Idioms are expressive, imaginative phrases that bring a vibrant emphasis to conversations about significance, highlighting the weight, value, or urgency of events, decisions, or responsibilities in a colorful and engaging manner. Whether you’re discussing critical moments, pivotal choices, or matters of great consequence, these idioms add depth and flair to your language, making it more compelling and relatable.
In this extensive listicle, we’ll explore 50 idioms related to importance, unpacking their meanings and showing how they can underscore the gravity or priority of various situations. So, let’s dive into this rich collection of idioms and discover how they can elevate your discussions about what truly matters.
What is an Idiom for Important?
Idioms for important are figurative expressions that convey the significance, priority, or impact of a situation, person, or action, often using vivid imagery to emphasize their weight or urgency. These phrases make conversations about critical topics—whether in personal, professional, or societal contexts—more dynamic and memorable, enhancing the way you articulate the value of something. Below, we’ll explore each idiom, explain its meaning, and provide a long sentence to illustrate its use in context.
Idioms for Important
1. A Big Deal
Meaning: Something of great significance or importance.
In a Sentence: Landing the new client was a big deal for the small startup, as it promised a steady stream of revenue that could transform their business prospects overnight.
2. Hold the Key
Meaning: To have the solution or power to resolve an important issue.
In a Sentence: Her innovative research on renewable energy held the key to addressing the company’s sustainability goals, making her presentation a pivotal moment in the board meeting.
3. Make or Break
Meaning: A critical moment that determines success or failure.
In a Sentence: The upcoming product launch was a make-or-break moment for the tech company, as its success would determine whether they could compete with industry giants.
4. A Game Changer
Meaning: Something that significantly alters a situation or outcome.
In a Sentence: The introduction of artificial intelligence in their workflow was a game changer, drastically improving efficiency and positioning the firm as a leader in their sector.
5. Carry Weight
Meaning: To have influence or importance in a decision or situation.
In a Sentence: Her opinion carried weight in the team’s discussions, as her years of experience in project management gave her insights that everyone respected and valued.
6. The Heart of the Matter
Meaning: The most essential or central part of an issue.
In a Sentence: After hours of debate, they finally reached the heart of the matter, realizing that clear communication was the critical factor in resolving their team’s ongoing conflicts.
7. A Matter of Life and Death
Meaning: An extremely urgent or critically important situation.
In a Sentence: For the medical team, ensuring the availability of ventilators during the crisis was a matter of life and death, requiring immediate action to save countless patients.
8. Take Center Stage
Meaning: To become the most important or prominent focus.
In a Sentence: The issue of climate change took center stage at the global summit, with world leaders prioritizing discussions on reducing carbon emissions over other agenda items.
9. A Heavy Hitter
Meaning: A person or thing with significant influence or importance.
In a Sentence: The CEO brought in a heavy hitter from the industry to lead the merger negotiations, knowing their expertise would be crucial to securing a favorable deal.
10. Top Dog
Meaning: The most important or dominant person or entity in a group.
In a Sentence: By consistently delivering innovative products, the company established itself as the top dog in the tech industry, setting trends that competitors scrambled to follow.
11. The Crux of the Issue
Meaning: The most important or critical point of a matter.
In a Sentence: After lengthy discussions, they identified the crux of the issue: a lack of funding was preventing the nonprofit from expanding its outreach to underserved communities.
12. A Big Fish
Meaning: An important or influential person in a specific context.
In a Sentence: Securing an endorsement from a big fish like the renowned author gave the small publishing house the credibility it needed to attract more high-profile writers.
13. Call the Shots
Meaning: To have the authority to make important decisions.
In a Sentence: As the project manager, she called the shots, determining the timeline and resource allocation to ensure the team met the critical deadlines for the client.
14. A Turning Point
Meaning: A moment when a significant change or development occurs.
In a Sentence: The new trade agreement marked a turning point for the struggling economy, opening up markets that promised to boost exports and create thousands of jobs.
15. Hold Sway
Meaning: To have significant influence or control over something important.
In a Sentence: Her compelling arguments held sway over the committee, convincing them to prioritize environmental regulations in the upcoming policy reform discussions.
16. A Big Shot
Meaning: An important or influential person, often with power or status.
In a Sentence: Meeting a big shot like the industry mogul at the conference was a rare opportunity, and she seized it to pitch her innovative startup idea with confidence.
17. High on the Agenda
Meaning: Something given priority or importance in plans or discussions.
In a Sentence: Addressing employee well-being was high on the agenda for the HR team, prompting them to roll out new mental health programs to support the workforce.
18. The Be-All and End-All
Meaning: The most important thing or the ultimate goal.
In a Sentence: For her, earning a promotion wasn’t the be-all and end-all; she valued personal growth and work-life balance just as much as career advancement.
19. A Key Player
Meaning: A person or entity with a crucial role in a situation.
In a Sentence: As a key player in the negotiations, the diplomat’s ability to mediate between the two nations was critical to achieving a peaceful resolution to the conflict.
20. A Major Coup
Meaning: A significant achievement or success, often unexpected.
In a Sentence: Securing the exclusive contract with the global retailer was a major coup for the small manufacturer, elevating their brand to international recognition.
21. A Pivotal Moment
Meaning: A critical point that influences future outcomes.
In a Sentence: The CEO’s decision to invest in sustainable practices was a pivotal moment, reshaping the company’s reputation and attracting environmentally conscious investors.
22. A Weighty Matter
Meaning: An issue or decision of great importance or seriousness.
In a Sentence: Choosing the right university was a weighty matter for the high school senior, as it would shape her career path and personal growth for years to come.
23. Pull Strings
Meaning: To use influence or connections to achieve an important outcome.
In a Sentence: He pulled strings to get his proposal reviewed by the board, leveraging his network to ensure his innovative idea received the attention it deserved.
24. A Big Cheese
Meaning: An important or influential person, often in a specific field.
In a Sentence: The conference was attended by a big cheese in the tech world, whose keynote speech on artificial intelligence set the tone for the entire event.
25. A Landmark Decision
Meaning: A decision that has significant and lasting impact.
In a Sentence: The court’s ruling to protect the endangered species was a landmark decision, setting a precedent for environmental conservation efforts across the region.
26. A Hot Button
Meaning: A topic or issue of great importance, often controversial.
In a Sentence: Healthcare reform was a hot button in the election campaign, sparking passionate debates among voters who saw it as a critical factor in their decision-making.
27. The Linchpin
Meaning: The most essential element that holds something together.
In a Sentence: Her leadership was the linchpin of the project’s success, as her ability to coordinate the team ensured they met every deadline despite numerous challenges.
28. A High Priority
Meaning: Something considered very important and urgently needing attention.
In a Sentence: Improving customer satisfaction was a high priority for the company, prompting them to overhaul their support system to address complaints more effectively.
29. A Mover and Shaker
Meaning: An influential person who drives important changes or progress.
In a Sentence: As a mover and shaker in the nonprofit sector, she spearheaded initiatives that transformed access to education for underprivileged children in her community.
30. A Big Wig
Meaning: A person of high status or importance in an organization or field.
In a Sentence: The event was graced by a big wig from the corporate world, whose presence lent credibility to the startup’s pitch for venture capital funding.
31. A Critical Juncture
Meaning: A decisive or pivotal moment in a process or situation.
In a Sentence: The company stood at a critical juncture, where choosing to expand globally could either propel them to new heights or strain their limited resources.
32. A Make-or-Break Deal
Meaning: An agreement or opportunity that determines success or failure.
In a Sentence: Signing the partnership with the international distributor was a make-or-break deal, as it would either secure the company’s growth or leave them struggling.
33. A Burning Issue
Meaning: A highly important or urgent topic that demands attention.
In a Sentence: Income inequality was a burning issue in the national discourse, prompting policymakers to propose reforms to address the growing wealth gap.
34. A Top Priority
Meaning: The most important item or task requiring immediate focus.
In a Sentence: Ensuring the safety of employees during the factory upgrades was a top priority, leading management to invest heavily in training and protective equipment.
35. A Heavyweight
Meaning: A person or entity with significant influence or authority.
In a Sentence: The organization hired a heavyweight consultant to guide their restructuring, confident that her expertise would steer them through the complex transition.
36. A Deal Breaker
Meaning: A factor that is so important it could prevent an agreement or decision.
In a Sentence: The lack of flexible work hours was a deal breaker for the candidate, who valued work-life balance too much to accept the otherwise attractive job offer.
37. A Cornerstone
Meaning: A fundamental or essential part of something important.
In a Sentence: Trust was the cornerstone of their successful partnership, ensuring that both parties could rely on each other to make critical decisions with confidence.
38. A Big Break
Meaning: A significant opportunity that leads to success or recognition.
In a Sentence: Landing the role in the blockbuster film was a big break for the aspiring actor, propelling her into the spotlight and opening doors to new opportunities.
39. A Focal Point
Meaning: The central or most important element of attention or activity.
In a Sentence: Reducing carbon emissions became the focal point of the environmental conference, with every session emphasizing strategies to combat climate change effectively.
40. A Prime Concern
Meaning: An issue of utmost importance that demands attention.
In a Sentence: Data security was a prime concern for the tech company, prompting them to invest in advanced encryption to protect their users’ sensitive information.
41. A Powerhouse
Meaning: A person or entity with great energy, influence, or importance.
In a Sentence: The marketing director was a powerhouse in the industry, whose bold campaigns consistently set trends and drove unprecedented engagement for the brand.
42. A Mainstay
Meaning: A key or essential component that provides stability or support.
In a Sentence: The annual fundraiser was a mainstay of the charity’s operations, providing the bulk of the funds needed to sustain their programs throughout the year.
43. A Big Ticket Item
Meaning: Something expensive or of great importance, often requiring significant investment.
In a Sentence: The new software system was a big ticket item for the company, but its implementation was critical to streamlining operations and staying competitive.
44. A Central Pillar
Meaning: A fundamental element that supports or defines something important.
In a Sentence: Education was a central pillar of the community’s development plan, with leaders prioritizing schools to ensure future generations could thrive.
45. A Blockbuster
Meaning: Something extremely successful, impactful, or important.
In a Sentence: The scientist’s discovery of a new vaccine was a blockbuster in the medical field, promising to save millions of lives and reshape global health strategies.
46. A Top Brass
Meaning: The most important or senior people in an organization.
In a Sentence: The top brass of the corporation gathered to discuss the merger, knowing their decision would shape the company’s future for decades to come.
47. A Headline Act
Meaning: The most important or prominent feature or person in an event or situation.
In a Sentence: The keynote speaker was the headline act of the conference, drawing a massive crowd eager to hear her insights on the future of technology.
48. A Keystone
Meaning: The critical element that holds everything together or ensures success.
In a Sentence: Collaboration was the keystone of the project’s success, as the diverse team’s ability to work together ensured they met their ambitious goals on time.
49. A Bellwether
Meaning: Something that indicates or predicts important trends or outcomes.
In a Sentence: The election results in the swing state were a bellwether for the national mood, signaling shifts in voter priorities that would influence future policies.
50. A Heavy Burden
Meaning: A significant responsibility or obligation of great importance.
In a Sentence: Leading the family business during the economic downturn was a heavy burden, but she embraced the challenge, determined to preserve her parents’ legacy.
Quizzes About The Idioms in The Article
Quiz 1: A Big Deal
What does the idiom “A big deal” mean?
a) A minor issue
b) Something of great significance
c) A casual event
d) A confusing situation
Quiz 2: Make or Break
What is the meaning of “Make or break”?
a) A routine task
b) A critical moment for success or failure
c) A simple decision
d) A delayed outcome
Quiz 3: The Heart of the Matter
When someone says “The heart of the matter,” what are they emphasizing?
a) A trivial detail
b) The most essential part of an issue
c) A temporary concern
d) A vague idea
Quiz 4: Carry Weight
What does the idiom “Carry weight” suggest?
a) Lack of influence
b) Having significant influence
c) Physical strength
d) Avoiding responsibility
Quiz 5: A Matter of Life and Death
What situation is described by “A matter of life and death”?
a) A casual event
b) An extremely urgent situation
c) A minor inconvenience
d) A relaxed moment
Quiz 6: A Key Player
If someone is “a key player,” what does it mean?
a) They are unimportant
b) They have a crucial role
c) They avoid responsibility
d) They cause problems
Quiz 7: A Turning Point
What does “A turning point” imply?
a) A minor change
b) A significant change or development
c) A repetitive event
d) A failed attempt
Quiz 8: A Big Shot
When is it appropriate to say “A big shot”?
a) When referring to an unimportant person
b) When describing an influential person
c) When talking about a failure
d) When discussing a minor issue
Quiz 9: A High Priority
What is the meaning of “A high priority”?
a) Something unimportant
b) Something urgently needing attention
c) A casual task
d) A delayed project
Quiz 10: The Linchpin
When something is “the linchpin,” what is it?
a) An insignificant detail
b) The most essential element
c) A temporary solution
d) A confusing factor
Answers:
- b
- b
- b
- b
- b
- b
- b
- b
- b
- b
Conclusion
Idioms for important are like linguistic spotlights, illuminating the significance, urgency, or value of situations with vivid and memorable expressions. Whether you’re discussing critical decisions, influential people, or pivotal moments, these idioms add a layer of emphasis and creativity to your conversations. Sprinkle them into your discussions to make your points resonate with clarity and impact, ensuring that what matters most is communicated with flair.