THE IDIOM COLLECTION LEARN & PRACTISE
Second nature
Understand the meaning. See it in context. Make it yours.
01 / UNDERSTAND
Meaning in plain English
So familiar that you can do it easily without much conscious thought.
02 / SEE IT IN CONTEXT
The expression in a sentence
- Checking the mirror before turning has become second nature to her.
03 / CHECK YOUR UNDERSTANDING
Quick idiom quiz
Try the question without looking back, then write a sentence of your own. You can retry as often as you like.
0 of 1 checked correctly
Can you recall the expression?
Complete the example using the expression from this lesson.
Checking the mirror before turning has become ________ to her.
Show the answer
Second nature — So familiar that you can do it easily without much conscious thought.
Try your own sentence (optional)
Make it yours
Write one sentence using “Second nature” about your own life.
Check your sentence
Does your sentence match this meaning?
So familiar that you can do it easily without much conscious thought.
Compare: Checking the mirror before turning has become second nature to her.
Check the spelling and how the expression fits the sentence. Your example can be different.
Self-review only. Your sentence is not automatically marked, saved or submitted.
This quiz is for practice. To save lesson completion on this device, complete the checks in the app.
GO DEEPER
More ways to understand and use it
Jump to a section
When to use it
Use this expression about a well-practised skill or habit. It is useful when encouraging learners to continue until a process feels natural.
More examples in context
- After months of practice, typing without looking at the keys was second nature to me.
- Saving a backup is second nature to our team now.
Usage note
Use “second nature to someone”, without “a” before “second nature”. It often describes a learned habit, rather than a skill someone was born with.
A short conversation
A: How do you remember all those shortcuts?
B: I use them every day, so they’ve become second nature.
A: I’ll start with two and practise those regularly.
One more practice question
What has become second nature?
A. A new action you cannot attempt without detailed instructions.
B. A familiar action you perform easily after repeated practice.
Check your answer
B. Familiarity makes the action feel almost automatic.
Related lessons
Meaning and usage checked against Cambridge Dictionary. Explanations, examples and conversation are original.