Idioms and Expressions Related to Trees
Before the big cities of modern times, people lived closer to nature. So it's no surprise that expressions related to trees and other plants became common in many languages.
English speakers use the idioms in this article every day for all kinds of situations. How many of them do you know?
English “Tree” Idioms
Family tree
A "family tree" is the series of connections between family members — mothers, fathers, aunts, cousins, etc.
We added a new member to our family tree when our daughter was born last year.
Just like real trees, different parts of a family tree are called "branches."
Everyone on this branch of our family tree lives in another part of the country, so we only see them once in a while.
Money doesn’t grow on trees
Most people have to work hard to get money, and they don’t want to waste it. So if you think someone is using their (or your!) money foolishly, this is a good phrase to use.
You shouldn't spend so much on video games. Money doesn't grow on trees, you know.
It sometimes appears in the form of a question, as in the following example:
My daughter asks me to buy her an expensive new phone every year. Does she think money grows on trees?
This expression is mostly used to talk about money, but it can be changed to refer to other things that are expensive or not easy to get.
A
Why haven't you replaced your old car yet?
B
Well, they don't just grow on trees; I'm saving money to get a new one.
Bark up the wrong tree
"Bark" is both a verb and a noun for the sound dogs make. However, when a person is "barking up the wrong tree," it means they:
- are looking in the wrong place
- believe something that is incorrect, or
- are trying to do something in an incorrect way
If he thinks Steve is going to lend him money, he’s barking up the wrong tree.
The police are barking up the wrong tree — I wasn't involved in the robbery at all.
Related article: English Verbs for Animal Sounds and Actions
(To be) up a tree
It can be dangerous to climb up a tree if you can't get back down. That's why this idiom refers to being in a difficult or inconvenient situation.
We were really up a tree while our team leader was sick at home. Luckily, she returned in time to help us finish the project.
Can’t see the forest for the trees
This expression refers to someone who is too focused on small details and doesn’t notice the more important things.
My manager can't see the forest for the trees; it's true that sales were down this month, but they're up for the whole year.
Sometimes "forest" is replaced with "woods."
A
He always complains about the living room being messy, but the whole house is falling to pieces!
B
Yeah, he can't see the woods for the trees.
The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree
We use this idiom to say that children often behave similarly to their parents. It can be used in both positive and negative situations.
She’s a successful writer, just like her father. The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, huh?
Both he and his dad have a drinking problem. Unfortunately, the apple didn't fall far from the tree.
Shake the tree
If you're strong enough to shake a tree, you might be surprised by what falls out of it!
"Shaking the tree" in the figurative sense means trying to reveal information or cause change through deep investigation or bold actions.
The detective decided to shake the suspect's tree to get more clues about the case.
The election results really shook the leadership's tree; they weren't expecting such strong opposition.
Expressions Related to Plants in General
Beat around the bush
Someone “beats around the bush” when they avoid talking about an important topic directly. Therefore, this expression is often said when someone is frustrated or angry due to a lack of progress.
I wish the CEO would stop beating around the bush and tell us if we're losing our jobs or not.
A
Did you ask her out yet?
B
No, I was too nervous. I kept beating around the bush.
Evergreen
Evergreens are trees with leaves that stay green all year.
Tall evergreens stood all along the road through the rural area.
But we also use this word as an adjective to describe something that's always popular, relevant or accurate.
Slang is always changing, but some words, like "cool," are evergreen.
Nip something in the bud
A “bud” is a small part of a plant that later grows into a leaf or flower. And one meaning of “nip” is “to pinch, squeeze or bite sharply.”
Put the two together and you get a common idiom that describes stopping a problem early, before it “grows” into a big problem later.
A
My car has been making a strange noise. I don’t know what the problem is.
B
You should take it to a mechanic and nip it in the bud while you can.
Put down roots
The roots of a tree make it strong and stable. In the same way, "putting down roots" means "establishing a home" in a particular place, usually in order to raise a family.
After living in many places around the world, I'm finally ready to put down roots in this country.
This town is safe, convenient and affordable. We think it's a great place to put down roots for our family.
The opposite of this expression is “uproot.” This is also a verb and it means “to pull out of the ground.” It’s used when someone leaves a place where they have lived for a long time in order to go somewhere new.
We were worried about uprooting the family, but the kids have made lots of friends in our new city.
Hear something through the grapevine
Do you know the famous song "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" by Marvin Gaye?
It's about a man who finds out that his girlfriend is leaving him. However, she didn't tell him directly; instead, she told someone else, and that person told another person, and so on until he finally hears the news from someone totally different.
"You could have told me yourself
That you love someone else
Instead, I heard it through the grapevine"
This connection of people who share news or rumors is sometimes called a "grapevine." So "hearing something through the grapevine" means you learn about it from someone other than the source.
I heard through the grapevine that the company is opening a new office overseas.
I heard through the grapevine that those two are dating in secret.
Out on a limb
“Limbs” usually refers to arms and legs, but it isn’t common in daily conversations.
Caution: Do not stick any limbs out the window while the train is in motion.
We also use “limb” to refer to large branches, which are like “arms” on a tree. So if you're "out on a limb," it's like being stuck on a tree branch with no way to get down safely. In other words, you're in an unsafe position.
This expression is often used together with “go,” meaning that someone is choosing to do something dangerous or risky.
John went out on a limb when he quit his comfortable job to start his own company.
It’s also used when making a guess about something.
The forecast said to expect rain this afternoon, but I’m going to go out on a limb and say it'll be sunny instead.
Turn over a new leaf
Someone “turns over a new leaf” when they make a positive change in their life, often by stopping a bad or unhealthy habit.
Charles used to have a big gambling problem, but he's turned over a new leaf and is much happier now.
Wrap-up
From talking about rumors to establishing a home, idioms based on trees and plants can help you talk about a variety of topics. Learn and master these expressions one at a time so you can eventually add them all to your vocabulary.
If you'd like some practice using these idioms in a real conversation, book a lesson with an Engoo tutor and give it a try!
