25 Idioms for Advice
Advice helps us make better decisions, and sometimes people use short, catchy expressions to share it. These expressions are called idioms. Instead of saying “Think carefully,” someone might say, “Look before you leap.” These idioms don’t always mean what the words say, but they make advice more fun and easier to remember.
In this article, you’ll discover 25 popular idioms that people use to give advice. You’ll learn what they mean, see examples of how they’re used, and even get a chance to practice them yourself. Whether you’re trying to guide a friend or understand someone’s suggestion, these idioms can help you do it with style.
Idioms for Advice
1. Sleep on it
Meaning: Wait until the next day to make a decision.
In a Sentence:
– I couldn’t decide if I should buy the shoes, so my mom told me to sleep on it.
– My teacher suggested I sleep on it before choosing my science project topic.
Other Ways to Say: Think it over / Take your time
2. Don’t cry over spilled milk
Meaning: Don’t stay upset about something that’s already happened and can’t be changed.
In a Sentence:
– I lost my notebook, but my friend said not to cry over spilled milk.
– We were late to the movie, but it’s no use crying over spilled milk.
Other Ways to Say: Let it go / What’s done is done
3. Look before you leap
Meaning: Think carefully before making a decision or taking a risk.
In a Sentence:
– Before quitting your job, you should look before you leap.
– He didn’t look before he leaped and now regrets the deal.
Other Ways to Say: Be careful / Think first
4. Bite the bullet
Meaning: Do something difficult or unpleasant that you’ve been avoiding.
In a Sentence:
– I didn’t want to go to the dentist, but I bit the bullet and made the appointment.
– She finally bit the bullet and told the truth.
Other Ways to Say: Face it / Just do it
5. Better safe than sorry
Meaning: It’s wise to be cautious to avoid trouble later.
In a Sentence:
– I wore sunscreen even though it was cloudy—better safe than sorry.
– We packed extra food for the trip. Better safe than sorry.
Other Ways to Say: Be prepared / Play it safe
6. The ball is in your court
Meaning: It’s your turn to make a decision or take action.
In a Sentence:
– I gave her all the information she needs—now the ball is in her court.
– I said I’m ready to help, so the ball is in his court.
Other Ways to Say: It’s up to you / Your move
7. Don’t put all your eggs in one basket
Meaning: Don’t rely entirely on one plan or option.
In a Sentence:
– I applied to five different jobs because I didn’t want to put all my eggs in one basket.
– He only invested in one stock—bad idea to put all your eggs in one basket.
Other Ways to Say: Have a backup / Spread your risk
8. Hit the nail on the head
Meaning: Say or do something that is exactly right.
In a Sentence:
– You hit the nail on the head with your answer—it’s exactly what the teacher wanted.
– When she described the problem, she really hit the nail on the head.
Other Ways to Say: Exactly right / Nailed it
9. Two heads are better than one
Meaning: Working with someone else is more effective than doing it alone.
In a Sentence:
– Let’s solve this puzzle together—two heads are better than one.
– We finished the project faster because two heads are better than one.
Other Ways to Say: Work together / Teamwork helps
10. A word to the wise
Meaning: A small bit of advice or warning should be enough.
In a Sentence:
– A word to the wise: save your work often when using that old computer.
– A word to the wise—never skip breakfast on exam day.
Other Ways to Say: Quick tip / Just a heads-up
11. Easier said than done
Meaning: Something may sound simple, but it’s hard to do.
In a Sentence:
– I know I should stay calm, but that’s easier said than done.
– Starting a new routine is easier said than done.
Other Ways to Say: Sounds easy / Not that simple
12. Get your act together
Meaning: Start behaving more responsibly or organizing yourself better.
In a Sentence:
– My coach said I need to get my act together if I want to play.
– She told me to get my act together and focus on my studies.
Other Ways to Say: Shape up / Get serious
13. Practice what you preach
Meaning: Do what you tell others to do.
In a Sentence:
– He always talks about kindness, but he needs to practice what he preaches.
– If you tell us to be on time, you should practice what you preach.
Other Ways to Say: Lead by example / Follow your own advice
14. Keep your chin up
Meaning: Stay positive and don’t lose hope.
In a Sentence:
– I failed my driving test, but my friend told me to keep my chin up.
– Things will get better—just keep your chin up.
Other Ways to Say: Stay strong / Don’t give up
15. Burn the midnight oil
Meaning: Stay up late working or studying.
In a Sentence:
– I had to burn the midnight oil to finish my science report.
– She’s burning the midnight oil preparing for exams.
Other Ways to Say: Work late / Stay up late
16. Let the chips fall where they may
Meaning: Accept whatever happens, even if it’s not perfect.
In a Sentence:
– I told the truth and let the chips fall where they may.
– He did his best and let the chips fall where they may.
Other Ways to Say: Accept the outcome / Leave it to fate
17. You can’t please everyone
Meaning: Not everyone will agree with or like your choices.
In a Sentence:
– I chose the theme I liked—you can’t please everyone.
– My teacher said not everyone will love your writing, and that’s okay.
Other Ways to Say: Not everyone agrees / Do what feels right
18. Don’t judge a book by its cover
Meaning: Don’t decide something just by how it looks.
In a Sentence:
– That tiny café looked plain but had the best food!
– She seemed shy at first, but don’t judge a book by its cover.
Other Ways to Say: Look deeper / Appearances can mislead
19. Take it with a grain of salt
Meaning: Don’t believe something completely—be a little skeptical.
In a Sentence:
– He exaggerates a lot, so I take what he says with a grain of salt.
– When I read rumors online, I take them with a grain of salt.
Other Ways to Say: Be cautious / Don’t take it all seriously
20. Actions speak louder than words
Meaning: What people do matters more than what they say.
In a Sentence:
– He apologized, but his actions speak louder than words.
– She says she cares, but she never helps—actions speak louder than words.
Other Ways to Say: Show it / Deeds matter more
21. Learn the ropes
Meaning: Learn how something works or how to do something.
In a Sentence:
– I’m still learning the ropes at my new job.
– She showed me the ropes on my first day at the club.
Other Ways to Say: Get the hang of it / Figure it out
22. Roll with the punches
Meaning: Adapt to problems or challenges without getting upset.
In a Sentence:
– Our trip got delayed, but we just rolled with the punches.
– Even with the power outage, he rolled with the punches and stayed calm.
Other Ways to Say: Go with the flow / Stay flexible
23. On the fence
Meaning: Unsure about what choice to make.
In a Sentence:
– I’m still on the fence about whether to join the drama club.
– She was on the fence about going to the party.
Other Ways to Say: Undecided / Torn
24. Don’t bite off more than you can chew
Meaning: Don’t take on more than you can handle.
In a Sentence:
– I joined four clubs and now I feel overwhelmed—I bit off more than I could chew.
– He tried to manage everything alone and ended up exhausted.
Other Ways to Say: Do less / Don’t overcommit
25. Think outside the box
Meaning: Be creative and come up with new ideas.
In a Sentence:
– We thought outside the box and made a rocket using recycled materials.
– Her artwork stood out because she really thought outside the box.
Other Ways to Say: Be creative / Try something different
Practice Exercise
Fill in the blanks with the correct idiom from the article:
- I wasn’t sure which project to choose, so my teacher told me to __ on it.
- My sister spilled juice on the floor and started crying, but mom said not to cry over __ milk.
- I joined four clubs and quickly realized I had bitten off more than I could __.
- My friend gave me advice, but I took it with a grain of __.
- We worked together on the puzzle because two __ are better than one.
Answer Key
- sleep
- spilled
- chew
- salt
- heads
Conclusion
Idioms are a powerful way to give advice in a way that feels natural, memorable, and even a little fun. Whether you’re encouraging someone to take their time or warning them not to rush into something, these expressions add color to your language and clarity to your message.
By learning and practicing these idioms, you’ll not only improve your English but also connect more easily with native speakers. Keep listening for them in real conversations—and don’t forget to use them when it’s your turn to give advice!
