In the USA, people often use fun and clever phrases to talk about tough times. These special sayings, called idioms, help us describe how we deal with problems. When something feels hard, like climbing a big hill or fixing a broken toy, these idioms can explain how we feel and what we do. They make talking about challenges a little easier and more interesting.
Idioms about overcoming challenges can be heard in school, at home, and on TV. They tell stories using just a few words. For example, if someone says, “hang in there,” they don’t mean to grab a rope — they mean don’t give up. In this article, you’ll learn idioms that show strength, hope, and courage when things get tough. Let’s take a look at these helpful expressions.
Idioms About Overcoming Challenges
1. Hang in there
Meaning: Keep going, even when things are hard.
Example Sentence:
• Hang in there, the school year is almost over.
• He told his friend to hang in there during basketball tryouts.
Other ways to say: Don’t give up, stay strong
Fun Fact/Origin: This phrase became popular in the 1970s from a poster showing a cat hanging on a bar.
Usage: Used when encouraging someone to keep trying.
2. Weather the storm
Meaning: To survive a difficult time.
Example Sentence:
• Our town weathered the storm after the hurricane.
• She weathered the storm of her parents’ divorce.
Other ways to say: Get through it, stay strong during hard times
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from sailing, where ships had to survive rough storms.
Usage: Used when facing tough life events.
3. When the going gets tough, the tough get going
Meaning: Strong people keep trying when things are hard.
Example Sentence:
• He remembered, “When the going gets tough, the tough get going,” during the race.
• My coach always says that during practice.
Other ways to say: Stay determined, keep working hard
Fun Fact/Origin: Became popular from a 1950s football coach.
Usage: Used to motivate people in hard situations.
4. Pick yourself up
Meaning: To recover after a failure or fall.
Example Sentence:
• After falling off her bike, she picked herself up and tried again.
• He picked himself up after losing the game.
Other ways to say: Try again, bounce back
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from the idea of getting up after falling down.
Usage: Used when someone is trying again after a mistake.
5. Bounce back
Meaning: To return to normal after something bad.
Example Sentence:
• She bounced back quickly after being sick.
• The team bounced back after a big loss.
Other ways to say: Recover, get back on track
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from the way a ball bounces back after hitting the ground.
Usage: Used when someone recovers from a bad time.
6. Get back on your feet
Meaning: To recover after a hard time.
Example Sentence:
• After losing his job, he got back on his feet quickly.
• She helped her friend get back on her feet after being sick.
Other ways to say: Recover, stand again
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from the image of someone standing up after falling.
Usage: Used when someone returns to normal after trouble.
7. Rise above it
Meaning: To stay strong and not let problems bring you down.
Example Sentence:
• He rose above the bullying and stayed kind.
• She rose above it and didn’t let it ruin her day.
Other ways to say: Stay strong, don’t let it get to you
Fun Fact/Origin: Based on the idea of lifting yourself over a problem.
Usage: Used when someone stays strong in a hard situation.
8. Back on track
Meaning: To return to a good or normal path.
Example Sentence:
• After a rough start, the project is back on track.
• She got her grades back on track after failing a test.
Other ways to say: Doing well again, going the right way
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from trains returning to the right rail line.
Usage: Used when things return to normal after a setback.
9. Pull through
Meaning: To survive or recover from a difficult situation.
Example Sentence:
• The player pulled through after the injury.
• She pulled through after being very sick.
Other ways to say: Make it, get better
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from early American English and refers to getting out of trouble.
Usage: Used when someone survives something tough.
10. Face the music
Meaning: To accept the results of your actions.
Example Sentence:
• He had to face the music after breaking the rule.
• She didn’t study and now has to face the music on test day.
Other ways to say: Take responsibility, deal with it
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from soldiers who had to stand in front of the band after breaking rules.
Usage: Used when someone has to accept a consequence.
11. Keep your chin up
Meaning: Stay hopeful and positive.
Example Sentence:
• Keep your chin up, things will get better.
• He told his sister to keep her chin up after she lost the game.
Other ways to say: Stay strong, be brave
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from the idea that lowering your chin shows sadness.
Usage: Used to comfort or encourage someone.
12. Hit a bump in the road
Meaning: Face a small problem during progress.
Example Sentence:
• We hit a bump in the road during our science project.
• Their plan hit a bump, but they kept going.
Other ways to say: Small trouble, minor problem
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from the feeling of hitting a bump while driving.
Usage: Used when facing a small challenge on the way to success.
13. Burn the midnight oil
Meaning: Stay up late working hard.
Example Sentence:
• He burned the midnight oil to finish his homework.
• She burned the midnight oil to prepare for her math test.
Other ways to say: Work late, stay up studying
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from the time when people used oil lamps at night.
Usage: Used when someone works late into the night.
14. Go the extra mile
Meaning: To do more than expected.
Example Sentence:
• She went the extra mile to help her classmates.
• He always goes the extra mile at basketball practice.
Other ways to say: Do more, give extra effort
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from old Roman laws requiring soldiers to carry gear for a mile—some chose to carry it farther.
Usage: Used to praise hard work and effort.
15. Bite the bullet
Meaning: To do something hard without complaining.
Example Sentence:
• He bit the bullet and got his tooth pulled.
• She bit the bullet and told the truth.
Other ways to say: Face it, get it over with
Fun Fact/Origin: Soldiers used to bite bullets during surgery before anesthesia.
Usage: Used when someone bravely does something difficult.
16. Shoulder the burden
Meaning: To take on a hard task or responsibility.
Example Sentence:
• He shouldered the burden of helping his family after the flood.
• She shouldered the burden of organizing the school play.
Other ways to say: Take on, carry the load
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from carrying something heavy on your shoulder.
Usage: Used when someone takes on something hard for others.
17. Push through
Meaning: To keep going even when it’s hard.
Example Sentence:
• The team pushed through the pain to win the game.
• She pushed through her fear and gave the speech.
Other ways to say: Keep going, power through
Fun Fact/Origin: Often used in sports and military training.
Usage: Used when someone keeps trying during a tough time.
18. Roll with the punches
Meaning: To adjust to difficult situations.
Example Sentence:
• When the plan changed, he rolled with the punches.
• She learned to roll with the punches at her new school.
Other ways to say: Adapt, go with the flow
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from boxing, where fighters move to lessen the hit.
Usage: Used when someone adjusts to change well.
19. Climb a mountain
Meaning: To do something very hard.
Example Sentence:
• Learning to read was like climbing a mountain for him.
• She felt like she climbed a mountain when she passed the test.
Other ways to say: Face a big challenge, work hard
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from how tough it is to climb a real mountain.
Usage: Used when someone overcomes a huge challenge.
20. Trial by fire
Meaning: To learn or prove yourself through a tough experience.
Example Sentence:
• Her first day at the job was a trial by fire.
• He faced a trial by fire during the championship game.
Other ways to say: Big test, tough start
Fun Fact/Origin: In history, people had to prove themselves by walking through fire.
Usage: Used when someone is tested in a hard way.
21. Break through
Meaning: To succeed after a lot of hard work.
Example Sentence:
• After weeks of practice, he broke through and scored his first goal.
• She broke through her fear and sang on stage.
Other ways to say: Succeed, make progress
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from the idea of pushing past a barrier.
Usage: Used when someone finally reaches success after a struggle.
22. Move mountains
Meaning: To do something that seems impossible.
Example Sentence:
• The team moved mountains to raise money for the trip.
• She moved mountains to help her brother recover.
Other ways to say: Do the impossible, achieve great things
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from stories and myths where people did superhuman tasks.
Usage: Used to show huge effort or success.
23. Sink or swim
Meaning: To succeed or fail without help.
Example Sentence:
• On the first day of camp, it was sink or swim.
• He was told to sink or swim during the big game.
Other ways to say: Make it or break it, survive or fail
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from swimming lessons where you either float or go under.
Usage: Used when someone must handle a tough test alone.
24. Get over the hump
Meaning: To pass the hardest part of a task.
Example Sentence:
• Once we got over the hump in math, it got easier.
• She got over the hump and finished her big project.
Other ways to say: Pass the hard part, get through it
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from the idea of going over a hill.
Usage: Used when the worst part of a challenge is done.
25. Come out stronger
Meaning: To grow better after a tough time.
Example Sentence:
• She came out stronger after her surgery.
• He came out stronger after losing the championship.
Other ways to say: Learn from it, become tougher
Fun Fact/Origin: This idea is often used in sports and personal stories.
Usage: Used when someone learns or grows from struggle.
26. Stand your ground
Meaning: To not give up or back down.
Example Sentence:
• He stood his ground when kids tried to bully him.
• She stood her ground and didn’t quit the spelling bee.
Other ways to say: Stay firm, hold on
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from military terms where soldiers wouldn’t retreat.
Usage: Used when someone refuses to give up or run away.
27. Hold your own
Meaning: To manage well against challenges.
Example Sentence:
• He held his own in the chess match against a tough player.
• She held her own in the debate.
Other ways to say: Keep up, do fine
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from the idea of holding your spot in a fight or contest.
Usage: Used when someone keeps up in a difficult situation.
28. Pull yourself together
Meaning: To calm down and focus during stress.
Example Sentence:
• He pulled himself together before his speech.
• She pulled herself together after missing the bus.
Other ways to say: Stay calm, get focused
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from the idea of gathering your emotions.
Usage: Used when someone controls emotions and keeps going.
29. Turn the corner
Meaning: To start getting better after trouble.
Example Sentence:
• She turned the corner after being sick for days.
• The team turned the corner after many losses.
Other ways to say: Get better, improve
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from turning onto a new road or path.
Usage: Used when things start to improve.
30. Ride it out
Meaning: To stay strong until the trouble ends.
Example Sentence:
• They rode out the storm at home.
• He rode out the rough patch in school.
Other ways to say: Wait it out, hold steady
Fun Fact/Origin: Often used for storms or rough times.
Usage: Used when someone stays put during tough moments.
31. Keep your head above water
Meaning: To manage just enough in a tough time.
Example Sentence:
• We’re just keeping our heads above water with bills.
• She kept her head above water in her new class.
Other ways to say: Stay okay, survive
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from swimming — you need your head above water to breathe.
Usage: Used when someone is doing just enough to stay afloat.
32. Take the bull by the horns
Meaning: To face a problem directly.
Example Sentence:
• She took the bull by the horns and asked for help.
• He took the bull by the horns and fixed his grades.
Other ways to say: Face it, handle it
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from bull riding, where grabbing the horns means full control.
Usage: Used when someone deals with a problem head-on.
33. Step up to the plate
Meaning: To take responsibility.
Example Sentence:
• He stepped up to the plate when the team needed a leader.
• She stepped up to the plate and helped her brother.
Other ways to say: Take charge, be responsible
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from baseball, where the player stands at the plate to bat.
Usage: Used when someone accepts a challenge or task.
34. Stick it out
Meaning: To keep going until something is done.
Example Sentence:
• He stuck it out through the whole soccer season.
• She stuck it out even when the project was tough.
Other ways to say: Keep going, don’t quit
Fun Fact/Origin: A simple phrase used often in sports and school.
Usage: Used when someone doesn’t give up.
35. Carry on
Meaning: To continue, even when things are hard.
Example Sentence:
• They carried on after the storm.
• She carried on with her homework after a long day.
Other ways to say: Keep moving, go forward
Fun Fact/Origin: This phrase was used often during war to keep morale strong.
Usage: Used to encourage people to keep going.
36. Grin and bear it
Meaning: To put up with something painful or hard without complaining.
Example Sentence:
• He grinned and bore it during his dentist visit.
• She grinned and bore it during her long dance rehearsal.
Other ways to say: Deal with it, push through
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from old English sayings about handling pain.
Usage: Used when someone stays strong even when it’s hard.
37. Keep plugging away
Meaning: To keep working little by little.
Example Sentence:
• He kept plugging away at his writing assignment.
• She kept plugging away and finished the puzzle.
Other ways to say: Keep trying, don’t stop
Fun Fact/Origin: “Plug away” comes from steady effort, like plugging holes.
Usage: Used when someone keeps working steadily.
38. Stay the course
Meaning: To keep going until the job is done.
Example Sentence:
• She stayed the course and finished her science project.
• He stayed the course and made the team.
Other ways to say: Finish strong, don’t stop
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from sailing — staying on the path despite rough waters.
Usage: Used when someone keeps going and finishes what they start.
Quiz: Idioms About Overcoming Challenges
Instructions: Choose the best meaning for each idiom. Pick A, B, or C.
Question Key
1. What does “hang in there” mean?
a) Climb a tree
b) Don’t give up
c) Go to sleep
2. What does it mean to “weather the storm”?
a) Hide from the rain
b) Stay inside
c) Get through a hard time
3. If someone says “bite the bullet,” what do they mean?
a) Eat something quickly
b) Do something hard without complaining
c) Argue with someone
4. When someone “goes the extra mile,” what are they doing?
a) Driving far
b) Doing more than needed
c) Running late
5. What does “get back on your feet” mean?
a) Stand up after sitting
b) Recover after something hard
c) Jump in place
6. If a person says “keep your chin up,” what are they telling you?
a) Be happy and strong
b) Look for something
c) Stretch your neck
7. What does “face the music” mean?
a) Listen to a song
b) Play an instrument
c) Accept the results of your actions
8. What does “push through” mean?
a) Go through a door
b) Keep trying even when it’s tough
c) Knock something over
9. If you “roll with the punches,” what are you doing?
a) Playing a game
b) Fighting back
c) Adjusting to problems
10. What does “step up to the plate” mean?
a) Eat your dinner
b) Take responsibility
c) Do a trick
11. What does “grin and bear it” mean?
a) Smile and deal with something hard
b) Laugh at something funny
c) Be mean to someone
12. What does “sink or swim” mean?
a) Go to the pool
b) Try something and either succeed or fail
c) Take swimming lessons
13. What does “stay the course” mean?
a) Finish what you start
b) Change your mind
c) Go off track
Answer Key
- b) Don’t give up
- c) Get through a hard time
- b) Do something hard without complaining
- b) Doing more than needed
- b) Recover after something hard
- a) Be happy and strong
- c) Accept the results of your actions
- b) Keep trying even when it’s tough
- c) Adjusting to problems
- b) Take responsibility
- a) Smile and deal with something hard
- b) Try something and either succeed or fail
- a) Finish what you start
Wrapping Up
Idioms help people in the USA talk about tough times in a smart and simple way. When things get hard, these short phrases can remind us to stay strong and keep going. You might hear them in school, at home, or even on the news. They can give hope and show that challenges don’t last forever.
Learning idioms about overcoming challenges helps kids understand how to handle problems better. Whether you’re having a hard day or working on something big, these sayings can help you feel ready to try again. Keep using them and sharing them — they’re a great way to talk about strength, courage, and not giving up.
