Stress Management Idioms

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😥 20 Stress Management Idioms

Hey there! 👋

Have you ever been under pressure at work and heard phrases like “under the gun” or “burning the candle at both ends” and thought, “What does that really mean?”

You’re definitely not alone.😁

That’s exactly why I’ve created this hub page for Stress Management Idioms.

It brings together the expressions my students ask about most, all in one place.

These Stress Management Idioms are commonly used when people talk about:

pressure
workload
mental strain
coping at work.

Once you understand them, conversations about stress and balance become much clearer.

You’ll be able to talk about pressure more naturally and confidently in English.

Each idiom on this page includes:

a clear explanation
a realistic workplace example
a quick quiz to help you remember
A link to a full idiom page

You can use this page:

as a reference
to explore the idioms below
to return to whenever you want to understand stress management phrases

Go through them at your own pace, try saying them out loud, and enjoy the process!

Happy learning, and I hope to see you in the next lesson!

Teacher Rob 🙋‍♂️

🧘 Calming Down and Relaxing

1. 👉 Take a Deep Breath (v)

Meaning: Calm yourself.
Example: When I feel stressed at work, I take a deep breath and slow down.

2. 👉 Let Off Steam (v)

Meaning: Release stress or anger.
Example: I go for a walk after work to let off steam.

3. 👉 Unwind (v)

Meaning: Relax after stress.
Example: Watching a film helps me unwind in the evening.

4. 👉 Take a Load Off (v)

Meaning: Stop working and relax.
Example: After a long day, I take a load off and rest.

5. 👉 Switch Off (v)

Meaning: Stop thinking about work.
Example: I try to switch off from emails at night.

⚖️ Healthy Balance and Self-Care

6. 👉 Get Some Fresh Air (v)

Meaning: Go outside to feel better.
Example: I get some fresh air when my head feels full.

7. 👉 Find a Balance (v)

Meaning: Create a healthy mix.
Example: Finding a balance between work and rest reduces stress.

8. 👉 Take Things Easy (v)

Meaning: Relax and avoid pressure.
Example: On weekends, I take things easy.

9. 👉 Practice Self-Care (v)

Meaning: Look after your health.
Example: Good sleep is part of practicing self-care.

10. 👉 Let Go of (v)

Meaning: Stop worrying.
Example: I let go of small problems I cannot control.

😫 Feeling Overwhelmed

11. 👉 Running on Empty (expr)

Meaning: Very tired and stressed.
Example: After weeks of overtime, I was running on empty.

12. 👉 At Your Wit’s End (expr)

Meaning: Extremely stressed or frustrated.
Example: I was at my wit’s end with constant deadlines.

13. 👉 Treading Water (v)

Meaning: Just managing, not improving.
Example: With too much work, I felt like I was treading water.

14. 👉 In It Up to Your Neck (expr)

Meaning: Very involved in a difficult situation.
Example: I was in it up to my neck with tasks.

15. 👉 Centre Yourself (v)

Meaning: Calm your mind and focus.
Example: Deep breathing helps me centre myself.

😰 Stress Reactions and Pressure

16. 👉 Like a Fish Out of Water (expr)

Meaning: Feel uncomfortable or unsure.
Example: I felt like a fish out of water in my new role.

17. 👉 Like a Deer in the Headlights (expr)

Meaning: Feel shocked or frozen.
Example: I felt like a deer in the headlights during the meeting.

18. 👉 A Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (expr)

Meaning: Very nervous or restless.
Example: Before deadlines, I feel like a cat on a hot tin roof.

19. 👉 Like a Sitting Duck (expr)

Meaning: In a weak or exposed position.
Example: Without support, I felt like a sitting duck.

20. 👉 A Bull in a China Shop (expr)

Meaning: Act without care.
Example: When stressed, he becomes a bull in a china shop.

There you go:

A useful collection of Stress Management Idioms you can start recognising and using right away.

You’ll soon notice these idioms in:

conversations about deadlines
workload discussions
work–life balance conversations

Now you’ll understand exactly what they mean and how to use them naturally.

Which one stood out to you the most?

My personal favourite is “let off steam” because I like the idea of steam coming off somebody’s head.

Let me know your favourite in the comments below.

I always enjoy hearing from you.

Want to keep learning?

Explore our other idiom guides covering:

Check out my 👉 A-Z idiom category list to see more.

Happy learning,

Teacher Rob 🙋‍♂️

Need help learning the idioms?

Check out my 👉 Best Way to Learn Idioms Quickly page.

ℹ️ Other Useful Pages

We hope you enjoyed our Stress Management Idioms.

stress management Stress Management Idioms