Here are English Christmas idioms and sayings that can be used during the holiday season.
List Of Popular English Christmas Idioms and Sayings
Christmas Comes But Once A Year
As it only happens once a year we should treat people less fortunate than us a bit better in the Christmas season.
Example:
- Jane went to the charity shop and made a large donation of cash for homeless people. After all, Christmas only comes once a year.
- I shouldn’t really have a third helping of cake, but hey, Christmas comes but once a year!
- I know Christmas comes but once a year, but do you really need to start wearing Christmas jumpers in November?
- Sue do you want another piece of the cake? Sure, why not? Christmas comes but once a year.
To Cancel Someone’s Christmas
When a person threatens to cancel someone’s Christmas, it means he/she wants to kill or destroy someone (not literally, of course!) as the dead person will miss Christmas.
Example:
- If Sam keeps bugging me, I’m going to cancel his Christmas this year.
- As soon as that guy becomes a liability, I’ll get Ray to cancel his Christmas, no problem.
- If he keeps bugging me, I’m gonna cancel his Christmas. Willie threatened to cancel Richard’s Christmas if Richard didn’t pay up.
All My Christmases Have Come Together
To experience an event of extremely good luck or happiness, something happened that you were dreaming about.
Example:
Last week I received an amazing job offer and yesterday my boyfriend proposed to me! It feels like all my Christmases have come together.
To Light Up Like A Christmas Tree
Something had a dramatic effect on someone’s mood. Some event or situation made someone very happy.
Example:
- Sarah saw a box of chocolates on her desk, and she lit up like a Christmas tree.
- He’s always dressed like a Christmas tree so it’s not hard to spot him in a crowd.
- The band members were done up like a Christmas tree for their performance.
Eat, Drink And Be Merry
Enjoy yourselves with good food and drink.
Example:
- Welcome to our party! Eat, drink and be merry.
- Thank you all for coming to our party today. Please eat, drink and be merry!
Trim The Tree
To add decorations to the Christmas tree like ornaments, ribbons, baubles, or lace.
Example:
- It was a longterm tradition for the whole family to trim the tree together.
- We always trim our Christmas tree with gold tinsel and ribbon.
- My family usually trims the Christmas tree with red and green lights and wooden ornaments.
Pigs In Blankets
A variety of sausage-based foods in the UK, USA and Ireland. In the USA pigs in blankets are small sausages wrapped in croissant rolls.
Example:
In the UK the ‘blanket’ is bacon. Pigs in blankets are a perfect accompaniment to the traditional Christmas dinner.
Like Turkeys Voting For Christmas
Turkeys are the favourite choice of food for the Christmas dinner. When people accept a decision which is not going to work out well for them it is like turkeys voting for Christmas.
Example:
The teachers agreed to accept the introduction of larger class numbers without any increase in their pay. It was like turkeys voting for Christmas.
To Ring In The New Year
To have a party on New Year’s Eve (31st December) to welcome the New Year. When the church bells ring everyone wishes each other a happy New Year.
Example:
May and Christopher invited their friends to their home for a New Year’s Eve party to help them ring in the New Year.
Christmas Has Come Early
Someone gets a welcome surprise they were not expecting.
Example:
Jonathan got a letter from his boss on the 1st December telling him that he had been promoted and was to receive a bonus. Indeed Christmas had come early for him.
Festive / holiday spirit
Festive spirit or holiday spirit refers to the general excitement and enthusiasm felt by people as they prepare for and celebrate Christmas.
Example:
- I spent the weekend decorating our tree and getting in the festive spirit.
- It’s only November, but I am already in the holiday spirit.
- December isn’t here yet and I’m already feeling the holiday spirit.
White Christmas
If it snows on Christmas day, or there is still snow from a recent snowfall
Example:
- The children are hoping for a white Christmas, but the weather forecast predicts rain.
- What are the chances of a white Christmas this year? Do you know?
- We can never have a white Christmas here in Australia.
- In London seldom do we get a white Christmas.
Christmas came early
Someone experiences good fortune sometimes ahead of the festive season.
Example:
- Did you hear that Lily won a car in the raffle? Seems like Christmas came early for her!
- Did you hear that Rachel has got a new company car? Looks like Christmas came early for her.
- The gifts we ordered are already here well ahead of time. Christmas has come early!
- Did you hear that Janice is pregnant? Christmas came early this year for her and Matthew.
