Talking about addiction can be tough, but sometimes using idioms makes these conversations easier and more relatable. Idioms for addiction are special phrases that help express the struggles, feelings, and situations connected to addiction in a way that can feel easy. To really understand how addiction affects people, idioms give us strong, vivid pictures in just a few words. Whether you are learning spoken English or just curious, learning these idioms related to addiction can give you a fresh way to talk about this important topic. In this blog, you will find a list of idioms for addiction with meanings and examples to help your learning become smarter and easier. From being ‘hooked on’ to something or ‘chained to’ it, these popular addiction idioms cover all angles related to addiction.
30+ Idioms for Addiction with Hindi Meanings
Here you will find a list of useful idioms for addiction with Hindi meanings and examples showing how these phrases can fit in your daily conversations.
- Hooked on
English Meaning: When someone is very addicted or obsessed with something.
Hindi Meaning: जब आपको किसी चीज़ की इतनी आदत हो जाती है कि उसे न करना मुश्किल हो जाता है।
Example: He is hooked on video games and plays them for hours daily.
उसे वीडियो गेम की ऐसी लत है और वो घंटों तक उसे खेलता रहता है।
- Chained to
English Meaning: To feel trapped or controlled by something you can’t stop doing.
Hindi Meaning: किसी चीज़ की आदत में ऐसा फंस जाना कि उसे छोड़ पाए बिना रह न पाना।
Example: She feels chained to her phone and can’t stop checking messages.
वो अपनी फ़ोन देखने की आदत में ऐसी फंसी हुई है कि बिना फ़ोन देखे रह नहीं पाती है।
- Strung out
English Meaning: When you feel tired or drained because of addiction or stress.
Hindi Meaning: किसी चीज़ की तलब या थकान की वजह से बहुत ज़्यादा थकान होना।
Example: After staying up all night drinking, he looked strung out at work.
रात भर जागकर शराब पीने के बाद, वो काम पर बहुत थका-थका लग रहा था।
- Fiending for
English Meaning: Want or crave for something very badly.
Hindi Meaning: किसी चीज़ की बहुत ज़्यादा तलब होना।
Example: Anushka keeps fiending for chocolate after dinner.
रात के खाने के बाद अनुष्का को चॉकलेट खाने की बहुत तलब होती है।
- Jonesing for
English Meaning: To strongly want or crave for something, especially a drug or addictive thing.
Hindi Meaning: किसी चीज़ की बहुत ज़्यादा तलब होना।
Example: Aman is jonesing for a cigarette even though he’s trying to quit.
अमन को सिगरेट की बहुत ज़्यादा तालाब हो रही है हालाँकि वो सिगरेट पीने की आदत छोड़ने की कोशिश कर रहा था।
- In the grip of
English Meaning: Being controlled or dominated by addiction or bad habit.
Hindi Meaning: किसी बुरी आदत या समस्या के भरी प्रभाव में होना।
Example: He was in the grip of gambling addiction and couldn’t stop betting.
वो अपने जुआ खेलने की लत में इस तरह फंसा था कि शर्त लगाने से खुद को रोक ही नहीं पता था।
- Down and out
English Meaning: Feeling completely defeated or hopeless because you are addicted to something a lot.
Hindi Meaning: किसी चीज़ की लत की वजह से बहुत ज़्यादा निराश महसूस करना।
Example: After losing his job and friends, Vikram felt down and out for months.
नौकरी और दोस्त खोने के बाद विक्रम महीनों तक बहुत दुखी रहा।
- Riding the wave
English Meaning: Coping with the ups and downs of a difficult time like addiction without giving up.
Hindi Meaning: लत से जुड़े उतार-चढ़ाव का हिम्मत से सामना करना बिना हार माने।
Example: She is riding the wave of recovery, sometimes hopeful and sometimes struggling.
वो अपनी रिकवरी के सफर में कभी उम्मीद से भरी तो कभी मुश्किल में फँसी रहती है।
9 Drowning in
English Meaning: Feeling overwhelmed by addiction in a way like you can’t escape them.
Hindi Meaning: लत में इतना ज़्यादा फस जाना कि निकलना मुश्किल हो।
Example: He was drowning in alcohol and barely had time for his small kids.
वो शराब की लत में इतना ज़्यादा फस गया था कि उसके पास अपने छोटे बच्चों के लिए समय ही नहीं था।
- Falling off the wagon
English Meaning: Going back to a bad habit like addiction after trying hard to stop it.
Hindi Meaning: छोड़ने की कोशिश करने के बाद फिरसे बुरी आदत पर लौट जाना।
Example: After weeks without smoking, he fell off the wagon and had a cigarette at a party.
कई हफ़्तों तक सिगरेट न पीने के बाद, वो पार्टी में फिर सिगरेट पीने लगा।
- Bingeing on
English Meaning: Doing something a lot in a short time to feel better or out of habit.
Hindi Meaning: कुछ ज़्यादा मात्रा में खाना या करना, खासकर तनाव में।
Example: After a stressful day, Riya kept bingeing on pizza and soda all evening without stopping.
तनाव के बाद, रिया पूरी शाम पिज़्ज़ा और सोडा लगातार खाती-पीती रही।
- Running from
English Meaning: Trying to escape your problems by distracting yourself with a bad habit.
Hindi Meaning: अपनी परेशानियों से भागने के लिए बुरी आदत का सहारा लेना।
Example: Whenever Arjun feels sad, he starts running from his worries by playing video games for hours.
जब भी अर्जुन उदास होता है, वो घंटों वीडियो गेम खेलकर अपनी परेशानियों से भागता है।
- Going cold turkey
English Meaning: Stopping a bad habit all at once without easing out.
Hindi Meaning: बिना धीरे-धीरे कम किये अचानक आदत छोड़ना।
Example: Neha decided to go cold turkey and stopped drinking coffee overnight.
नेहा ने अचानक ही कॉफ़ी पीना बंद कर दिया।
- Hitting rock bottom
English Meaning: Reaching the worst possible stage in addiction for life.
Hindi Meaning: अपने जीवन या लत की सबसे बुरी स्थिति तक पहुंचना।
Example: After losing him home due to gambling, Mohit realized he had hit rock bottom.
जुआ खेलने की वजह से घर खो देने के बाद मोहित को एहसास हुआ कि वो सबसे बुरी स्थिति में पहुंच गया है।
- Feeding the addiction
English Meaning: Continuing to give into a bad habit, making it stronger.
Hindi Meaning: अपनी बुरी आदत को बढ़ावा देना।
Example: Instead of stopping, Karan kept feeding his addiction by buying more cigarettes monthly.
करन अपनी लत को बढ़ावा देने के लिए हर महीने ज़्यादा सिगरेट खरीदता रहा।
- Caught in the cycle
English Meaning: Trapped in a pattern of bad habits like addiction and unable to escape it.
Hindi Meaning: बार-बार एक ही बुरी आदत में फस जाना।
Example: After trying to quit drinking several times, Ritu felt caught in the cycle again.
बार-बार शराब छोड़ने की कोशिश करने के बाद, ऋतू फिर उसी चक्र में फस गयी।
- Going off the rails
English Meaning: Losing control of your life due to addiction or stress.
Hindi Meaning: अपनी ज़िन्दगी पर काबू खो देना।
Example: After a rough breakup due to smoking, Ajay went off the rails and stopped caring about work and friends.
ब्रेकअप के बाद, अजय का सब कुछ बिखर गया और वो दोस्तों और काम को नज़रअंदाज़ करने लगा।
- Selling one’s soul
English Meaning: Giving up your values or morals because of an addiction.
Hindi Meaning: अपने उसूल को छोड़ देना।
Example: To support his drug habit, Ravi felt like he was selling his soul by doing illegal work.
रवि ने नशे के लिए गैरकानूनी काम करके अपनी ज़िन्दगी को बदल दिया।
- Lost in the haze
English Meaning: Feeling confused or spaced out due to drugs or addiction.
Hindi Meaning: नशे या भ्रम की स्थिति में होना।
Example: After drinking too much, Shefali was lost in the haze and forgot where she was.
बहुत शराब पीने के बाद शेफाली रास्ता ही भूल गई।
- Tied down by
English Meaning: Feeling trapped or limited by an addiction or habit.
Hindi Meaning: लत की वजह से बंधा हुआ महसूस करना।
Example: Vinay was tied down by his social media addiction and found no time for family.
विनय सोशल मीडिया की लत में इतना फंसा कि परिवार के लिए समय ही नहीं मिला।
- Chasing the dragon
English Meaning: Trying to experience the first exciting feeling of a drug again but never succeeding.
Hindi Meaning: नशे से सबसे पहले मिलने वाले मज़े को दोबारा पाने की कोशिश करना।
Example: Kabir kept chasing the dragon but could never get the same high as before.
कबीर लगातार वो नशे पाने की कोशिश करता रहा जो पहली बार मिला था, लेकिन उसे कभी वैसा नहीं मिला।
- In the clutches of
English Meaning: Being entirely controlled by addiction or a bad habit.
Hindi Meaning: पूरा तरह से लत के काबू में होना।
Example: Neetu was in the clutches of addiction and needed serious help to recover.
नीतू पूरी तरह नशे के जाल में फँसी हुई थी और उसे मदद की ज़रूरत थी।
- Going through withdrawal
English Meaning: Experiencing difficult symptoms when stopping an addictive substance.
Hindi Meaning: लत छोड़ने पर दिक्कत सहना।
Example: When Amit stopped smoking, he went through withdrawal and felt very restless.
अमित ने सिगरेट छोड़ दी तो उसे withdrawal के लक्षण महसूस हुए और वो बेचैन हो गया।
- Monkey on one’s back
English Meaning: A heavy problem or addiction that is hard to get rid of.
Hindi Meaning: ऐसी समस्या या लत जो हमेशा साथ रहती हो।
Example: His gambling was a monkey on his back, always causing trouble.
उसका जुआ इतनी बड़ी समस्या बन चूका था कि वो हमेशा परेशान रहता था।
- Hooked on a feeling
English Meaning: Addicted to the good feeling or excitement that something gives you.
Hindi Meaning: किसी चीज़ से मिलने वाली ख़ुशी या मज़े की आदत लग जाना।
Example: She was hooked on the rush of winning games and played every day.
वो खेल जीतने के मज़े में इतनी ज़्यादा पागल हो गयी की रोज़ खेलने लगी।
- A slave to the bottle
English Meaning: Someone who is completely controlled by alcohol.
Hindi Meaning: शराब का गुलाम होना।
Example: Because of his drinking, he missed many birthdays and family dinners.
शराब की वजह से उसने कई जन्मदिन और परिवार के साथ खाने का मौका गँवा दिया।
- Riding the white horse
English Meaning: When someone uses cocaine or similar stimulant drugs.
Hindi Meaning: तेज़ या बड़े नशों का सेवन करना।
Example: His problems worsened after he started riding the white horse at parties.
पार्टी में कोकीन लेना शुरू करने के बाद उसकी स्थिति और ख़राब हो गई।
- Hitting the pipe
English Meaning: Smoking crack cocaine or similar drugs.
Hindi Meaning: कोकीन जैसे नशे का सेवन करना।
Example: After hitting the pipe, his behaviour became unpredictable and secretive.
क्रैक पीने के बाद उसका व्यव्हार बदल गया और वो सबसे छुपता था।
- Addicted to the high
English Meaning: Unable to give up the pleasurable feeling from drugs or addiction.
Hindi Meaning: नशे से मिलने वाले मज़े छोड़ न पाना।
Example: Even after many warnings, he was addicted to the high of drug use.
कई चेतावनियों के बाद भी वो नशे के मज़े छोड़ नहीं पा रहा था।
- Shooting up
English Meaning: Injecting drugs directly with a needle.
Hindi Meaning: नशा करने के लिए सुई लगाना।
Example: Years of shooting up heroin destroyed his health and relationship.
नशे के लिए सुई लगाने से उसकी सेहत और रिश्तें दोनों ख़राब हो गए।
- Drinking like a fish
English Meaning: Drinking a lot of alcohol, very often.
Hindi Meaning: बहुत ज़्यादा शराब पीना।
Example: At weddings, he drinks like a fish and forgets everything by the end of the night.
शादी के वो खूब शराब पीता है और रात को सब भूल जाता है।
- Chasing the buzz
English Meaning: Trying repeatedly to get the initial exciting feeling of drugs.
Hindi Meaning: नशे से पहले मज़े की तलाश बार-बार करना।
Example: Despite the dangers, he kept chasing the buzz and risking his life.
खतरों के बावजूद, वो नशे के मज़े लेने के लिए अपनी जान जोखिम में डालता रहा।
- Nailing the coffin shut
English Meaning: Doing something to permanently end an addiction or bad habit.
Hindi Meaning: अपनी बुरी आदत ख़त्म करने का आखिरी कदम।
Example: Joining a rehab was his way of finally nailing the coffin shut on his drinking.
रिहैब जाना उसकी शराब की लत को ख़त्म करने की आखिरी कोशिश थी।
- Liquor up
English Meaning: Drinking alcohol to relax or feel brave.
Hindi Meaning: हिम्मत या आराम पाने के लिए शराब पीना।
Example: Before his speech, he liquored up to calm his nerves.
भाषण से पहले वो अपनी हिम्मत बढ़ाने के लिए शराब पीता है।
- Chain-smoking
English Meaning: Smoking cigarette after cigarette without breaks.
Hindi Meaning: लगातार सिगरेट पीना।
Example: The stress at work made him chain-smoke all day long.
काम के तनाव की वजह से वो पूरा दिन लगातार सिगरेट पीता रहा।
- Snorting lines
English Meaning: Inhaling powered drugs like cocaine through the nose.
Hindi Meaning: नाक से नशा सूंघना।
Example: His addiction worsened when he started snorting lines at parties.
पार्टी में नाक से नशा सूंघने के बाद उसकी लत और बढ़ गई।
Conclusion
Idioms for addiction do more than just add colour to your language, they help us understand the emotional and difficult journey of those facing addiction. Knowing these idioms for addiction with meanings and examples give you the power to communicate sensitively and clearly. Whether you are speaking, writing or just learning, these idioms related to addiction bring words to life in a meaningful way. If you are someone who is addicted to learning spoken English, then joining a spoken English course online would be a better option for you.
Fill in The Blanks
- After failing to control his drinking, Raj finally admitted he was _____ alcohol and decided to seek help.
- Priya feels _____ her phone and spends hours scrolling through social media every day.
- Rahul was _____ gambling so much that he lost all his money and even his house.
- After months of trying to quit, Suresh finally _____ his smoking habit and threw away his cigarettes.
- She’s _____ her love for chocolates and can’t resist eating them whenever she can.
- When Deepak lost his job and felt hopeless, he said he was _____ in the problems of life.
- Before her breakup, Anjali often said she was _____ the alcohol and couldn’t stop drinking.
- After quitting heroin, Aman went through _____ but eventually got better.
- Ramesh always _____ a lot of coffee throughout the day because he feels he can’t wake up without it.
- Neha keeps _____ for old habits even after promising herself to leave them behind.
Answers
- addicted to
- tied down by
- in the clutches of
- kicked off / kicked the habit
- hooked on
- drowning in
- in the grip of
- going through withdrawal
- drinking like a fish
- chasing the buzz
