Everyone remembers their favorite teacher, but how many English teacher idioms do you know?
If you’re struggling to think of any, never fear, as we have compiled the top 15 idioms about teaching and teachers right here. To make it even easier, they all come with clear explanations and example sentences. And if you’re not sure what an idiom is, take a look first.
Teacher idioms
Teacher’s pet
Here’s probably the most famous of these teacher idioms, an expression commonly heard in school. If you are the teacher’s pet you are liked the most and treated the best by the teacher.
“I always like being the teacher’s pet so I don’t get in trouble.”
Any fellow students who are jealous of the one receiving favor will use this term in a derogatory way.
Don’t teach your grandmother to suck eggs
Some of these teacher idioms also double as proverbs, and that’s the case with the saying don’t teach your grandmother to suck eggs.
More commonly found in British English, it is a disapproving way of saying that you shouldn’t give advice to someone who is already knowledgeable on the topic.
“I’ve been in this company 5 years longer than you, so please don’t teach your grandmother to suck eggs.”
You might hear different words for ‘grandmother’ used in this family idiom, such as ‘grandma’ or ‘granny’.
Preach to the choir
If someone is preaching to the choir, it means they are trying to convince someone of something that they already agree with or support. In other words, they are stating their opinion to a receptive audience, rather than to people who disagree with them.
“I know I’m preaching to the choir, but I want you all to know how great this software is.”
A variation of this idiom is preach to the converted.
Experience is the best teacher
It’s not so hard to work out the meaning of the phrase experience is the best teacher. When you learn from the things that have happened to you in the past, the hope is that you won’t repeat any of your mistakes.
“I know it may not seem this way now, but experience really is the best teacher.”
This is just one of many idioms to talk about the past.
Experience is the teacher of fools
Following on from the previous teaching idiom, this may seem a bit of a strange saying. In fact, it may appear to contradict the one above.
However, experience is the teacher of fools suggests that only foolish people don’t learn from seeing others’ mistakes (instead, they have to make the same mistakes themselves and learn from their own experience).
“I can’t believe you’re following the path of your brother. Experience is the teacher of fools!”
A related saying to explain this idiom a little more is: Wise men learn by other men’s mistakes, fools by their own.
Teach someone the ropes
When you start a new job, someone will be assigned to show you around, introduce you to people, and help you understand the basics of the job. This person will teach (or show) you the ropes.
“Sue, it’s Jenny’s first day so I’ll let you teach her the ropes.”
This can also be used from the other person’s perspective as an idiom about learning: learn the ropes.
Idioms about teachers
Teach someone a lesson
This may sound like a nice teaching idiom, but it’s actually the opposite. To teach someone a lesson is to get revenge or punish someone for what they have done.
In doing this, you might hope that you can change their opinion or the way they behave in the future.
“I told you to stop saying that. Look’s like I’m going to have to teach you a lesson.”
That’ll teach ’em!
Continuing the theme of learning from experience, this idiom about teaching is said when someone experiences the negative consequences of their own actions. Again, it suggests that they will be taught a lesson about not repeating the behavior.
That’ll teach ’em uses an informal abbreviation of ‘them’, but you can replace this with any other pronoun such as ‘you’, ‘him’, or ‘her’.
“Well, that’ll teach ’em not to call my mum names!”
“That’ll teach him to think twice before he calls me again.”
Those who can, do; those who can’t, teach!
The saying those who can do, those who can’t teach is one of the negative idioms about teachers with an unkind meaning. It suggests that people who are skilled at something will do it as a profession. Those who are less skilled will only teach it.
“Well, Candy. If it’s so easy, why don’t you do it? Remember, those who can, do; those who can’t, teach!”
You can’t teach an old dog new tricks
This may sound like a proverb about dogs, but it is actually an idiom about teaching!
If someone comments that you can’t teach an old dog new tricks, they are saying that you can’t make people change the way they are or educate them with new skills if they have already established their own habits.
“Don’t worry about it too much. It’s hard to teach an old dog new tricks and I know you tried to show Mary how the new system works.”
This is certainly a strange saying, but where did it come from and do you agree with it?
To teach by example
When you teach by example, it may not always be in the classroom. By showing someone how to do something or being a role model for them to observe, they learn from your actions and not just from your words.
“I always find the best way to help kids be polite is to be polite to others. I like to teach by example.”
You may also hear learn by example when referring to the person being taught.
Do as I say, not as I do
This is almost the opposite of teaching by example! You might hear this expression at work or from a parent, rather than from a teacher.
It means that you should follow the instructions given to you rather than copying the person’s actions or behavior – probably because they are setting a bad example!
“Matthew has always been a ‘Do as I say, not as I do’ kind of boss.”
When the pupil is ready, the teacher will appear
It’s hard to teach someone who isn’t ready to learn. But once a student has a desire to learn, they will be more receptive to opportunities that come their way. In other words, when the pupil is ready, the (right) teacher will appear.
“It was so strange. I waited for ages to start my driving lessons and then when I was ready, it turns out my friend’s dad is an instructor. I guess when the pupil is ready, the teacher will appear.”
And that concludes our list of teacher idioms. Don’t worry, there isn’t a test! But if you do need more help understanding any of them, you are welcome to leave a comment below.
