7 idioms in English about household items with exercises

Household items feature in many idioms. Sometimes the items they refer to may seem outdated, but the idioms themselves live on in our contemporary language. Here are 7 common idioms about household items and some fun facts about their origins. Don't forget to answer the questions at the end!

1. The pot calling the kettle black.

This phrase is used when someone accuses another person of a fault they also possess.

This idiom is very British. When I moved to Spain from the UK, I was so surprised to see that people didn’t have a kettle in their kitchen. Nowadays kettles are in every home in the UK and they are mostly electric, but in the past they used to be metal and the water would be heated on the hob or fire.

Examples:

Mark criticized Jane for being late, but it was a classic case of the pot calling the kettle black—he’s late all the time!
"You’re so messy!" said Tom to his equally untidy brother. Pot, meet kettle.

Origins: The idiom likely dates back to the 17th century, where pots and kettles were both made of cast iron and would become blackened by the soot of a fire. The implication was that both were equally tarnished.

2. Burning the candle at both ends.

How often do I say this to my teenagers? Even though we don’t use candles as a source of light anymore, this idiom is still very present in my house! It means going to bed too late and having to get up early every day.

Examples:

Between her day job and night classes, Sarah was burning the candle at both ends.
If you keep burning the candle at both ends, you’re bound to burn out.

Origins: This phrase first appeared in English in the 17th century, though it likely stems from French. It metaphorically describes lighting a candle at both ends, leading it to burn out faster.

3. Sweep it under the rug.

It means to hide or ignore something embarrassing or unpleasant. I love this idiom. It is so visual. Being a psychologist, it also really paints a picture of how if you don’t deal with problems and keep pretending that they are not there, the rug just gets more and more uneven. A lumpy rug can be dangerous because it could cause someone to trip and hurt themselves. Isn’t that what can happen if conflicts or problems are not dealt with?

Examples:

The company tried to sweep the scandal under the rug, but the media found out anyway.
Instead of addressing their argument, they decided to sweep it under the rug and act like nothing happened.

Origins: This idiom is believed to have originated in the mid-20th century, drawing on the literal act of hiding dirt under a rug instead of cleaning it properly.

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4. Don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater.

Don’t discard something valuable while trying to get rid of something unwanted. I have to admit, this is not my favourite! However, I have to put this on the list owing to its frequency of use.

Examples:

When revising your manuscript, don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater; some sections are worth keeping.
Just because the plan has flaws doesn’t mean we should abandon it altogether. Let’s not throw the baby out with the bathwater.

Origins: This phrase traces back to 16th-century Germany, where it first appeared in a satirical book by Thomas Murner. Bathing practices then were far from what we know today, and families often reused the same bathwater, so the idea of accidentally discarding something—like a baby—was a humorous exaggeration.

5. Everything but the kitchen sink.

This is one of my Mum’s favourites. Especially when she sees what my brother and sister-in-law take on holiday with them! Three giant suitcases just for a two-week holiday. It means almost everything imaginable.

Examples:

She packed everything but the kitchen sink for her weekend trip.
The team threw everything but the kitchen sink into the final presentation to impress the client.

Origins: This idiom gained popularity during World War II and is thought to refer to the idea that while many things could be repurposed during metal drives, the kitchen sink was too large or fixed to be included.

6. A watched pot never boils.

Meaning: Time seems to move slower when you’re waiting for something to happen. How true is this one? How is it, that time goes so quickly at the weekends, unless you are standing in the kitchen waiting for the water to come to the boil, then times seems to slow down almost to a halt?

Examples:

Waiting for the test results felt endless; as they say, a watched pot never boils.
Stop refreshing the tracking page; your package will come when it’s ready. A watched pot never boils.

Origins: This saying dates back to Benjamin Franklin’s 1785 book, Letters on the Conduct of Life, though similar sentiments existed earlier. The idea highlights the impatience of waiting for something.

7. Put a lid on it.

It is used as a suggestion to stop talking. Be careful using this one! It might be considered a little rude. However, it is one you might hear in a heated conversation.

Examples:

The argument was getting heated, so I told them to put a lid on it.
If you can’t say something constructive, put a lid on it.

Origins: This idiom uses the metaphor of covering a pot or jar to stop its contents from spilling out. It became common in American slang during the 20th century.