Other Ways to Say: Supremely happy / Overjoyed

27. Walking on sunshine Meaning: Expressing bright, cheerful happiness about a favorite event.

Meaning: Expressing bright, cheerful happiness about a favorite event.

For Example: Going to the zoo made her feel like she was walking on sunshine. / With vacation starting tomorrow, we feel like we are walking on sunshine.

Other Ways to Say: Extremely happy / Cheerful

28. Over the moon Meaning: Being delighted and thrilled about something you love.

Meaning: Being delighted and thrilled about something you love.

For Example: He was over the moon when his parents surprised him with a new puppy. / She was over the moon to receive her favorite book.

Other Ways to Say: Thrilled / Delighted

29. Tickled pink Meaning: Being extremely pleased, amused, and delighted by a treat.

Meaning: Being extremely pleased, amused, and delighted by a treat.

For Example: Grandma was tickled pink when the children baked her favorite cake. / He was tickled pink to receive a rare trading card.

Other Ways to Say: Delighted / Very pleased

30. Eat, sleep, and breathe Meaning: Being so devoted to an activity that you love it constantly.

Meaning: Being so devoted to an activity that you love it constantly.

For Example: He loves soccer so much that he seems to eat, sleep, and breathe the sport. / She is an artist who appears to eat, sleep, and breathe drawing.

Other Ways to Say: Passionate / Devoted

31. Right down your alley preference Meaning: Something that matches your exact taste and favorites.

Meaning: Something that matches your exact taste and favorites.

For Example: Designing robots was a hobby right down your alley preference. / The puzzle challenge felt like it was right down your alley preference.

Other Ways to Say: Perfect match / Suited taste

32. Favorite pastime Meaning: An activity you like doing most during your free time.

Meaning: An activity you like doing most during your free time.

For Example: Reading adventure stories is his absolute favorite pastime. / Playing basketball outside is her favorite pastime after school.

Other Ways to Say: Preferred hobby / Favorite activity

33. Absolute favorite Meaning: The single thing you like more than any other option.

Meaning: The single thing you like more than any other option.

For Example: Chocolate chip ice cream is his absolute favorite treat. / Painting with neon watercolors is her absolute favorite hobby.

Other Ways to Say: Top choice / Best liked

34. Cherished hobby Meaning: A favorite activity that brings you comfort and joy.

Meaning: A favorite activity that brings you comfort and joy.

For Example: Gardening with grandma was a cherished hobby he looked forward to. / Collecting colorful seashells became her cherished hobby.

Other Ways to Say: Valued pastime / Beloved activity

35. Dearest interest Meaning: A topic or sport that holds your greatest affection.

Meaning: A topic or sport that holds your greatest affection.

For Example: Astronomy became his dearest interest after visiting the planetarium. / Animal care was her dearest interest at school.

Other Ways to Say: Greatest passion / Favorite topic

36. Top of the list Meaning: The preference you like most among many choices.

Meaning: The preference you like most among many choices.

For Example: Going to the science museum was at the top of the list for our trip. / Reading mystery books remained at the top of the list for her.

Other Ways to Say: Favorite choice / Best option

37. Number one choice Meaning: Your preferred selection above all other alternatives.

Meaning: Your preferred selection above all other alternatives.

For Example: Strawberry flavor was his number one choice for ice cream. / The art elective was her number one choice of classes.

Other Ways to Say: Top pick / Favorite option

38. Best loved Meaning: The person, place, or thing that receives your greatest affection.

Meaning: The person, place, or thing that receives your greatest affection.

For Example: The old teddy bear was his best loved sleeping companion. / Reading under the oak tree was her best loved school activity.

Other Ways to Say: Most cherished / Favorite

39. Most favored Meaning: Selected as your favorite among different options.

Meaning: Selected as your favorite among different options.

For Example: Dodgeball was the most favored game during gym class. / Blue was his most favored color for drawing.

Other Ways to Say: Top choice / Preferred

40. True passion Meaning: An activity or interest that you love with all your heart.

Meaning: An activity or interest that you love with all your heart.

For Example: Playing violin turned out to be her true passion in life. / Building wooden birdhouses became his true passion.

Other Ways to Say: Great love / Deep interest

41. Heart’s desire Meaning: Something you want and like more than anything else.

Meaning: Something you want and like more than anything else.

For Example: Receiving the art set was truly his heart’s desire for his birthday. / Visiting the theme park was her heart’s desire.

Other Ways to Say: Greatest wish / Beloved goal

42. Delightful treat Meaning: Something you enjoy eating or doing as a special reward.

Meaning: Something you enjoy eating or doing as a special reward.

For Example: Getting warm popcorn at the movie theater is a delightful treat. / Playing extra video games on Friday is a delightful treat.

Other Ways to Say: Special reward / Enjoyable bonus

43. Sweet delight Meaning: Something pleasing and enjoyable that brings a smile.

Meaning: Something pleasing and enjoyable that brings a smile.

For Example: Tasting grandmother’s fresh peach cobbler was a sweet delight. / Finding a shiny sticker in the book was a sweet delight.

Other Ways to Say: Pleasant surprise / Joyful treat

44. Pure joy Meaning: Unmixed and absolute happiness experienced while doing something.

Meaning: Unmixed and absolute happiness experienced while doing something.

For Example: Running through the sprinkler in summer brought her pure joy. / Watching puppies play together is pure joy.

Other Ways to Say: Total happiness / Absolute delight

45. Source of happiness Meaning: Someone or something that consistently makes you feel glad.

Meaning: Someone or something that consistently makes you feel glad.

For Example: Painting colorful pictures was her main source of happiness. / The cheerful classroom pet was a source of happiness for everyone.

Other Ways to Say: Joy bringer / Happy element

46. Ray of gladness Meaning: A small, pleasant detail that brightens your day.

Meaning: A small, pleasant detail that brightens your day.

For Example: Finding a lost colored pencil felt like a ray of gladness. / Her kind note was a ray of gladness during a busy week.

Other Ways to Say: Pleasant moment / Happy spot

47. Bringing a smile Meaning: Doing an activity or sharing a joke that pleases you.

Meaning: Doing an activity or sharing a joke that pleases you.

For Example: Reading funny animal stories is great for bringing a smile to your face. / Playing catch with the dog is always bringing a smile.

Other Ways to Say: Pleasing / Amusing

48. Warm feeling Meaning: An emotional sense of comfort and contentment you like.

Meaning: An emotional sense of comfort and contentment you like.

For Example: Drinking hot cocoa on a snowy day gives you a warm feeling. / Helping classmates brought a warm feeling to her heart.

Other Ways to Say: Cozy emotion / Pleasant feeling

49. Favorite thing Meaning: The item or activity you enjoy more than any other.

Meaning: The item or activity you enjoy more than any other.

For Example: Drawing superhero comics is his absolute favorite thing to do. / Chocolate chip cookies are her favorite thing to bake.

Other Ways to Say: Top choice / Best liked item

50. Loving every minute Meaning: Enjoying an activity completely without any boredom.

Meaning: Enjoying every minute of an activity because you like it so much.

For Example: He was building his Lego castle and loving every minute of it. / She played soccer outside, loving every minute of the game.

Other Ways to Say: Enjoying greatly / Having fun

51. Having a blast Meaning: Experiencing an extremely fun and joyful time doing something you like.

Meaning: Experiencing an extremely fun and joyful time doing something you like.

For Example: We went to the roller coaster park and were having a blast all day. / The birthday guests were having a blast playing party games.

Other Ways to Say: Having fun / Enjoying immensely

52. On cloud nine Meaning: Experiencing wonderful happiness because your favorite thing happened.

Meaning: Experiencing wonderful happiness because your favorite thing happened.

For Example: When she found out her art project won, she felt like she was on cloud nine. / Winning the game put the whole team on cloud nine.

Other Ways to Say: Extremely happy / Overjoyed

53. Walking on air Meaning: Feeling light and joyful because you are doing what you love.

Meaning: Feeling light and joyful because you are doing what you love.

For Example: Receiving the new art kit left her walking on air all afternoon. / He felt like he was walking on air after scoring the winning goal.

Other Ways to Say: Ecstatic / Overjoyed

54. Jump for joy Meaning: To physically leap up in excitement because you like something so much.

Meaning: To physically leap up in excitement because you like something so much.

For Example: When school let out for summer vacation, the children started to jump for joy. / Hearing that we were going to the theme park made us jump for joy.

Other Ways to Say: Celebrate / Be thrilled

55. Grinning ear to ear Meaning: Showing an enormous, happy smile because you enjoy a moment.

Meaning: Showing an enormous, happy smile because you enjoy a moment.

For Example: He held his painted trophy, grinning ear to ear for the photo. / She was grinning ear to ear when she saw her new puppy.

Other Ways to Say: Smiling broadly / Happy grin

56. Beam with pride Meaning: To smile very broadly because you like your achievement.

Meaning: To smile very broadly because you like your achievement.

For Example: When he received his art ribbon, he began to beam with pride. / Meeting his favorite author made the young reader beam with pride.

Other Ways to Say: Smile widely / Look radiant

57. Having a field day Meaning: Enjoying yourself immensely while doing your favorite activity.

Meaning: Enjoying yourself immensely while doing your favorite activity.

For Example: The puppies had a field day playing in the pile of autumn leaves. / The art students had a field day painting with neon colors.

Other Ways to Say: Enjoying immensely / Having fun

58. Absolute favorite pastime Meaning: The single hobby you enjoy more than any other.

Meaning: The single hobby you enjoy more than any other.

For Example: Reading adventure stories is his absolute favorite pastime. / Playing soccer outside is her absolute favorite pastime.

Other Ways to Say: Top hobby / Best activity

59. Greatest pleasure Meaning: The activity that brings you the most happiness and liking.

Meaning: The activity that brings you the most happiness and liking.

For Example: Listening to classical music was his greatest pleasure in the evening. / Baking treats for neighbors was her greatest pleasure.

Other Ways to Say: Biggest joy / Favorite activity

60. Pure delight Meaning: Unmixed, simple, and wonderful happiness from liking something.

Meaning: Unmixed, simple, and wonderful happiness from liking something.

For Example: Watching the puppy chase bubbles filled the toddler with pure delight. / Receiving a new book brought pure delight.

Other Ways to Say: Simple joy / True happiness

Exercise to Practice

1. Building a Lego spaceship is right up your ________ if you love science.
2. Painting beautiful landscapes is really my cup of ________ on a rainy afternoon.
3. The sweet rescue kitten was the apple of her ________ from day one.
4. As soon as she read the first chapter, she fell head over ________ for the book series.
5. He is crazy about collecting shiny baseball ________ with his friends.
6. Grandma is very fond of baking sweet apple ________ for Sunday dinner.
7. Are you keen on joining the school chess ________ this semester?
8. Hearing that recess was extended by ten minutes was music to our ________.
9. She has a soft spot for fluffy stuffed ________.
10. The mystery story about the lost map was a real page-________.
11. He is a big fan of reading comic ________ on Saturday mornings.
12. The children are wild about playing ________ on the playground.
13. She is mad about painting bright colors with water-based ________.
14. After trying one puzzle piece, he was hooked on solving brain ________.
15. Once he started painting regularly, he got right into the ________.

Answer Key

1. alley
2. tea
3. eye
4. heels
5. cards
6. pies
7. club
8. ears
9. animals
10. turner
11. books
12. tag
13. paints
14. teasers
15. groove

Conclusion

Learning idioms for liking something helps you understand stories, favorite hobbies, and everyday expressions of joy much better. When you know what these colorful phrases mean, you can use them to describe the things you love doing in your own writing.

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