Courses Through: Definition, Meaning, and Origin

Last Updated on
November 3, 2023

The idiom "courses through" means to flow or rush through something, especially with great force or intensity. It often describes intense emotions or sensations that affect the whole body or mind.

In short:

  • It signifies the swift and forceful passage or movement through something, often with considerable intensity.
  • It often refers to emotions and feelings.

What Does "Courses Through" Mean?

The idiom "courses through" is usually used to describe emotions or sensations that affect the whole body or mind, such as happiness, anger, fear, excitement, pain, adrenaline, or electricity. It suggests that these feelings are so strong and intense that they take over the person's physical or mental state and cannot be easily controlled or stopped.

Where Does "Courses Through" Come From?

The idiom "courses through" is derived from the verb "course," which means to flow, run, or move swiftly. It was initially used to describe the movement of liquids, such as blood, water, or wine, through a body, a vessel, or a channel. Later, the idiom was extended to describe the movement of emotions or sensations through a person's body or mind.

Historical Example

Like the sea, composed of a system of rivers traversing its great body throughout its length, breadth and depth, the atmosphere is filled with a system of tides and currents as regular and periodic as the blood in its courses through the venous and arterial system of the human body.

- Through the Air by John Wise, 1873

10 Examples of "Courses Through" in Sentences

Here are some examples of how to use this idiom in different sentences:

  • Laughter courses through the room as friends share jokes.
  • Fear courses through her as she enters the haunted house.
  • Yaas! Adrenaline courses through my veins before a big race.
  • Love courses through their relationship, binding them together.
  • Passion courses through every note of the musician's performance.
  • A sense of adventure courses through their travels around the world.
  • Determination courses through his actions as he pursues his dreams.
  • Holy cow! Excitement courses through the crowd as the concert begins.
  • Excitement courses through the public as the game-winning goal is scored.
  • Way to go. Hope courses through the community as they rebuild after the disaster.

Examples of "Courses Through" in Pop Culture

Here are some examples of how the idiom is used in pop culture:

  • In one scene from the Avengers Endgame, Thor tells Tony Stark, "What do you think is coursing through my veins right now?" as he wants to be the one to take the Infinity Gauntlet to get everybody back.
  • In her book, Beth Revis mentions: "Emotion courses through my veins, choking me. I feel so insignificant, a tiny speck surrounded by a million stars. A million suns." The book explores the emotional turmoil of the protagonist.
  • Danna Faulds writes: "Trust the energy that courses through you. Trust, then take surrender even deeper. Be the energy."
  • Klaus from How I Met Your Mother mentions this popular quote in the series: "It is something that happens instantaneously. It courses through you like the water of a river after a storm, filling you and emptying you all at once. You feel it throughout your body, in your hands, in your heart, in your stomach, in your skin... have you ever felt this way about someone?"

Other Ways to Say "Courses Through"

Here are some synonyms for this idiom that you can use in different situations:

  • Flows through
  • Rushes through
  • Sweeps through
  • Pulsates through
  • Radiates through

10 Frequently Asked Questions About "Courses Through"

Here are some common questions people may have about this idiom:

  • What does "courses through" mean?

The idiom "courses through" means to flow or rush through something, especially with great force or intensity. It often describes intense emotions or sensations that affect the whole body or mind.

  • What is the origin of the phrase "courses through"?

The idiom "courses through" is derived from the verb "course," which means to flow, run, or move swiftly. It was initially used to describe the movement of liquids, such as blood, water, or wine, through a body, a vessel, or a channel. Later, the idiom was extended to describe the movement of emotions or sensations through a person's body or mind.

  • What part of speech is "courses through"?

The idiom "courses through" is a verb phrase that consists of the verb "course" and the preposition "through." Depending on the context, it can be used in different tenses, moods, and voices. For example, "He felt the blood course through his veins." (past tense, indicative mood, active voice)

  • Is the idiom "courses through" formal or informal?

The idiom "courses through" is neither formal nor informal. It can be used in formal and informal contexts, such as academic writing, business communication, literature, poetry, and everyday speech. However, it is more common in written than spoken language and more suitable for descriptive than argumentative purposes.

  • What is the difference between "courses through" and "runs through"?

The idioms "courses through" and "runs through" have similar meanings but different connotations. The phrase "courses through" implies something flows or moves rapidly and powerfully without stopping or changing direction. The idiom "runs through" means that something spreads or extends throughout something without covering or filling it.

  • What is the opposite of "courses through"?

There is no exact opposite of the idiom "courses through," but some antonyms can express the opposite meaning, depending on the context. For example, if the phrase "courses through" is used to describe a positive emotion or sensation, such as happiness, joy, or love, then some possible antonyms are "drains from," "fades from," or "leaves." Suppose the idiom "courses through" describes a negative emotion or sensation, such as anger, fear, or pain. In that case, some possible antonyms are "eases from," "subsidies from," or "dissipates from."

  • Is this idiom commonly used in everyday conversation?

It's not extremely common but can be used in both casual and formal settings when describing the movement of something or the intensity of a feeling.

  • How do you use "courses through" in a negative sentence?

To use the idiom "courses through" in a negative sentence, you need to add the word "not" before the verb "course." For example, "He did not feel any joy course through him when he won the lottery."

  • How do you use "courses through" in a passive sentence?

To use the idiom "courses through" in a passive sentence, you need to change the verb "course" to its past participle form "coursed," and add the word "be" before it. The subject and the object also switch places. For example, "His veins were coursed through by the blood."

  • How do you use "courses through" in a question?

To use the idiom "courses through" in a question, follow this structure: Do or did + subject + feel + emotion or sensation + course through + object + question mark. The issue is the person who experiences the emotion or sensation. The object is the part of the body or mind affected by the emotion or sensation. For example, "Did you feel a spark of curiosity course through you when you opened the mysterious book?"

Final Thoughts About "Courses Through"

The idiom "courses through" is a powerful and expressive way to describe intense emotions or sensations that affect the whole body or mind. It was initially used to describe the movement of liquids and later extended to describe the action of feelings or sensations through a person's body or mind.

Some of the main points to remember about this idiom:

  • It can be used in both formal and informal contexts.
  • It has a long and rich history in literature and pop culture.
  • It is derived from the verb "course," which means to flow, run, or move swiftly.
  • It has some related expressions that have a similar meaning.

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