Setting goals is like aiming for a target. People make goals to help them grow, learn, or achieve something important. Goals can be small, like finishing homework, or big, like becoming a teacher or athlete. When someone works hard to reach their goal, we often use special phrases called idioms to describe their effort. These idioms make our language more colorful and fun. They help us explain what it feels like to try hard, not give up, or finally succeed.
In this article, we will learn about idioms for achieving goals. These idioms are used in everyday talk, especially when people are working toward something. You’ll see how these idioms show determination, teamwork, and success. Let’s explore how people in the U.S. use these sayings to talk about reaching goals.
Idioms for Achieving Goals
1. Hit the ground running
Meaning: Start something with energy and readiness
Example Sentence:
– She hit the ground running on her first day of soccer practice.
– The new student hit the ground running and joined two clubs right away.
Other ways to say: Start strong, begin quickly
Fun Fact/Origin: This phrase comes from soldiers or athletes who begin moving fast as soon as they land.
Usage: Used when someone starts a task with lots of energy
2. Go the extra mile
Meaning: Do more than what is expected
Example Sentence:
– He went the extra mile by helping his team clean up after the game.
– She always goes the extra mile to make her school projects look great.
Other ways to say: Put in extra effort, work harder
Fun Fact/Origin: This idiom comes from the Bible and Roman times, meaning to walk further than required.
Usage: Used when someone puts in more effort than needed
3. Keep your eyes on the prize
Meaning: Stay focused on your goal
Example Sentence:
– Even when practice was tough, she kept her eyes on the prize.
– He kept his eyes on the prize and passed all his exams.
Other ways to say: Stay focused, don’t give up
Fun Fact/Origin: This phrase became popular during the civil rights movement as a song title.
Usage: Used when encouraging someone to focus on their goal
4. Climb the ladder
Meaning: Move up to a better position or level
Example Sentence:
– She wants to climb the ladder in the student council.
– He’s climbing the ladder at his after-school job.
Other ways to say: Move up, rise
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from the idea of moving up one step at a time like climbing a ladder
Usage: Used when someone works their way up in school or work
5. Burn the midnight oil
Meaning: Stay up late working hard
Example Sentence:
– He burned the midnight oil studying for the math test.
– She burned the midnight oil to finish her art project.
Other ways to say: Stay up late working, study late
Fun Fact/Origin: This phrase comes from when people used oil lamps to work at night
Usage: Used when someone works hard late at night
6. Move the needle
Meaning: Make a noticeable improvement
Example Sentence:
– Their recycling project really moved the needle at school.
– His ideas moved the needle in the science fair.
Other ways to say: Make progress, have an effect
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from how a needle on a scale or meter moves when there’s a change
Usage: Used when someone makes real progress
7. Break new ground
Meaning: Do something no one has done before
Example Sentence:
– She broke new ground with her creative art style.
– Their class broke new ground by starting a garden at school.
Other ways to say: Try something new, start something big
Fun Fact/Origin: Originally used in farming when turning soil for the first time
Usage: Used when someone begins something new and exciting
8. Get the ball rolling
Meaning: Start an activity or project
Example Sentence:
– He got the ball rolling on the fundraiser.
– Let’s get the ball rolling and clean up the playground.
Other ways to say: Start, begin
Fun Fact/Origin: Likely comes from sports like bowling or marbles
Usage: Used when starting a task or group effort
9. Pull out all the stops
Meaning: Use all effort and resources
Example Sentence:
– They pulled out all the stops for the school play.
– She pulled out all the stops to win the spelling bee.
Other ways to say: Try everything, give your best
Fun Fact/Origin: From old organs where “stops” controlled sound; pulling them all made it loudest
Usage: Used when giving full effort
10. Reach for the stars
Meaning: Aim for a big goal or dream
Example Sentence:
– She’s reaching for the stars by applying to top colleges.
– He always tells his friends to reach for the stars.
Other ways to say: Dream big, aim high
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from the idea of aiming as high as the stars in the sky
Usage: Used to encourage someone to set big goals
11. Rise to the occasion
Meaning: Perform well during a challenge
Example Sentence:
– He rose to the occasion during the school spelling bee.
– She rose to the occasion when her team needed her most.
Other ways to say: Step up, meet the challenge
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from the idea of rising up when needed, especially in sports or battles
Usage: Used when someone performs well under pressure
12. Hit the mark
Meaning: Succeed or get something exactly right
Example Sentence:
– Her science project hit the mark with the judges.
– He hit the mark with his final essay.
Other ways to say: Succeed, get it right
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from archery where hitting the mark means perfect aim
Usage: Used when someone gets something exactly right
13. Put your best foot forward
Meaning: Try your hardest to make a good impression
Example Sentence:
– He put his best foot forward on the first day of class.
– She put her best foot forward in the talent show.
Other ways to say: Do your best, give a good start
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from walking or dancing where the first step matters
Usage: Used when someone tries to show their best side
14. Stay on track
Meaning: Keep working toward a goal without getting distracted
Example Sentence:
– She stayed on track with her reading plan.
– They stayed on track and finished their group project early.
Other ways to say: Keep going, don’t get off course
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from trains staying on their rails
Usage: Used to describe steady progress
15. Ace it
Meaning: Do something very well
Example Sentence:
– He aced his math test.
– She aced her tryout for the school band.
Other ways to say: Do great, succeed
Fun Fact/Origin: “Ace” in sports or cards means top or best
Usage: Used when someone performs very well
16. Step up your game
Meaning: Improve how well you are doing
Example Sentence:
– He stepped up his game before the big test.
– She stepped up her game during the soccer season.
Other ways to say: Improve, do better
Fun Fact/Origin: From sports when players need to try harder
Usage: Used when someone needs to improve to succeed
17. Make the cut
Meaning: Be chosen or good enough
Example Sentence:
– She made the cut for the swim team.
– Only five students made the cut for the honor roll.
Other ways to say: Be selected, pass the test
Fun Fact/Origin: Used in sports and shows to mean passing tryouts
Usage: Used when someone is chosen after a test or tryout
18. Blow it out of the water
Meaning: Do something very well and better than expected
Example Sentence:
– He blew it out of the water with his science fair display.
– The team blew it out of the water at the championship.
Other ways to say: Do amazingly well, impress
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from war when something is destroyed completely
Usage: Used when performance is much better than expected
19. Leave no stone unturned
Meaning: Try every possible way
Example Sentence:
– She left no stone unturned in her search for the lost book.
– He left no stone unturned preparing for the spelling bee.
Other ways to say: Try everything, be thorough
Fun Fact/Origin: From an old saying meaning to search everywhere
Usage: Used when someone tries everything to succeed
20. On the right track
Meaning: Doing things the correct way
Example Sentence:
– You’re on the right track with your math work.
– Their team is on the right track to win the quiz contest.
Other ways to say: Doing well, going the right way
Fun Fact/Origin: Related to staying on a train’s track or path
Usage: Used when someone is progressing the right way
21. Bite the bullet
Meaning: Do something hard without complaining
Example Sentence:
– He bit the bullet and told the truth about the broken window.
– She bit the bullet and asked for extra homework to catch up.
Other ways to say: Tough it out, face it
Fun Fact/Origin: In old times, soldiers bit bullets to handle pain during surgery
Usage: Used when someone does something difficult bravely
22. Face the music
Meaning: Accept the results of your actions
Example Sentence:
– He had to face the music after skipping his homework.
– She faced the music when her project was late.
Other ways to say: Accept the consequences, deal with it
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from stage performances, where facing music meant performing
Usage: Used when someone must deal with the results of their actions
23. Bring your A-game
Meaning: Try your hardest and do your best
Example Sentence:
– She brought her A-game to the school talent show.
– He brought his A-game for the big soccer match.
Other ways to say: Give your best effort, try hard
Fun Fact/Origin: The letter “A” often means excellent or top performance
Usage: Used when someone gives their best effort
24. Make it happen
Meaning: Take action to reach a goal
Example Sentence:
– He made it happen by raising money for the school trip.
– She made it happen by getting the team to work together.
Other ways to say: Get it done, take action
Fun Fact/Origin: Commonly used in business or sports to push for success
Usage: Used when someone turns a goal into a result
25. Get over the hump
Meaning: Get past the most difficult part
Example Sentence:
– We got over the hump after finishing the rough draft.
– She got over the hump in her training and felt confident.
Other ways to say: Pass the hard part, move forward
Fun Fact/Origin: “Hump” refers to a small hill or challenge in your path
Usage: Used when a task becomes easier after a hard part
26. Light a fire under someone
Meaning: Motivate someone to act
Example Sentence:
– The coach lit a fire under the team to try harder.
– Her mom lit a fire under her to finish her chores.
Other ways to say: Push to act, motivate
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from the idea of heat causing fast movement
Usage: Used when someone is encouraged to take quick action
27. Push the envelope
Meaning: Try something bold or new
Example Sentence:
– She pushed the envelope with her creative science project.
– He pushed the envelope in his writing by trying a new style.
Other ways to say: Take a risk, try something different
Fun Fact/Origin: From aviation, meaning to test limits of an aircraft
Usage: Used when someone tries something beyond the usual
28. Be on fire
Meaning: Perform very well
Example Sentence:
– He was on fire during the quiz contest.
– She was on fire at basketball practice.
Other ways to say: Doing great, unstoppable
Fun Fact/Origin: Fire is used to describe something fast and powerful
Usage: Used when someone is doing very well
29. Reach a milestone
Meaning: Reach an important point in a goal
Example Sentence:
– She reached a milestone by finishing her first book.
– He reached a milestone by earning his first trophy.
Other ways to say: Reach a goal step, important point
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from markers used to show distance on roads
Usage: Used when someone achieves an important step
30. Knuckle down
Meaning: Focus and work hard
Example Sentence:
– He knuckled down to study for finals.
– She knuckled down and finished her project early.
Other ways to say: Buckle down, get serious
Fun Fact/Origin: From the act of placing knuckles on the ground to start marbles
Usage: Used when someone starts working seriously
31. Give it your all
Meaning: Try your hardest
Example Sentence:
– She gave it her all in the dance performance.
– He gave it his all during the big game.
Other ways to say: Try your best, put in full effort
Fun Fact/Origin: “All” refers to every bit of effort you can give
Usage: Used when someone puts in full effort
32. See it through
Meaning: Finish what you started
Example Sentence:
– He saw the project through even when it got tough.
– She saw her reading challenge through to the end.
Other ways to say: Follow through, complete it
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from seeing something to the end, like watching a movie
Usage: Used when someone keeps going to finish something
33. Shoot for the moon
Meaning: Aim for something very big
Example Sentence:
– She’s shooting for the moon by trying for a big scholarship.
– He shoots for the moon every time he sets a goal.
Other ways to say: Dream big, aim high
Fun Fact/Origin: Moon is far away, so trying to reach it means a big goal
Usage: Used to encourage aiming high
34. Take it up a notch
Meaning: Try harder or improve
Example Sentence:
– She took it up a notch in the final round.
– He took it up a notch in his speech.
Other ways to say: Step it up, do better
Fun Fact/Origin: “Notch” refers to a small level or mark on a scale
Usage: Used when someone improves effort or performance
35. Bring something to the table
Meaning: Offer skills or help
Example Sentence:
– He brings great ideas to the group project.
– She brings leadership to the team.
Other ways to say: Add value, contribute
Fun Fact/Origin: From business meetings where everyone offers ideas
Usage: Used when someone adds something useful
36. Get ahead of the game
Meaning: Be early or ready before others
Example Sentence:
– He got ahead of the game by doing his homework early.
– She got ahead of the game by studying before break.
Other ways to say: Be prepared, stay ahead
Fun Fact/Origin: From sports, where being ahead means winning
Usage: Used when someone is early or ready
37. Finish strong
Meaning: End something with effort and success
Example Sentence:
– She finished strong in her reading challenge.
– He finished strong in the last race.
Other ways to say: End well, close with power
Fun Fact/Origin: Used in sports or races to show a good ending
Usage: Used to encourage strong effort at the end
38. Hold your own
Meaning: Do well even when others are strong
Example Sentence:
– He held his own against older players.
– She held her own during the quiz bowl.
Other ways to say: Compete well, stay strong
Fun Fact/Origin: From boxing and sports where standing firm is key
Usage: Used when someone stays steady and performs well
39. Be in the driver’s seat
Meaning: Be in control
Example Sentence:
– She’s in the driver’s seat of the school play.
– He’s in the driver’s seat of the science project.
Other ways to say: In charge, lead
Fun Fact/Origin: Driver’s seat controls the car, so it means being in control
Usage: Used when someone leads or makes decisions
40. Have a game plan
Meaning: Have a plan to reach a goal
Example Sentence:
– He had a game plan for his test.
– She had a game plan to finish her book.
Other ways to say: Strategy, step-by-step plan
Fun Fact/Origin: From sports where teams plan how to win
Usage: Used when someone has a clear plan
Quiz: Idioms for Achieving Goals
Instructions: Read each question and the answer choices carefully. Pick the letter that best matches the meaning of the phrase or expression.
Question Key
1. What does “hit the ground running” mean?
A) Fall down while running
B) Start something with energy
C) Take a break before starting
2. If someone “goes the extra mile,” what are they doing?
A) Walking longer than needed
B) Doing more than expected
C) Running in a race
3. What does it mean to “keep your eyes on the prize”?
A) Look for your prize in the room
B) Watch your friend win something
C) Stay focused on your goal
4. If someone “burns the midnight oil,” what are they doing?
A) Lighting candles
B) Staying up late working
C) Sleeping early
5. What does “pull out all the stops” mean?
A) Stop everything
B) Use all the effort and tools
C) Get a stop sign
6. If someone says “bring your A-game,” what do they mean?
A) Bring a board game
B) Bring snacks to the game
C) Do your very best
7. What does “climb the ladder” usually mean?
A) Go to the top of the playground
B) Move up to a better position
C) Clean the windows
8. If someone “faces the music,” what are they doing?
A) Listening to music
B) Dancing in class
C) Accepting the results of their actions
9. What does “reach for the stars” mean?
A) Stretch really high
B) Jump to touch the sky
C) Aim for something big
10. What does “have a game plan” mean?
A) Plan to play video games
B) Have a clear plan to succeed
C) Watch sports all day
Answer Key
- B) Start something with energy
- B) Doing more than expected
- C) Stay focused on your goal
- B) Staying up late working
- B) Use all the effort and tools
- C) Do your very best
- B) Move up to a better position
- C) Accepting the results of their actions
- C) Aim for something big
- B) Have a clear plan to succeed
Wrapping Up
Idioms are short and fun ways to say something big. When it comes to goals, people often use idioms to talk about working hard, doing your best, or not giving up. These phrases help make talking about success more exciting and easier to understand.
Now that you know 40 idioms for achieving goals, try using them in your own writing and conversations. They will make your words more colorful and show that you are ready to aim high and do your best. Keep practicing and remember, even small steps can lead to big wins.
