16 Common Idioms for Current Conversations | Pandemic Idioms 😷😷

It’s our main topic of conversation right now. The Virus. The Pandemic. The Lockdown. The Quarantine. In this lesson you’ll learn 16 conversational idioms you’re likely hearing from friends and coworkers that you may wish to use yourself to describe what’s happening in your world and how you feel about it.

Practice phrases and sentences used in this lesson:

1) Get through: manage and keep moving forward
This is a challenging time, but we will get through this and we will be better for it.

2) Wrap your head around: understand something that you consider challenging or confusing, mostly used with “can’t”
I can’t wrap my head around the long term impact of this lockdown.
I can’t wrap my head around all the numbers and statistics from different sources.

3) Get the hang of: beginning to understand how to do something, become familiar with
I’m really getting the hang of this Zoom thing! (my momma)

4) Grin and bear it: accept something that’s difficult without complaining
The days are starting to blend together and I desperately need to see my stylist but I just grin and bear it!

5) Put up with: endure something or someone you find unpleasant, inconvenient or annoying
At least right now you don’t have to put up with that annoying co-worker every day.

6) Cooped up: restricted to a small space for a length of time
We’ve been cooped up in the house for weeks.

7) Going stir crazy: feeling anxious, restless and irritable from being confined or isolated for too long
We’re all going a little stir crazy from being cooped up at home for weeks.

8) Climbing the walls: feeling frustrated, bored, anxious
We’re climbing the walls over here waiting to hear when things will open up again.
The kids are climbing the walls because it’s been raining for three days and they can’t get outside and run around.

9) Sick of: thoroughly annoyed with someone or something- especially something/someone you have to deal with repeatedly
I’m sick of hearing about all the ridiculous things the president says…

10) At the end of my rope: reached the limit of your patience or energy- exhausted, exasperated
I’m trying to work full time from home, chasing a toddler and homeschooling a 2nd and 4th grader- I’m at the end of my rope!

11) Count your blessings: feel grateful for the good things in life
Every morning, I write down in my journal at least one thing I am thankful for. Counting my blessings like this helps keep me centered and aware of all the good things in my life.

It’s a really helpful habit to take a moment each day to count your blessings.

12) Make the best of it: make a tough situation as pleasant as possible
We’re enjoying the extra time together and trying to make the best of it.

13) Look on the bright side: think of the positives or advantages in a difficult situation
On the bright side, we’ve been able to spend more quality time together as a family.
Look on the bright side, because we’re all at home, our planet is doing a lot of healing.

14) Light at the end of the tunnel: there will be an end to tough times
It may feel overwhelming sometimes, but there’s a light at the end of the tunnel.

15) Hang in there: be patient and calm in a challenging situation, encouraging someone to continue when something is difficult
Hang in there my friend. This won’t last forever.

16) Take it easy: relax, don’t stress, take care of yourself

Take it easy my friends. We’re all putting up with a lot of uncertainty right now, but there’s a light at the end of the tunnel. I know a lot of you are looking on the bright side and making the best of it by spending extra time with those you love and doing things, like practicing English, that you couldn’t make time for before.

Just hang in there... We’ll get through this!