10 idioms in Taylor Swift’s songs

What’s the first thing that pops into your head when you think of ‘Taylor Swift’? Artist of the 2023 year? The Eras Tour? Or maybe you’re excited about her new album ‘The Tortured Poets Department’?                                                      

Even if you’re not a Swiftie, chances are you’ve listened to at least one of her songs.

Taylor is known for writing her own songs and she often uses figures of speech, metaphors and idioms. 

So, let’s take a closer look at 10 idioms from her songs and break down what they mean and how to use them.  

1. 1. Bad blood

If you have bad blood with someone, it means you aren’t friends with them, because of past arguments.

Taylor sings:’Cause baby, now we got bad blood

You know it used to be mad love

So take a look what you've done

'Cause baby, now we got bad blood’

1. 2. Out of the woods

If you’re out of the woods, it means you were previously in danger or facing a big problem but now you’re out of that difficult situation.

Taylor sings: ‘Are we out of the woods yet’? meaning ‘is our relationship ok now’?

1. 3. Dress to the nines 

Usually, when you go to prom or a wedding, you should dress to the nines, meaning in a formal or fashionable way.

In ‘Starlight’ Taylor sings: ‘The whole place was dressed to the nines’.

1. 4. Get smth off your chest 

To say something that has been bothering and worrying you for a long time out loud. After getting it off your chest you usually feel relieved. 

We find this idiom in the lyrics of ‘Now that we don’t talk’: “ I called my mom, she said to get it off my chest’.

1. 5. To go down the rabbit hole 

If you go down the rabbit hole you will find yourself in a strange or difficult situation where it will be hard to get out from.  

This idiom was first introduced by Lewis Carroll in ‘Alice’s Adventures’. 

She uses this idiom, not without reason, in her song ‘Wonderland’: 

‘And we took a wrong turn and we fell down a rabbit hole’. 

1. 6. All’s well that ends well 

Despite a difficult starting situation the final result is a success. 

Taylor sings: ‘All is well that ends well, but all is well that ends’.

1. 7. To be a handful

Usually a child is a handful, which means they are difficult to control.

In ‘Me’ Taylor recognizes that she can be a handful sometimes: ‘I know that I’m a handful baby’.

1. 8. Blood, sweat and tears

When you really want to achieve a goal you have to put in blood, sweat and tears or to put in a lot of effort in order to reach it. 

We find this idiom in “You’re on your own kid”: ‘From sprinkle splashes to fireplace ashes, I gave my blood, sweat and tears for this’. 

1. 9. Leave someone to their own devices

To leave someone alone, without supervision or to leave them to make their own decisions.

In the well-known song “Anti-Hero” Taylor sings: “I should not be left to my own devices, they come with prices and vices”. In this case she means that she should not be left alone to make her decisions because she always gets in trouble. 

1. 10. Safe and sound

You can use this idiom after landing, as you text your parents to let them know you’ve arrived ‘safe and sound’ at your destination. It basically means unharmed, completely safe, without injury and damage. 

In the chorus of her folk ballad from The Hunger Games soundtrack ‘Safe and sound’ featuring The Civil Wars we find these words: 

“Just close your eyes 

The sun is going down 

You’ll be alright

No one can you hurt you now

Come morning light 

You and I'll be safe and sound’. 

As mentioned before, Taylor’s songs are full of figures of speech and they are a great opportunity to polish up your English. Even though you think it’s not your cup of tea, we recommend you to give it a try!