40 Idioms for Confidence to Speak with Power

Idioms are the secret weapons of language, allowing us to express complex feelings like confidence with flair and precision. They are phrases where the meaning is not literal but metaphorical, a shared code that brings our words to life. When we want to describe a confident person, simply saying “they are self-assured” doesn’t always capture their full presence. But when we say they have “an air of confidence” or they “have nerves of steel,” we paint a much richer picture.

These confident expressions give weight and color to our descriptions, helping us to better understand and articulate the powerful human experience of self-belief. Exploring this slang for confidence not only expands our vocabulary but also inspires us to see our own potential in a new light.

Confidence and leadership go hand in hand—strong speech requires both. Don’t miss our collection of confidence and leadership expressions that speak with authority.

Table of Contents

Idioms for Confidence

Here is a list of 40 popular idioms related to confidence, self-assurance, and courage.

1. Have an air of confidence

Meaning: To look or seem confident in a way that is noticeable to others.
Use in a sentence: The new CEO walked into the room with an air of confidence that immediately commanded respect.
Other ways to say it: To exude confidence, to appear self-assured, to project confidence.

2. Nerves of steel

Meaning: The ability to remain calm and courageous in very difficult or dangerous situations.
Use in a sentence: The surgeon had nerves of steel as she performed the delicate operation.
Other ways to say it: To be fearless, to have great courage, to be unflappable.

3. Bold as brass

Meaning: To be very confident and daring, sometimes to the point of being shameless or impudent.
Use in a sentence: She walked right into the manager’s office, bold as brass, and demanded a promotion.
Other ways to say it: Shamelessly confident, audacious, brazen.

4. Take the bull by the horns

Meaning: To confront a difficult situation directly and with courage.
Use in a sentence: Instead of avoiding the problem, she decided to take the bull by the horns and fix it.
Other ways to say it: To face a challenge head-on, to act decisively.

5. Hold your head high

Meaning: To be proud and confident, especially in a difficult situation.
Use in a sentence: Even after they lost the game, the coach told them to hold their heads high for playing so well.
Other ways to say it: To be proud, to show no shame, to maintain one’s dignity.

6. In your element

Meaning: To be in a situation where you are comfortable, happy, and able to show your skills.
Use in a sentence: On stage with a microphone, the singer is completely in her element.
Other ways to say it: In a comfortable situation, doing what you do best.

7. Stand tall

Meaning: To be proud and confident in who you are and what you believe.
Use in a sentence: He taught his children to stand tall and never be afraid to voice their opinions.
Other ways to say it: To be proud, to be unashamed, to have self-respect.

8. Have something in the bag

Meaning: To be certain of achieving or winning something.
Use in a sentence: With a 20-point lead and only a minute left, the team knew they had the victory in the bag.
Other ways to say it: To be assured of success, a sure thing.

9. Cool as a cucumber

Meaning: To be very calm and relaxed, especially in a stressful situation.
Use in a sentence: He was cool as a cucumber during the entire job interview.
Other ways to say it: Calm and composed, unflappable, relaxed under pressure.

10. Not turn a hair

Meaning: To show no emotion or reaction when something surprising or shocking happens.
Use in a sentence: A loud bang came from outside, but the veteran soldier didn’t turn a hair.
Other ways to say it: To remain calm, to show no surprise, to be unfazed.

11. Full of beans

Meaning: To be energetic, lively, and enthusiastic.
Use in a sentence: The children were full of beans after the birthday party.
Other ways to say it: Energetic, lively, in high spirits.

12. Keep your chin up

Meaning: An expression of encouragement to someone to remain cheerful and confident in a difficult situation.
Use in a sentence: “Keep your chin up,” she said. “Things will get better soon.”
Other ways to say it: Stay positive, don’t lose hope.

13. Have swagger

Meaning: To walk or behave in a very confident, and typically arrogant or aggressive, way.
Use in a sentence: The boxer entered the ring with a swagger, confident of his victory.
Other ways to say it: To have a confident walk, to be cocky.

14. On top of the world

Meaning: Feeling extremely happy, ecstatic, and successful.
Use in a sentence: After winning the championship, she felt on top of the world.
Other ways to say it: Feeling great, ecstatic, overjoyed.

15. Punch above your weight

Meaning: To achieve success in a situation where you are at a disadvantage or competing against stronger opponents.
Use in a sentence: For a small company, they are really punching above their weight in the global market.
Other ways to say it: To perform better than expected, to achieve beyond one’s level.

16. Stand your ground

Meaning: To refuse to change your opinion or decision, even when under pressure.
Use in a sentence: Despite the criticism, she stood her ground because she knew she was right.
Other ways to say it: To be firm, to not back down.

17. Come into your own

Meaning: To reach your full potential and become confident and successful.
Use in a sentence: After a few years of practice, she has really come into her own as a pianist.
Other ways to say it: To mature, to reach one’s potential.

18. Know your own mind

Meaning: To be decisive and certain about what you want and believe.
Use in a sentence: She’s a strong leader because she knows her own mind and isn’t easily swayed.
Other ways to say it: To be decisive, to be certain.

19. Not afraid of your own shadow

Meaning: To be very brave and not easily frightened.
Use in a sentence: The fearless explorer was not afraid of her own shadow.
Other ways to say it: To be brave, fearless, courageous.

20. A tower of strength

Meaning: A person who is very strong, reliable, and supportive in a time of crisis.
Use in a sentence: Her husband was a tower of strength for her while she was ill.
Other ways to say it: A rock, very supportive, dependable.

21. Run the show

Meaning: To be in charge of a situation, organization, or activity.
Use in a sentence: She’s been with the company for 20 years and now she runs the show.
Other ways to say it: To be in charge, to call the shots.

22. Sure of yourself

Meaning: To be very confident in your own abilities and opinions.
Use in a sentence: He is very sure of himself, which can sometimes come across as arrogant.
Other ways to say it: Self-confident, self-assured.

23. Take center stage

Meaning: To become the focus of everyone’s attention.
Use in a sentence: She loves to take center stage and share her stories with everyone.
Other ways to say it: To be the center of attention, to be in the spotlight.

24. Blaze a trail

Meaning: To be the first to do something innovative, creating a path for others to follow.
Use in a sentence: The scientist blazed a trail with her groundbreaking research.
Other ways to say it: To pioneer, to innovate.

25. Face the music

Meaning: To accept responsibility and criticism for something bad you have done.
Use in a sentence: After he was caught cheating, he had to go home and face the music.
Other ways to say it: To accept the consequences, to take responsibility.

26. Have guts

Meaning: To have courage and determination.
Use in a sentence: It takes a lot of guts to stand up to a bully.
Other ways to say it: To be brave, to have courage.

27. A natural

Meaning: Someone who is innately good at something without having to try hard.
Use in a sentence: He’s a natural on the basketball court; he picked up the skills instantly.
Other ways to say it: Naturally talented, gifted.

28. Own it

Meaning: To take full responsibility for something and show confidence in it.
Use in a sentence: You made a bold fashion choice, now you just have to own it!
Other ways to say it: To be confident about it, to take ownership.

29. Poised

Meaning: Having a composed and self-assured manner.
Use in a sentence: She remained poised throughout the difficult press conference.
Other ways to say it: Composed, self-assured, graceful under pressure.

30. Roll with the punches

Meaning: To adapt to difficult situations and setbacks as they happen.
Use in a-sentence: In this fast-paced industry, you have to be able to roll with the punches.
Other ways to say it: To be adaptable, to cope with difficulties.

31. Rule the roost

Meaning: To be the dominant person in a group; to be in charge.
Use in a sentence: In that household, it’s clear that the grandmother rules the roost.
Other ways to say it: To be the boss, to be in control.

32. Self-made

Meaning: Having become successful or rich through one’s own efforts rather than by inheritance.
Use in a sentence: She is a self-made millionaire who started her business with nothing.
Other ways to say it: Achieved success independently.

33. Shoot from the hip

Meaning: To speak or act directly and frankly, without thinking about the consequences.
Use in a sentence: The CEO is known for shooting from the hip during meetings, which is both refreshing and risky.
Other ways to say it: To speak bluntly, to be direct.

Want to see how native speakers express self-assurance? Browse these idioms to express confidence at.

34. Stick to your guns

Meaning: To maintain your position or opinion, even when faced with opposition.
Use in a sentence: Everyone told her to quit, but she stuck to her guns and eventually succeeded.
Other ways to say it: To stand your ground, to not give in.

35. Strut your stuff

Meaning: To show off your skills or talents with confidence and pride.
Use in a sentence: The fashion show is your chance to get on the runway and strut your stuff.
Other ways to say it: To show off, to display your talents proudly.

36. Think on your feet

Meaning: To be able to think and react to things quickly and effectively without any preparation.
Use in a sentence: A good debater must be able to think on their feet.
Other ways to say it: To be quick-witted, to improvise.

37. Tough cookie

Meaning: A person who is physically and emotionally strong and determined.
Use in a sentence: She’s been through a lot, but she’s a tough cookie and always bounces back.
Other ways to say it: A strong person, resilient.

38. Wear the pants

Meaning: To be the person in a relationship or family who is in charge and makes the decisions.
Use in a sentence: Everyone thinks my dad is in charge, but it’s my mom who really wears the pants in our family.
Other ways to say it: To be the dominant partner, to be in control.

39. Worth one’s salt

Meaning: To be competent and deserving of one’s pay or position.
Use in a sentence: Any mechanic worth their salt should be able to fix a simple problem like this.
Other ways to say it: Competent, good at one’s job.

40. The world is your oyster

Meaning: You have the freedom and ability to do whatever you want in life.
Use in a sentence: With that degree, the world is your oyster.
Other ways to say it: You have endless opportunities, anything is possible.

Fill-in-the-Blank Exercise

Complete the following sentences with the correct confidence idiom from the list above.

The bomb disposal expert had ______________________ as he defused the device.
She walked onto the stage with an ______________________ that captivated the audience.
Even when he made a mistake, he was told to ______________________ and learn from it.
The small startup is really ______________________ by competing with giant corporations.
He was nervous about the presentation, but his friend told him to ______________________.
She is a great public speaker because she can ______________________.
Don’t worry about the critics; you need to ______________________ and believe in your project.
He was ______________________ during the crisis, calming everyone down.
After years of practice, she has ______________________ as a professional artist.
He’s a ______________________ leader who isn’t afraid to make tough decisions.
You’ve graduated and have no debt; the ______________________.
A good journalist needs to be a ______________________ and not get discouraged by rejection.
She loves being the center of attention and always tries to ______________________.
Any manager ______________________ should listen to their team’s feedback.
He was so happy after getting the job that he felt ______________________.

Answer Key

nerves of steel
air of confidence
hold your head high
punching above its weight
keep your chin up
think on her feet
stick to your guns
cool as a cucumber
come into her own
self-made
world is your oyster
tough cookie
take center stage
worth their salt
on top of the world

Conclusion

Mastering the idioms of confidence is like learning a new language of self-assurance. These expressions give us a more powerful and vivid way to describe the strength, courage, and poise we see in others and feel in ourselves. Practicing these phrases will not only make your writing and speaking more dynamic but will also sharpen your emotional intelligence.

It provides a nuanced vocabulary to understand the different shades of confidence, from the quiet dignity of “standing tall” to the daring of being “bold as brass.” Ultimately, a rich vocabulary of confidence helps us to better articulate our strengths and inspire it in others.