Looking up to people and appreciating their wonderful traits is a great part of everyday life. Idioms are special expressions that mean something different from the literal words they contain. Learning these phrases helps students express respect and admiration for others in creative ways.
In this lesson, we’ll look at idioms for admiring someone that mean admiring someone and praising their great qualities. Let’s get started and explore some of these helpful expressions.
Idioms for Admiring Someone
1. Look up to
Meaning: To feel great respect and admiration for someone.
For Example: I always look up to my older sister because she works very hard in school. / The younger soccer players look up to the team captain.
Other Ways to Say: Respect greatly / Admire deeply
2. Put someone on a pedestal
Meaning: To admire someone so much that you think they have no flaws at all.
For Example: It is easy to put your favorite athletes on a pedestal, but remember they are human too. / She put her favorite author on a pedestal before meeting her in real life.
Other Ways to Say: Idolize someone / Worship blindly
3. Think the world of
Meaning: To care deeply and have immense admiration for a person.
For Example: My grandfather thinks the world of his loyal dog. / She thinks the world of her art teacher who helped her win an award.
Other Ways to Say: Adore someone / Value greatly
4. Sing someone’s praises
Meaning: To enthusiastically talk about how wonderful or talented someone is.
For Example: The coach was singing the goalie’s praises after the amazing game. / My parents always sing my teacher’s praises during parent-teacher night.
Other Ways to Say: Praise highly / Compliment warmly
5. Hold in high regard
Meaning: To respect and admire someone greatly for their actions or character.
For Example: Our principal is held in high regard by every student and teacher. / The school nurse is held in high regard for helping everyone stay healthy.
Other Ways to Say: Respect deeply / Value highly
6. Think the sun rises and sets on someone
Meaning: To adore someone so completely that you believe they can do no wrong.
For Example: My little brother thinks the sun rises and sets on our older brother. / She thinks the sun rises and sets on her favorite pop singer.
Other Ways to Say: Adore completely / Worship totally
7. Look upon with favor
Meaning: To view someone with kindness, approval, and admiration.
For Example: The judge looked upon the young artist’s painting with favor. / Our teacher looked upon our group project with favor.
Other Ways to Say: Approve of / Look kindly upon
8. Take your hat off to someone
Meaning: To express deep respect or admiration for someone’s achievement.
For Example: You have to take your hat off to anyone who practices piano every single day. / I take my hat off to my friend who won the school science fair.
Other Ways to Say: Admire greatly / Salute someone
9. Give credit where credit is due
Meaning: To praise and acknowledge someone properly for their hard work.
For Example: We need to give credit where credit is due to our team captain for winning. / Always give credit where credit is due when a friend helps you study.
Other Ways to Say: Praise fairly / Acknowledge effort
10. Be sweet on someone
Meaning: To admire or have a warm fondness for someone.
For Example: He was sweet on his new puppy from the very first day. / She is sweet on her grandmother’s homemade chocolate chip cookies.
Other Ways to Say: Be fond of / Admire warmly
11. Shine like a star
Meaning: To stand out through exceptional talent, skill, or character.
For Example: She began to shine like a star during the school music recital. / Every student can shine like a star when they try their best.
Other Ways to Say: Stand out / Excel brilliantly
12. Worth your weight in gold
Meaning: To be extremely valuable, helpful, and deserving of admiration.
For Example: My best friend is worth her weight in gold when we study together. / A patient teacher is worth their weight in gold.
Other Ways to Say: Invaluable person / Highly treasured
13. Heart of gold
Meaning: To have a completely kind, generous, and admirable personality.
For Example: The school volunteer has a heart of gold and helps everyone. / Even though he looks tough, he has a heart of gold.
Other Ways to Say: Very kind person / Pure soul
14. Salt of the earth
Meaning: To be a remarkably good, honest, and admirable person.
For Example: My grandfather is the salt of the earth because he always helps neighbors. / Teachers who stay late to help students are the salt of the earth.
Other Ways to Say: Truly good person / Honest soul
15. Real gem
Meaning: A person who is exceptionally kind, rare, and wonderful to have around.
For Example: Finding a classmate who shares notes is a real gem of an experience. / Our school librarian is a real gem who recommends great books.
Other Ways to Say: Wonderful person / Rare find
16. Stand head and shoulders above
Meaning: To be far superior in talent or character compared to others.
For Example: Her research paper stood head and shoulders above all the rest. / That athlete stood head and shoulders above the competition.
Other Ways to Say: Be superior / Excel greatly
17. Apple of one’s eye
Meaning: Someone who is cherished, loved, and admired above all others.
For Example: Her baby sister is the apple of her eye. / That loyal dog is the apple of my grandfather’s eye.
Other Ways to Say: Favorite person / Treasured one
18. Walk on water
Meaning: To be admired so much that people think you are capable of miracles.
For Example: After scoring three goals, the team thought our striker could walk on water. / She thinks her favorite teacher can walk on water.
Other Ways to Say: Be idolized / Seem perfect
19. Idolize the ground someone walks on
Meaning: To show extreme devotion and deep admiration for a person.
For Example: The puppy seemed to idolize the ground his owner walked on. / She is so kind that her younger siblings idolize the ground she walks on.
Other Ways to Say: Adore completely / Worship deeply
20. Crown jewel
Meaning: The most prized, valuable, and admired person or thing in a group.
For Example: Our school choir is the crown jewel of our music department. / He considers his handmade robot to be the crown jewel of his hobby desk.
Other Ways to Say: Greatest treasure / Main pride
21. Pillar of strength
Meaning: An exceptionally reliable, admirable, and strong person.
For Example: My mother was a pillar of strength during my science fair nerves. / Our team captain proved to be a pillar of strength during the game.
Other Ways to Say: Reliable rock / Strong support
22. Beacon of hope
Meaning: A person who inspires deep admiration by bringing hope and light to others.
For Example: The kind tutor was a beacon of hope for struggling students. / Her encouraging words acted as a beacon of hope during hard times.
Other Ways to Say: Inspiring figure / Source of light
23. Breath of fresh air
Meaning: An admirable person who brings fresh, positive energy to a group.
For Example: The new student was a breath of fresh air with her cheerful attitude. / Helping out with new ideas is a breath of fresh air for our club.
Other Ways to Say: Positive influence / Refreshing presence
24. Shoot for the stars
Meaning: To admire someone’s ambition and want to achieve great things.
For Example: Our science teacher told us to shoot for the stars with our inventions. / Looking at astronauts makes children want to shoot for the stars.
Other Ways to Say: Aim high / Dream big
25. Bring out the best in someone
Meaning: To have an admirable quality that helps others act kindly and do well.
For Example: My best friend always knows how to bring out the best in me. / A great coach will bring out the best in every player.
Other Ways to Say: Inspire others / Elevate character
26. Make someone proud
Meaning: To act in a way that earns the admiration and joy of someone you respect.
For Example: I wanted to make my parents proud at the spelling bee. / Winning the science fair made my teacher proud.
Other Ways to Say: Earn admiration / Bring joy
27. Win someone over
Meaning: To gain someone’s admiration and approval through charming behavior.
For Example: His funny speech helped him win over the whole classroom. / She tried to win over the judges with her creative painting.
Other Ways to Say: Earn approval / Gain respect
28. Catch someone’s eye
Meaning: To notice someone because their talent or style is admirable.
For Example: Her colorful art project instantly caught the teacher’s eye. / The fast runner caught everyone’s eye during track practice.
Other Ways to Say: Attract notice / Stand out
29. Make waves
Meaning: To earn admiration by doing something bold and impressive.
For Example: His invention for recycling made waves across the entire school. / Her brilliant science presentation made waves in class.
Other Ways to Say: Cause a stir / Stand out boldly
30. Cut a fine figure
Meaning: To look smart, impressive, and admirable in appearance or action.
For Example: He cut a fine figure in his graduation suit. / The marching band cut a fine figure on the football field.
Other Ways to Say: Look impressive / Appear dashing
31. High flyer
Meaning: An ambitious, successful, and much-admired person.
For Example: She is a high flyer who always earns top grades in math. / My cousin is a high flyer who wants to study astronomy.
Other Ways to Say: Ambitious achiever / Successful person
32. Golden boy
Meaning: A popular, successful young man who wins everyone’s admiration.
For Example: He became the golden boy of the soccer team after scoring the winning goal. / Everyone praised him as the golden boy of the science fair.
Other Ways to Say: Star pupil / Favorite youth
33. Star of the show
Meaning: The most admired and talented person in a performance or group.
For Example: She practiced for weeks and became the star of the school play. / Our puppy was the star of the pet show.
Other Ways to Say: Main attraction / Center stage
34. Turn heads
Meaning: To attract widespread admiration because of exceptional skill or style.
For Example: Her incredible piano solo was so good it turned heads. / The new eco-friendly scooter design turned heads in the courtyard.
Other Ways to Say: Attract attention / Impress everyone
35. Make a splash
Meaning: To do something so impressive that everyone admires and notices you.
For Example: He made a splash with his amazing magic tricks at the talent show. / Our art club made a splash with the hallway mural.
Other Ways to Say: Impress greatly / Make an impact
36. Look like a million bucks
Meaning: To look exceptionally smart, neat, and worthy of admiration.
For Example: She looked like a million bucks in her new school presentation outfit. / The clean classroom looked like a million bucks after everyone chipped in.
Other Ways to Say: Look fantastic / Look wonderful
37. Fit as a fiddle
Meaning: To admire someone’s incredible physical health and energy.
For Example: My grandfather is eighty years old, but he is as fit as a fiddle. / After resting, the athlete was back to being fit as a fiddle.
Other Ways to Say: Very healthy / In great shape
38. Picture of health
Meaning: To look so well and energetic that people admire your vitality.
For Example: Eating fresh vegetables and exercising makes you look like a picture of health. / The energetic dog was the picture of health.
Other Ways to Say: Very healthy / Full of life
39. Smart cookie
Meaning: An intelligent and admirable person who solves problems easily.
For Example: Solving that tricky math puzzle proved she is a real smart cookie. / My little sister is a smart cookie who reads chapter books daily.
Other Ways to Say: Clever person / Bright individual
40. Sharp as a tack
Meaning: To admire someone’s quick wit and high intelligence.
For Example: Our history teacher is as sharp as a tack and remembers every date. / She answered the riddle instantly because she is sharp as a tack.
Other Ways to Say: Very smart / Quick-witted
41. Brains of the outfit
Meaning: The most intelligent and admirable planner in a group project.
For Example: He organized our whole science fair board like the brains of the outfit. / She was the brains of the outfit during our history presentation.
Other Ways to Say: Mastermind / Smart leader
42. Old hand
Meaning: A deeply admired and experienced person in a specific craft.
For Example: My dad is an old hand at fixing broken bicycle chains. / She is an old hand at organizing school charity drives.
Other Ways to Say: Expert / Master craftsman
43. Whiz kid
Meaning: A young and highly admired person who is exceptionally talented.
For Example: He is a whiz kid who built his own computer from spare parts. / She is a math whiz kid who solves fractions in seconds.
Other Ways to Say: Talented youth / Young genius
44. Ace in the hole
Meaning: An admirable hidden talent or strength that saves the day.
For Example: Having a pianist in our group was our ace in the hole for the talent show. / Her drawing skills were her ace in the hole for art class.
Other Ways to Say: Secret advantage / Hidden strength
45. Tower of strength
Meaning: A person whose courage and admirable stability help others through trouble.
For Example: My older brother was a tower of strength when I lost my backpack. / Our team captain was a tower of strength during the tough match.
Other Ways to Say: Strong support / Rock of stability
46. Breath of sunshine
Meaning: An admirable person who always brings happiness to others.
For Example: My little sister is a breath of sunshine whenever she enters the room. / Our classroom helper is a breath of sunshine.
Other Ways to Say: Joyful person / Happy soul
47. Joy to behold
Meaning: Something or someone so wonderful that looking at them brings admiration.
For Example: Watching the puppies play in the yard was a joy to behold. / Her graceful dance routine was a true joy to behold.
Other Ways to Say: Wonderful sight / Delightful person
48. Pure gold
Meaning: A person whose character is completely honest, kind, and admirable.
For Example: My best friend is pure gold for always sharing his lunch. / That trustworthy teacher is pure gold.
Other Ways to Say: Completely kind / Truly wonderful
49. Diamond in the rough
Meaning: Someone with incredible hidden talent and admirable potential waiting to shine.
For Example: He was shy at first, but his singing voice proved he was a diamond in the rough. / That rough sketch is a diamond in the rough before painting.
Other Ways to Say: Hidden talent / Raw potential
50. Shining light
Meaning: An inspirational person who leads others with admirable positivity.
For Example: She was a shining light in our drama club during stressful rehearsals. / His helpful attitude makes him a shining light in our class.
Other Ways to Say: Inspirational leader / Positive guide
51. Paragon of virtue
Meaning: A person viewed as a perfect example of admirable moral behavior.
For Example: Everyone looked up to him as a paragon of honesty and kindness. / She acted like a paragon of virtue during the fair trade project.
Other Ways to Say: Model of goodness / Perfect example
52. Living legend
Meaning: A person who is still alive and deeply admired for amazing achievements.
For Example: The retired soccer star visited our school like a living legend. / Our music teacher is a living legend in our town.
Other Ways to Say: Famous achiever / Icon
53. Credit to the team
Meaning: A person whose hard work and great attitude bring honor to a group.
For Example: He practiced every day and proved to be a credit to the team. / Her respectful manners make her a credit to our class.
Other Ways to Say: Honor to the group / Model member
54. Boy wonder
Meaning: A young boy who achieves remarkable success and earns widespread awe.
For Example: The young chess player was hailed as a boy wonder after winning the tournament. / He was the boy wonder of the school robotics club.
Other Ways to Say: Talented boy / Young prodigy
55. Girl wonder
Meaning: A young girl who displays incredible skill, talent, and success.
For Example: She composed her own piano song and amazed everyone as a girl wonder. / The young science winner was a true girl wonder.
Other Ways to Say: Talented girl / Young prodigy
56. Champion of the cause
Meaning: An admirable person who fights strongly for what is right and good.
For Example: She became a champion of the cause to plant trees around the school. / He is a true champion of the cause for animal shelter rescue.
Other Ways to Say: Dedicated supporter / Defender
57. Hero in disguise
Meaning: An ordinary person who does something quietly admirable and heroic.
For Example: Finding my lost homework made my classmate feel like a hero in disguise. / The quiet custodian was a hero in disguise during the messy storm cleanup.
Other Ways to Say: Quiet savior / Unsung hero
58. Pride and joy
Meaning: A person who brings immense happiness, pride, and deep admiration.
For Example: That handmade art project was the teacher’s pride and joy. / Her supportive grandmother is her absolute pride and joy.
Other Ways to Say: Greatest pride / Beloved person
59. Marvel of modern times
Meaning: A person or creation that inspires huge admiration for its brilliance.
For Example: The student’s working robot model felt like a marvel of modern times. / Her fast typing speed is a marvel of modern times.
Other Ways to Say: Amazing wonder / Brilliant creation
60. Admired from afar
Meaning: To respect and look up to someone respectfully without being very close to them.
For Example: The famous author was admired from afar by students reading her books. / The helpful school principal was admired from afar by all the younger kids.
Other Ways to Say: Respected from a distance / Revered quietly
Exercise to Practice
- I always ________ my older sister because she works very hard in school.
- My grandfather is the ________ because he always helps neighbors carry heavy bags.
- Finding a classmate who shares their notes is a ________ of an experience.
- My best friend is ________ when we study together for history exams.
- Our history teacher is as ________ as a tack and remembers every single date.
- She was a ________ in our drama club during stressful stage rehearsals.
- Everyone looked up to him as a ________ of honesty and kindness.
- That handmade art project was displayed with immense pride and ________.
- Winning the school science fair made my science teacher ________.
- Her incredible piano solo was so wonderful that it turned ________ in the room.
- He organized our whole science fair board like the ________ of the outfit.
- The coach was singing the goalie’s ________ after the amazing championship game.
- You have to take your ________ off to anyone who practices piano every single day.
- She practiced for weeks and became the ________ of the school play.
- My mother was a ________ of strength during my science fair nerves.
Answer Key
- look up to
- salt of the earth
- real gem
- worth her weight in gold
- sharp
- shining light
- paragon
- joy
- proud
- heads
- brains
- praises
- hat
- star of the show
- tower
Conclusion
Learning idioms about admiring someone helps you express respect and appreciation in wonderful, creative ways. These colorful expressions add warmth and clear feeling to your everyday conversations and stories.
Try using one or two of these phrases to praise someone you look up to this week. You will see how much happier it makes people when you share your admiration!
