A Bone to Pick with Boring Prose: Using Idioms to Spice Up Your Fiction by Olivia Salter

 

A Bone to Pick with Boring Prose: Using Idioms to Spice Up Your Fiction

By Olivia Salter

Author & Storytelling Enthusiast

When writing fiction, the goal is to create an immersive experience—one where readers feel like they’re walking in your characters’ shoes, smelling the air, hearing the tension in every breath, and getting the picture with every line. Fiction isn’t just about telling a story; it’s about evoking a visceral response, transporting readers into a world that feels as real and complex as their own. One powerful and often overlooked tool in a writer’s toolbox is the idiom: those colorful, non-literal expressions that breathe life into language and inject personality into both narration and dialogue.

Idioms are more than linguistic flair—they’re cultural shorthand. They can instantly convey tone, emotion, and subtext without the need for lengthy explanation. When a character describes themselves as a big fish in a small pond, we instantly understand their pride or frustration without needing a backstory. A phrase like a blast from the past can conjure nostalgia, surprise, or dread depending on the context. These familiar turns of phrase carry with them layers of meaning, rhythm, and sometimes humor that can make prose sing.

Take a moment to consider these familiar phrases: a bone to pick, a card up one’s sleeve, a couch potato. You’ve likely used or heard them before without giving it much thought. But in fiction writing, these idioms can be more than casual expressions—they can be narrative fuel. Used intentionally, they reveal character traits, hint at themes, deepen conflict, or provide insight into a character’s worldview. A villain who always has a card up their sleeve is cunning by nature. A side character labeled as a couch potato instantly becomes relatable and visualized without needing pages of description.

Better yet, idioms can be adapted or twisted to suit your world. In speculative fiction or satire, for instance, a writer might invent new idioms that reflect the quirks of their imagined society. In contemporary stories, idioms grounded in a character’s cultural or regional background can make the voice ring authentic. Just as metaphors shape perception, idioms ground it—anchoring readers in a linguistic landscape that feels lived-in and true.

So the next time you revise a scene, look for opportunities to weave in idioms with purpose. They might just be the missing spice in your storytelling stew—the pinch of flavor that brings everything to life.

What is an Idiom, Really?

An idiom is a group of words that carries a figurative meaning different from its literal definition. When someone says, “It’s raining cats and dogs,” they’re not describing a bizarre meteorological event, but rather, very heavy rain. Idioms are steeped in culture, voice, and subtext, which makes them incredibly valuable for fiction writers looking to communicate complex ideas quickly and memorably.

Beyond their utility in conveying meaning, idioms serve as powerful tools for shaping a character’s voice and grounding a story in a particular time, place, or social group. They offer subtle clues about a character’s background, education, emotional state, or cultural influences. For example, a character who says “spill the beans” instead of “reveal the secret” might come across as more casual, playful, or informal. Meanwhile, someone who uses idioms like “between Scylla and Charybdis” might suggest a classical education or a flair for the dramatic.

Idioms also enhance the rhythm and flavor of dialogue, making conversations feel more authentic and immersive. They can introduce humor, tension, or irony depending on how and when they're used. A well-placed idiom can reveal a character’s inner conflict or attitude without the need for direct exposition. Writers can even play with or subvert idioms to create fresh and surprising effects, bending familiar phrases to suit the tone or theme of their story.

Ultimately, idioms are more than decorative language—they are vessels of cultural nuance and emotional depth. In fiction, they act as shortcuts to meaning, building layers of implication beneath the surface of the text, and helping readers feel the world of the story in a visceral, immediate way.

Why Idioms Matter in Fiction

Idioms help writers:

• Establish voice: Whether you’re writing first-person narration or dialogue, idioms can give characters distinct voices rooted in their background or personality.
• Convey tone and emotion: An idiom like “walking on eggshells” instantly conveys tension and caution without a lengthy explanation.
• Add humor or irony: Phrases like “when pigs fly” can undercut seriousness or reveal a character’s sarcasm or disbelief.
• Create cultural texture: Idioms can show a character’s heritage, age, or regional upbringing, helping you “show, not tell.”

Idioms in Action

Let’s look at how idioms can enhance a scene. Imagine this line:

“She was nervous.”

Now, let’s layer in idiom:

“She was walking on eggshells every time he entered the room.”

The second version does more than describe her nervousness—it shows her environment, fear, and emotional fragility.

Or consider:

“Marcus was the best basketball player at his school.”
vs.
“Marcus was a big fish in a small pond—and he knew it.”

The idiom not only conveys his status, but adds a layer of ego or self-awareness, depending on how you spin it.

Idioms That Reveal Character

Using idioms in character dialogue or internal monologue helps humanize them. A tough, no-nonsense detective might say, “I’ve got a bone to pick with that guy,” instead of simply, “I’m upset.” An ambitious con artist might always have “a card up his sleeve,” revealing their manipulative tendencies.

A character who describes herself as a “couch potato” might convey laziness, but also humor or self-deprecation. These turns of phrase offer insight into personality, even when subtle.

Idioms in Narrative Voice

Idioms can also flavor your narration. This works especially well in close third-person or omniscient voice:

Just when Melanie thought things were finally under control, life threw her another curveball.

It’s more engaging than simply stating that things went wrong. The idiom does the heavy lifting of emotional and narrative tone.

Tips for Using Idioms Effectively

1. Know your character’s voice: A teenager from Atlanta won’t use the same idioms as a retired fisherman from Maine.
2. Avoid clichés—unless they serve a purpose: Some idioms are overused. Refresh them with context, subversion, or twist.
3. Be mindful of clarity: If an idiom isn’t widely known by your audience, provide context or substitute it with something clearer.
4. Don’t overdo it: Too many idioms can make your writing feel like a gimmick. Use them sparingly and with intention.

Reinventing the Idiom

Sometimes, you can create your own idioms or play with familiar ones to surprise readers. For example:

“She didn’t just have a card up her sleeve—she had a whole deck.”

“He was no couch potato—more like a sofa serpent, coiled and waiting for someone to change the channel.”

These creative twists invite readers to smile, lean in, and appreciate the wit embedded in your narrative.

Final Thoughts

In fiction, where imagination reigns supreme and language serves as your canvas, idioms are the brushstrokes that bring your narrative to life. These time-tested phrases carry with them layers of meaning, emotion, and cultural nuance. With just a few words, an idiom can convey a character’s personality, a mood’s shift, or the weight of a moment—without bogging down your prose in tedious explanation. They tap into the collective subconscious, evoking images and emotions readers instantly recognize.

A character who's “barking up the wrong tree” tells us volumes about their misunderstanding or misdirection. A lover who “wears their heart on their sleeve” doesn’t need a paragraph of backstory—we feel their vulnerability in an instant. Idioms let you say more with less, amplifying voice, pacing, and authenticity in one fell swoop.

So the next time you’re developing a character, sharpening a scene, or adding texture to your world, don’t shy away from pulling a rabbit out of your hat. A well-chosen idiom might be the magic touch that elevates your writing from competent to captivating.

Because in the end, writing compelling fiction isn’t always about reinventing the wheel—it’s about knowing how to spin it with style, precision, and just the right turn of phrase.