27 Idioms for Blood: What They Mean and How to Use Them

Understanding idioms is crucial for mastering any language, and idioms related to blood are fascinating. Often used in everyday conversation, these expressions add depth and emotion to our language. Whether you’re discussing family bonds, expressing fear, or emphasizing hard work, idioms about blood can convey your thoughts. 

In this guide, we’ll explore various idioms, explain their meanings, and show you how to use them effectively. Additionally, we’ll provide scenario examples, like emails, to demonstrate their practical application. As you read, you’ll discover how these idioms reflect common experiences and emotions, making your language more engaging and impactful. 

By the end, you’ll have a deeper understanding of these expressions and feel confident using them in your communication. Let’s explore the world of blood idioms and see how they can enrich your vocabulary.

Let’s explore the meaning of each idiom and see how they can be used in sentences.

Idiom	Meaning	Sentence Example
Blood is thicker than water	Family bonds are stronger than other relationships	Even though they argued, Jane helped her brother because blood is thicker than water.
Blood runs cold	To feel extreme fear	When she heard the terrifying scream, her blood ran cold.
Blood, sweat, and tears	Hard work and effort	Building this business took a lot of blood, sweat, and tears.
Blood money	Money earned through unethical means	He refused the blood money from the illegal deal.
Blood on your hands	Being responsible for someone’s harm	If you don’t warn them, their fate will be your blood on your hands.
Blood in the water	Signs of vulnerability that attract others	Competitors saw the company’s weak sales as blood in the water.
Blood feud	A long-standing conflict between families/groups	The two families were engaged in a blood feud for decades.
Bloodshot eyes	Eyes red from tiredness or irritation	After studying all night, he had bloodshot eyes.
Blood oath	A solemn promise	They made a blood oath never to reveal the secret.
Blood relation	A relative by birth	He’s not just a friend; he’s a blood relation.
Bloodcurdling scream	A terrifying scream	The movie was filled with scenes of bloodcurdling screams.
Stir one’s blood	To excite or inspire someone	The motivational speech stirred their blood to take action.
Out for blood	Seeking revenge or harm	After being betrayed, she was out for blood.
Bad blood	Long-standing animosity	There’s been bad blood between them since the argument.

More explore the meaning of each idiom and see how they can be used in sentences.

Idiom	Meaning	Sentence Example
Make your blood boil	To make someone very angry	His arrogant behavior made her blood boil.
In cold blood	Without emotion, often in a violent context	The crime was committed in cold blood.
Lick one’s wounds	To recover after a defeat or setback	After losing the match, he needed time to lick his wounds.
Sweat blood	To worry intensely	She was sweating blood over the final exam results.
Like getting blood from a stone	Something very difficult or impossible	Getting him to apologize is like getting blood from a stone.
Draw blood	To cause someone physical or emotional pain	His harsh words drew blood, leaving her deeply hurt.
New blood	Fresh ideas or energy brought by newcomers	The company needed new blood to bring innovative solutions.
Spill blood	To cause harm or violence	The protest was peaceful, with no blood spilled.
Blood brothers	Close friends with a strong bond	They were like blood brothers, always supporting each other.
First blood	The initial advantage or success in a conflict	The team scored first blood in the tournament.
Boil one’s blood	To infuriate someone	His constant interruptions boiled her blood during the meeting.
Blood from a turnip	Trying to get something that’s not possible	Asking him for money is like trying to get blood from a turnip.
Blue blood	Refers to someone of noble or aristocratic descent	They were proud of their blue-blood heritage.

Read more: 37 Idioms for Confidence + Quiz

There are Idioms for Blood  in details 

1. Blood Is Thicker Than Water

This idiom emphasizes the strength of family bonds. It suggests that family relationships are more important than friendships.

Example:
Email to Jane:
“Dear Jane,
Remember, in tough times, blood is thicker than water. Family always comes first.
Best,
Emily”

2. Blood Runs Cold

It means experiencing sudden fear or shock. Often used when something terrifying happens.

Example:
Email to Mark:
“Hi Mark,
When I heard that loud noise, my blood ran cold. It was truly scary!
Take care,
Samantha”

3. Blood Money

This refers to money earned through wrongful or immoral actions, like betraying someone.

Example:
Email to Bob:
“Hi Bob,
I can’t believe he accepted blood money for that deal. It’s unethical.
Regards,
Alice”

4. Blood on Your Hands

It means being responsible for someone’s harm or misfortune, often used in serious accusations.

Example:
Email to John:
“Dear John,
If you proceed with this decision, you’ll have blood on your hands. Think carefully.
Sincerely,
Michael”

5. Blood in the Water

This idiom refers to a situation where someone senses vulnerability and moves in for the attack.

Example:
Email to Sarah:
“Hi Sarah,
Once the competitors saw blood in the water, they went after our clients aggressively.
Best,
Tom”

6. Blood, Sweat, and Tears

It represents extreme hard work and effort put into achieving something significant.

Example:
Email to Team:
“Dear Team,
We’ve poured our blood, sweat, and tears into this project. Let’s finish strong!
Cheers,
Anna”

7. Blood Feud

A long-standing conflict or rivalry, often between families or groups.

Example:
Email to Lucy:
“Dear Lucy,
The two companies have been in a blood feud for decades. It’s not ending soon.
Best regards,
Jake”

8. Bloodshot Eyes

This refers to red eyes, usually from fatigue, stress, or emotion.

Example:
Email to Mike:
“Hi Mike,
You’ve been working late, and your bloodshot eyes show it. Take some rest.
Regards,
Karen”

9. Blood Oath

A serious and solemn promise, often made with great commitment.

Example:
Email to David:
“Hi David,
They made a blood oath to keep the secret. It’s a bond they won’t break.
Take care,
Paul”

10. Blood Relation

A direct family member by birth, highlighting the importance of family connections.

Example:
Email to Alex:
“Dear Alex,
Even though he’s just a distant blood relation, we should still invite him to the reunion.
Warm regards,
Lisa”

11. Bloodcurdling Scream

A terrifying scream that causes extreme fear or shock.

Example:
Email to Jenna:
“Hi Jenna,
Last night, I heard a bloodcurdling scream outside. It was so eerie.
Best,
Olivia”

12. Out for Blood

This idiom means seeking revenge or being extremely angry and wanting to harm someone.

Example:
Email to Rachel:
“Hi Rachel,
After the argument, he’s clearly out for blood. Let’s avoid any confrontation today.
Best,
Lucas”

13. Blood Boils

When someone is extremely angry or furious, their blood boils.

Example:
Email to Chris:
“Dear Chris,
Whenever I think about that unfair decision, my blood boils. It’s so frustrating!
Take care,
Laura”

14. Bad Blood

This idiom refers to lingering hostility or unresolved conflict between people.

Example:
Email to Emma:
“Hi Emma,
There’s still some bad blood between them after that incident. It might take time to heal.
Regards,
John”

15. Blue Blood

It means someone comes from a noble or aristocratic family.

Example:
Email to Steven:
“Hi Steven,
She’s proud of her blue blood, always talking about her royal ancestry.
Best wishes,
Claire”

16. Draw Blood

This means to cause someone physical or emotional pain.

Example:
Email to Lisa:
“Dear Lisa,
During the argument, he really drew blood with those harsh comments.
Kind regards,
James”

17. New Blood

Refers to bringing in fresh talent or new members to rejuvenate a group.

Example:
Email to Daniel:
“Hi Daniel,
We need some new blood in the team to bring fresh ideas.
Best,
Sophie”

18. In Cold Blood

This idiom means doing something, often violent, without any emotion or remorse.

Example:
Email to Ben:
“Hi Ben,
The crime was committed in cold blood, which makes it even more shocking.
Best,
Megan”

19. Blood Out of a Stone

It refers to getting something from someone who is very unwilling to give it.

Example:
Email to Jack:
“Hi Jack,
Trying to get a decision from him is like squeezing blood out of a stone!
Regards,
Alice”

20. Sweat Blood

This idiom means working extremely hard or worrying excessively about something.

Example:
Email to Karen:
“Dear Karen,
I’ve been sweating blood over this presentation. I hope it pays off.
Warm regards,
Michael”

21. Spill Blood

This means causing physical harm or injury, often in violent situations.

Example:
Email to Tom:
“Hi Tom,
The fight could have easily spilled into violence, but thankfully, no blood was spilled.
Take care,
Jennifer”

22. Thicker Than Blood

This idiom suggests that friendship or chosen relationships can be stronger than family bonds.

Example:
Email to Sophie:
“Hi Sophie,
Our friendship is thicker than blood. We’ve always stood by each other, no matter what.
Best,
David”

23. Bloodied But Unbowed

This phrase means facing difficulties or defeats but not giving up.

Example:
Email to Emily:
“Hi Emily,
Even after the setback, we remain bloodied but unbowed. Let’s keep pushing forward.
Best,
Rachel”

24. Bloodbath

It refers to a situation of intense violence or severe defeat, often used metaphorically.

Example:
Email to Olivia:
“Hi Olivia,
The competition was a complete bloodbath. We need to strategize better for next time.
Best,
Mark”

25. Stir the Blood

This means to excite or inspire someone strongly, often through passionate or moving actions.

Example:
Email to Alex:
“Dear Alex,
The speech really stirred the blood of the audience. It was truly inspiring.
Warm regards,
Tom”

26. Bloodsucker

This refers to someone who exploits others, draining them emotionally or financially.

Example:
Email to Jenna:
“Hi Jenna,
Be careful dealing with him. He’s known to be a bloodsucker, always taking advantage of people.
Regards,
Chris”

27. Bloodhound

A person who is extremely persistent in tracking or finding something, much like the dog breed.

Example:
Email to Sarah:
“Hi Sarah,
He’s like a bloodhound when it comes to solving problems. He never gives up.
Best,
Daniel”

Read more: 30 Idioms for Sleep: The Language of Rest

Conclusion

Blood idioms offer a powerful way to express complex emotions and ideas. They help convey themes like family bonds, responsibility, hard work, and even conflict. By learning these idioms, you can add richness and variety to your language. Whether you’re discussing a solemn promise or highlighting vulnerability, these expressions provide the right touch of meaning. 

Additionally, idioms like blood is thicker than water emphasize the importance of family relationships. On the other hand, phrases such as blood, sweat, and tears highlight dedication and perseverance. As you incorporate these idioms into your speech or writing, your communication will become more vivid and relatable.

So, take the time to practice these expressions in everyday scenarios, like emails or conversations. With consistent use, you’ll soon find yourself naturally weaving these colorful idioms into your language. They will undoubtedly enhance your storytelling and help you connect more deeply with your audience.