20 Moon Idioms & Phrases
Every language has its own idioms and expressions. What are idioms? Idioms are words or phrases that aren’t meant to be taken literally and usually have a cultural meaning behind them. If you can understand idioms you will be able to understand the context. In the English language, there are lots of idioms and phrases that involve imagery of the moon. Here are a few of them...
List of moon idioms and phrases:
1. Be over the moon
2. Once in a blue moon
3. Ask for the moon
4. Many moons ago
5. Promise (somebody) the moon
6. Love (someone) to the moon and back
7. Reach/Shoot for the moon
8. The moon is made of (green) cheese
9. Bark at the moon
10. Go between the moon and the milkman
11. Cast beyond the moon
12. Moonlighting
13. The moon on a stick
14. Think (one) hung the moon
15. To moon around/about
16. Bay at the moon
17. Honeymoon
18. Blue moon
19. Blood moon
20. Super moon
20 Moon Idioms & Phrases
Moon Idioms & Phrases |
1. Be over the moon
Meaning: to be very happy about something
∙ Aaru was over the moon about becoming a mother.
∙ My son was over the moon when he got his new bike.
∙ I think she was over the moon about it.
2. Once in a blue moon
Meaning: not very often; very rarely
∙ It happens once in a blue moon.
∙ My brother lives in Alaska, so I only see him once in a blue moon.
∙ He eats meat once in a blue moon because he doesn't really like it.
3. Ask for the moon
Meaning: to ask for something that is very difficult or impossible to get
∙ Wanting a decent job and a home is hardly asking for the moon.
∙ They are not asking for the moon, but they are asking for some help so that they can continue to progress.
4. Many moons ago
Meaning: a very long time ago
∙ All that happened many moons ago.
∙ I saw her once, many moons ago, in a dreadful movie.
∙ Many many moons ago, I dated a drop-dead gorgeous girl who was into rock climbing.
Keep reading: face idioms
5. Promise (somebody) the moon
Meaning: to make promises that will be impossible to keep
∙ Politicians will promise the moon when they're trying to get elected.
∙ So many banks try to lure customers by promising the moon.
∙ John promised her the stars and the moon, so she married him.
6. Love (someone) to the moon and back
Meaning: to have a vast and deeply meaningful love for someone
∙ I love you to the moon and back. Will you marry me?
∙ When my kids were growing up, my husband and I always used to say, "We love you to the moon and back!" every night before bed.
7. Reach/Shoot for the moon
Meaning: to try to do or get something that is very difficult to do or get
∙ Her mother always wanted Mani to reach for the moon, but Mani just wanted to play with her pets and run around in the woods.
8. The moon is made of (green) cheese
Meaning: used to highlight one's utter disbelief or incredulity about something that someone else has said or believes
∙ A: She claims she is descended from Napoleon Bonaparte. B: "Ha, yeah right, and the moon is made of cheese.
9. Bark at the moon
Meaning: to protest in vain
∙ Telling him that he's misinformed is just barking at the moon.
10. Go between the moon and the milkman
Meaning: to flee from a situation overnight
∙ Looks like Kate went between the moon and the milkman. She was here after dinner but she's gone this morning.
Keep reading: ice idioms
11. Cast beyond the moon
Meaning: to consider unlikely or fantastical possibilities
∙ Emma tends to cast beyond the moon, so her nickname is "dreamer".
12. Moonlighting
Meaning: the act of working at an extra job, especially without telling your main employer
∙ Moonlighting could make a noticeable difference to our income and ultimately to our standard of living.
∙ She'll lose her job if the boss finds out she has been moonlighting.
13. The moon on a stick
Meaning: everything that you could possibly want, including things that are difficult or impossible to get
∙ Dev always wants the moon on a stick when it comes to relationships.
∙ I'd love to have an equally successful long-term partner. And then perhaps some children. And the moon on a stick if that is not too much hassle.
14. Think (one) hung the moon
Meaning: to consider someone to be extraordinary wonderful
∙ My little brother absolutely adores me. He thinks I hung the moon!
15. To moon around/about
Meaning: to move around or spend time without any clear purpose, especially because you are slightly sad or in love
∙ She was feeling depressed and just mooned about all weekend.
∙ He was mooning around the house all day.
16. Bay at the moon
Meaning: to waste your time and energy trying to do something which is impossible
∙ She is looking for the perfect man and he doesn't exist. She is baying at the moon.
17. Honeymoon
Meaning: a holiday taken by a newly married couple
∙ Where are you going on your honeymoon?
18. Blue moon
Meaning: a second full moon in a calendar month
19. Blood moon
Meaning: a full moon that coincides with a full lunar eclipse and that has an unusually reddish appearance
20. Super moon
Meaning: a full moon occurring when the moon is at or near the closest point in its orbit