Holidays times call for a holiday lesson on English idioms and phrases! It is likely that throughout December you will hear more idioms and phrases related to the upcoming winter holidays – Christmas, New Year’s, Chanukah, Diwali, and Kwanzaa.
Below is a list of 5 holiday expressions you might hear, with examples.
- Happy Holidays!
This is a super common phrase that you’ve probably already heard!
We usually say Happy Holidays in December because it includes everyone’s holidays in just one greeting!
Instead of trying to figure out who does and doesn’t celebrate Christmas, Chanukah, Kwanzaa, Diwali and the New Year, you can simply say Happy Holidays to wish everyone a happy holiday!
When someone says Happy Holidays to you, you can respond with a cheery (1) “Thank you! Happy Holidays!”
- The more, the merrier!
This phrase is excellent if you love to host (2) parties with lots of people.
The more, the merrier is usually used in response to someone asking if they can invite an extra guest.
For example:
Christian: Alex, Thank you for inviting me to your New Year’s Eve party! Can I invite my boyfriend?
Alex: Yes of course! The more the merrier!
- A scrooge/a grinch
This phrase is based on 2 famous holiday stories. Both Scrooge and The Grinch are angry or grumpy (3) characters in the stories.
If someone calls you a scrooge or a grinch, they are calling you an unkind person who hates the holidays!
For example:
Izzy: Can we listen to Christmas music?
Tina: No, I hate Christmas music!
Izzy: Ugh! Don’t be such a grinch!
- Ring in the New Year!
To ring in the new year means to celebrate the end of the year and the beginning of the new year.
For example: I don’t want to go out on December 31st. I just want to ring in the new year with my friends and family this year!
- Get into the holiday spirit!
Getting into the holiday spirit means that you finally feel excited about the holiday season. You feel the “spirit” or the energy of the holidays!
For example: I bought all of my Christmas gifts, and I watch a Christmas movie every night while I drink hot chocolate. I’m really getting into the holiday spirit!
Source: English Holiday Idioms, Expressions & Other Common Phrases – Ellii Blog
cheery (1) adj. happy
to host (2) verb. to have guests over
grumpy (3) adj.to be In a bad mood