Home away from Home Idiom: Meaning, Origin, Usage & Exercises

Most young people leave their own city or country for different reasons, like job, education, health, etc. Even IELTS aspirants are preparing to move to a foreign country, making questions about leaving home an important topic of discussion. So, learning common idioms in IELTS Speaking, like ‘home away from home’ is essential to boost your vocabulary as well as fluency as a native.

In this blog post, we will explore the meaning, origin, and usage of the idiom ‘home away from home’, and provide examples for IELTS Speaking.

Home away from Home Idiom: Meaning

The idiom ‘home away from home’ refers to a place other than your actual home where you feel just as comfortable, relaxed, and welcomed. It implies a strong emotional connection to a space that offers security, comfort, and familiarity, just like one’s real home.

This idiom is universally relatable, especially in contexts of travel, studying overseas, long stays, or relocation.

Origin of Home away from Home Idiom

The phrase began appearing in English literature in the 19th century, primarily among travellers and soldiers who had to spend long periods away from their families. The idea was to describe a temporary place of comfort that felt like home even in unfamiliar surroundings.

Today, it is used widely, from hotel advertising to personal storytelling, resonating with anyone who’s found comfort in a foreign or temporary place.

Home away from Home Idiom: Synonyms and Related Phrases

Given below are some phrases and common English words used in IELTS Speaking test related to the idiom, home away from home.

Home away from Home Idiom Usage

The expression ‘home away from home’, a familiar idiom, finds frequent use in casual conversation. It can be used in the ways given below.

• During my semester abroad, the campus library became my home away from home; it was quiet, warm, and always had friendly faces around.
• Forrest visits us so often that we’ve become his home away from home.
• Sue has made Mexico her home away from home. She stays there every winter.
• I visit Chicago so often, it’s become a home away from home for me.
• The guesthouse in Udaipur wasn’t luxurious, but the warmth of the staff made it a home away from home.
• Her grandmother’s house, filled with stories, laughter, and old recipes, was always her home away from home.

Home away from Home Idiom Usage in Literature and Published Works

This idiom is also found in literary texts and memoirs, particularly when authors describe emotional bonds with temporary or foreign places.

• From Maya Angelou’s All God’s Children Need Traveling Shoes: “The warmth of Ghana, both literal and figurative, made it my home away from home—a place that healed old wounds I hadn’t known I was still carrying.”
  • It is used to express emotional restoration and cultural belonging.
• From travel writing (Bill Bryson): “The B&B in Keswick became something of a home away from home, complete with marmalade toast and a view of sheep-dotted hills.”
  • It evokes nostalgia and personal connection in humorous travel literature.
• From a scholarly article on expat communities: “Expat enclaves often develop into symbolic homes away from home, offering culinary, linguistic, and emotional familiarity in foreign environments.”
  • This is an academic yet idiomatic usage highlighting cultural ties.

Home away from Home Idiom: Detailed Usage in IELTS Contexts

The home away from home idiom works especially well in IELTS Speaking Part 2, where you describe personal experiences, or Part 3, when discussing lifestyle, migration, or globalisation.

IELTS Speaking Part 1 – Travel

• Q: Do you like staying in hotels?
• A: I usually prefer small guesthouses. Some of them are so warm and personal that they feel like a home away from home.

IELTS Speaking Part 2 – Describe a Place Where You Felt at Peace

“There’s a café near my university that truly feels like a home away from home. The staff knows my name, I always get my favourite seat, and it’s where I go to unwind or study for exams.”

IELTS Speaking Part 3 – Globalisation and Migration

• Q: Why do some people choose to migrate permanently?
• A: Often, they find a new country that not only offers better opportunities but also becomes a home away from home, giving them emotional and cultural comfort.

Home away from Home Idiom: Practice Exercises

The exercises below will help you learn the correct usage of the idiom ‘home away from home, allowing you to understand its meaning and application.

1 I felt very relaxed and welcomed at the hotel.

2 My best friend’s house is where I always feel calm and accepted.

3 The café near my apartment feels very comfortable and peaceful.

1 The hostel became a home away from home after just two weeks.

2 Her aunt’s kitchen was her home away from home during summer breaks.

3 He called the city his home away from home, despite moving there just a year ago.

Home away from Home Idiom: Answer Keys for Practice Exercises

Now, compare your responses to the answer key provided below to determine your understanding of the idiom ‘home away from home’. 

Exercise A

1 The hotel felt like a home away from home with its warm service and cosy rooms.

2 My best friend’s house is truly a home away from home—I'm always welcomed with open arms.

3 That café is my home away from home; it’s where I recharge both mentally and emotionally.

Exercise B

1 A feeling of adaptation and comfort in a new environment.

2 A sense of nurturing, nostalgia, and belonging.

3 Indicates emotional attachment and familiarity with a foreign or new place.

To conclude, the idiom ‘home away from home’ is a powerful way to describe emotional warmth and familiarity in a non-native setting. It can humanise your responses in IELTS Speaking, make your examples more vivid, and subtly elevate your lexical resource score when used appropriately. So, whether you are describing a study spot, travel destination, or someone else’s home, this idiom is an elegant way to express belonging beyond borders.

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• IELTS Vocabulary Words List for Band 8 or 9 
• Practical Tips on How to Improve Vocabulary for the IELTS Exam
• IELTS Pronunciation Guide 2025