When people try hard to reach a goal, they often use special words to talk about their strong will. These words are called idioms. Idioms are fun phrases that don’t always mean what they say. They help us talk about things in a more interesting way.
In this article, you’ll learn idioms that show what it means to never give up. These idioms talk about being strong, staying focused, and not quitting. You’ll see how people use them in everyday life, like in school, sports, or when working hard on something important.
Idioms About Determination
1. Burn the midnight oil
Meaning: To stay up late working
Example Sentence:
• She burned the midnight oil to finish her science project.
• Dad burned the midnight oil to meet his work deadline.
Other ways to say: Stay up late working, work overtime
Fun Fact/Origin: Long ago, people used oil lamps to work at night.
Usage: When someone works late into the night.
2. Keep your chin up
Meaning: Stay brave and positive
Example Sentence:
• Even after losing the game, he kept his chin up.
• She kept her chin up during a tough day at school.
Other ways to say: Stay strong, don’t give up
Fun Fact/Origin: Soldiers were told this to show confidence.
Usage: When someone stays strong during hard times.
3. Hang in there
Meaning: Don’t quit
Example Sentence:
• I know math is hard, but hang in there.
• Hang in there—the weekend is almost here.
Other ways to say: Don’t give up, keep trying
Fun Fact/Origin: Became popular during tough times to encourage others.
Usage: When someone needs support to keep going.
4. Go the extra mile
Meaning: Do more than expected
Example Sentence:
• She went the extra mile by adding pictures to her report.
• He went the extra mile to help his friend with homework.
Other ways to say: Try harder, do more
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from ancient Rome where soldiers had to march more.
Usage: When someone puts in extra effort.
5. Stick to your guns
Meaning: Keep your beliefs even when it’s hard
Example Sentence:
• He stuck to his guns and said no to cheating.
• She stuck to her guns about eating healthy.
Other ways to say: Stand firm, hold your ground
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from battle times where soldiers stayed by their weapons.
Usage: When someone doesn’t change their mind.
6. Bite the bullet
Meaning: Do something hard with courage
Example Sentence:
• She bit the bullet and got her flu shot.
• He bit the bullet and told the truth.
Other ways to say: Be brave, face it
Fun Fact/Origin: Soldiers bit bullets during pain before anesthesia.
Usage: When facing something difficult or scary.
7. Put your nose to the grindstone
Meaning: Work very hard
Example Sentence:
• He put his nose to the grindstone and studied all weekend.
• She put her nose to the grindstone to finish her painting.
Other ways to say: Work hard, focus
Fun Fact/Origin: Refers to sharpening tools by grinding.
Usage: When someone is very focused and busy.
8. Tough it out
Meaning: Keep going through something hard
Example Sentence:
• He toughed it out during football practice in the heat.
• She toughed it out and didn’t cry at the dentist.
Other ways to say: Be strong, stick with it
Fun Fact/Origin: Used in military and sports settings.
Usage: When someone doesn’t quit during hard times.
9. Dig in your heels
Meaning: Refuse to give up or change
Example Sentence:
• She dug in her heels about finishing the puzzle.
• He dug in his heels and kept trying to win.
Other ways to say: Be firm, hold on
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from horses stopping fast.
Usage: When someone strongly sticks to their plan.
10. Rise to the occasion
Meaning: Do well when it’s needed most
Example Sentence:
• He rose to the occasion and helped his team win.
• She rose to the occasion during the spelling bee.
Other ways to say: Step up, do your best
Fun Fact/Origin: From sports or challenges where effort matters most.
Usage: When someone shines in a tough moment.
11. Never say die
Meaning: Don’t give up
Example Sentence:
• He had a never-say-die attitude in every game.
• She showed a never-say-die spirit in math class.
Other ways to say: Don’t quit, keep fighting
Fun Fact/Origin: Used in sports and war to show strong will.
Usage: When someone keeps trying no matter what.
12. Pick yourself up
Meaning: Start again after failing
Example Sentence:
• He picked himself up after falling off his bike.
• She picked herself up after losing the race.
Other ways to say: Try again, recover
Fun Fact/Origin: From getting back on your feet after a fall.
Usage: When someone doesn’t let failure stop them.
13. See it through
Meaning: Finish something, even if it’s hard
Example Sentence:
• She saw it through and completed the puzzle.
• He saw it through by finishing his book report.
Other ways to say: Finish what you start, stick with it
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from battle orders or missions.
Usage: When someone keeps going to the end.
14. Up against a wall
Meaning: In a tough situation
Example Sentence:
• We were up against a wall when the computer broke.
• She was up against a wall with all the homework.
Other ways to say: In trouble, stuck
Fun Fact/Origin: From being trapped with no escape.
Usage: When someone faces a hard challenge.
15. Break a sweat
Meaning: Try hard
Example Sentence:
• He broke a sweat running around the track.
• She broke a sweat learning to skateboard.
Other ways to say: Put in effort, work hard
Fun Fact/Origin: From exercise—people sweat when working hard.
Usage: When someone puts in real effort.
16. Face the music
Meaning: Accept the results of your actions
Example Sentence:
• He faced the music after not studying for the test.
• She faced the music when her prank was discovered.
Other ways to say: Take responsibility, deal with it
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from soldiers stepping forward to hear judgment.
Usage: When someone deals with the result of a choice.
17. Made of steel
Meaning: Very strong and brave
Example Sentence:
• She’s made of steel—nothing scares her.
• He’s made of steel when it comes to pressure.
Other ways to say: Tough, strong
Fun Fact/Origin: Steel is one of the strongest metals.
Usage: When someone doesn’t break under stress.
18. Weather the storm
Meaning: Get through a hard time
Example Sentence:
• We weathered the storm during the power outage.
• She weathered the storm of missing her friends.
Other ways to say: Get through it, survive a challenge
Fun Fact/Origin: From ships surviving bad weather at sea.
Usage: When someone gets past a tough problem.
19. Push through
Meaning: Keep going even when it’s hard
Example Sentence:
• He pushed through the tiredness to finish.
• She pushed through the fear of speaking.
Other ways to say: Keep going, don’t stop
Fun Fact/Origin: From sports and fitness training.
Usage: When someone doesn’t let difficulty stop them.
20. One step at a time
Meaning: Go slowly and don’t rush
Example Sentence:
• She learned the dance one step at a time.
• He took one step at a time to solve the puzzle.
Other ways to say: Go slowly, take it easy
Fun Fact/Origin: From walking or climbing.
Usage: When someone needs patience and focus.
21. Run the gauntlet
Meaning: Go through many challenges
Example Sentence:
• He ran the gauntlet of questions in class.
• She ran the gauntlet during swim tryouts.
Other ways to say: Face trials, overcome many things
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from an old punishment where soldiers ran between lines.
Usage: When someone faces many hard tasks.
22. In it for the long haul
Meaning: Ready to work hard for a long time
Example Sentence:
• She was in it for the long haul to learn piano.
• He’s in it for the long haul with football.
Other ways to say: Committed, staying with it
Fun Fact/Origin: Haul means a long trip in transport.
Usage: When someone won’t quit early.
23. Keep plugging away
Meaning: Keep working even if slow
Example Sentence:
• He kept plugging away at his homework.
• She plugged away at the puzzle until it was done.
Other ways to say: Keep going, don’t give up
Fun Fact/Origin: From the word “plug” meaning to continue steadily.
Usage: When someone works slowly but surely.
24. Blood, sweat, and tears
Meaning: Lots of hard work
Example Sentence:
• He gave blood, sweat, and tears for the team.
• She put blood, sweat, and tears into her art.
Other ways to say: Total effort, work hard
Fun Fact/Origin: Famous phrase used by leaders in tough times.
Usage: When someone gives their all.
25. Get back on the horse
Meaning: Try again after failing
Example Sentence:
• He got back on the horse after falling off the bike.
• She got back on the horse after missing the goal.
Other ways to say: Try again, don’t give up
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from riders who fall and try again.
Usage: When someone doesn’t let failure stop them.
26. Keep your eye on the ball
Meaning: Stay focused
Example Sentence:
• He kept his eye on the ball during the test.
• She kept her eye on the ball during the project.
Other ways to say: Stay focused, pay attention
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from sports like baseball.
Usage: When someone concentrates.
27. All in
Meaning: Giving everything you’ve got
Example Sentence:
• He was all in during the final round.
• She went all in on her science project.
Other ways to say: Fully committed, total effort
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from gambling, meaning to risk everything.
Usage: When someone gives full effort.
28. Keep at it
Meaning: Don’t stop trying
Example Sentence:
• She kept at it until she could do a handstand.
• He kept at it with his reading goal.
Other ways to say: Keep going, continue
Fun Fact/Origin: Simple everyday phrase used by parents and teachers.
Usage: When someone is being encouraged to keep trying.
29. Pull yourself together
Meaning: Regain control
Example Sentence:
• He pulled himself together before speaking.
• She pulled herself together after losing the game.
Other ways to say: Calm down, focus again
Fun Fact/Origin: From getting emotions or actions back in order.
Usage: When someone is upset but regains focus.
30. Stay the course
Meaning: Keep going to the end
Example Sentence:
• He stayed the course and finished the race.
• She stayed the course through the school year.
Other ways to say: Don’t quit, finish what you start
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from sailing—keeping the same path.
Usage: When someone doesn’t change or give up.
Quiz: Idioms About Determination
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 “burn the midnight oil” mean?
A) Sleep early
B) Work late into the night
C) Turn off the lights
2. If someone says “hang in there,” what do they mean?
A) Quit quickly
B) Try harder next time
C) Don’t give up
3. What does it mean to “go the extra mile”?
A) Walk more for fun
B) Do more than expected
C) Stop when you’re tired
4. If you “stick to your guns,” what are you doing?
A) Changing your mind
B) Staying firm in what you believe
C) Learning to shoot
5. When someone “sees it through,” what are they doing?
A) Looking at a window
B) Giving up early
C) Finishing something hard
6. What does “weather the storm” mean?
A) Stay safe in real rain
B) Get through hard times
C) Dance in the rain
7. If a student “puts their nose to the grindstone,” what are they doing?
A) Sleeping at school
B) Working very hard
C) Eating lunch
8. What does “get back on the horse” mean?
A) Ride again
B) Try again after failing
C) Visit a farm
9. When someone says “keep your eye on the ball,” what are they telling you?
A) Focus and stay alert
B) Watch sports
C) Close your eyes
10. What does it mean to be “in it for the long haul”?
A) Quit soon
B) Stay with it until the end
C) Go for a quick win
Answer Key
- B) Work late into the night
- C) Don’t give up
- B) Do more than expected
- B) Staying firm in what you believe
- C) Finishing something hard
- B) Get through hard times
- B) Working very hard
- B) Try again after failing
- A) Focus and stay alert
- B) Stay with it until the end
Wrapping Up
Idioms about determination help us understand how people stay strong, even when things get hard. These short phrases can remind us to keep going, try our best, and never quit. Whether you’re doing homework, playing a sport, or helping a friend, these sayings can guide you to do your best.
Next time something feels tough, remember one of these idioms. They’re like small words of wisdom that cheer you on.
