Have you ever thought about what might happen tomorrow or next year? Thinking about the future can be exciting, like dreaming of a fun trip or planning your birthday party. People often use special phrases to talk about these future hopes and plans. These phrases are called idioms. They make talking about the future more fun and easier to understand.
In this article, we’ll look at many idioms people use when they talk about things that haven’t happened yet. These sayings can help us share our ideas and dreams in a clear way. Whether you’re thinking about school, sports, or what job you might have someday, these idioms will help you talk about it better.
Idioms About Future
1. In the long run
Meaning: After a long time has passed
Example Sentence:
• Studying hard will help you in the long run.
• Eating healthy is better for you in the long run.
Other ways to say: Over time, in the end
Fun Fact/Origin: This comes from racing, where what matters is how you finish, not how fast you start.
Usage: Use when talking about results that show up later.
2. Down the road
Meaning: In the future
Example Sentence:
• We might buy a new house down the road.
• He wants to be a doctor down the road.
Other ways to say: Later, in the future
Fun Fact/Origin: It comes from imagining life as a journey down a road.
Usage: Use when talking about something that will happen someday.
3. Time will tell
Meaning: We will know in the future
Example Sentence:
• Time will tell if our plan works.
• Time will tell if he made the right choice.
Other ways to say: We’ll see, wait and find out
Fun Fact/Origin: First used hundreds of years ago, it means time gives answers.
Usage: Use when unsure about something now.
4. Ahead of your time
Meaning: Having ideas before others are ready
Example Sentence:
• Her art was ahead of its time.
• He had ideas that were ahead of his time.
Other ways to say: Too early, advanced thinking
Fun Fact/Origin: Used when people don’t understand someone’s smart idea until later.
Usage: Use when someone is creative or smart early on.
5. In the pipeline
Meaning: Being planned or worked on
Example Sentence:
• A new game is in the pipeline.
• We have fun events in the pipeline at school.
Other ways to say: Coming soon, on the way
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from how pipes carry things that are on their way.
Usage: Use when something is being made or planned.
6. The shape of things to come
Meaning: A sign of what might happen
Example Sentence:
• The new tools show the shape of things to come.
• These ideas are the shape of things to come.
Other ways to say: A preview, a hint of the future
Fun Fact/Origin: Popular phrase from a book and movie about the future.
Usage: Use when something gives a clue about the future.
7. Just around the corner
Meaning: Coming soon
Example Sentence:
• Summer break is just around the corner.
• The new movie is just around the corner.
Other ways to say: Coming up, almost here
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from the idea that something hidden will show up when you turn the corner.
Usage: Use when something is very close to happening.
8. On the horizon
Meaning: Likely to happen soon
Example Sentence:
• Big changes are on the horizon.
• A storm is on the horizon.
Other ways to say: About to happen, coming soon
Fun Fact/Origin: Refers to seeing something far away but coming closer.
Usage: Use when talking about something likely to happen soon.
9. Plan ahead
Meaning: Think about the future and prepare
Example Sentence:
• You should plan ahead for your science project.
• We planned ahead for the trip.
Other ways to say: Get ready early, think ahead
Fun Fact/Origin: Used often in travel and weather reports.
Usage: Use when talking about being ready for what’s next.
10. Looking ahead
Meaning: Thinking about the future
Example Sentence:
• Looking ahead, we’ll need more supplies.
• Looking ahead, he hopes to be a pilot.
Other ways to say: Planning for the future, thinking ahead
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from the idea of turning your gaze forward.
Usage: Use when focusing on what will happen later.
11. The best is yet to come
Meaning: Good things are still ahead
Example Sentence:
• Don’t worry—the best is yet to come.
• The best part of the day is yet to come.
Other ways to say: More good things will happen, stay hopeful
Fun Fact/Origin: Often used in songs and speeches.
Usage: Use to give hope about the future.
12. A matter of time
Meaning: Something will happen soon
Example Sentence:
• It’s just a matter of time before he wins.
• A snow day is only a matter of time.
Other ways to say: Bound to happen, will happen soon
Fun Fact/Origin: It means waiting is all that’s left.
Usage: Use when you know something will happen.
13. The future is bright
Meaning: Good things are ahead
Example Sentence:
• She studies hard, so her future is bright.
• With this new team, our future is bright.
Other ways to say: Good things are coming, hopeful future
Fun Fact/Origin: A “bright” future means clear and happy.
Usage: Use when someone has many chances to do well.
14. Light at the end of the tunnel
Meaning: A sign things will get better
Example Sentence:
• We’re almost done with tests—there’s light at the end of the tunnel.
• After all the hard work, we see the light at the end of the tunnel.
Other ways to say: Hope, things are improving
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from tunnels where you see the exit light.
Usage: Use when a tough time is almost over.
15. By and by
Meaning: After some time
Example Sentence:
• By and by, she became good at reading.
• By and by, he learned to ride a bike.
Other ways to say: Slowly over time, eventually
Fun Fact/Origin: An old phrase that means “sometime later.”
Usage: Use when something happens little by little.
16. On the drawing board
Meaning: Still being planned or thought about
Example Sentence:
• The new park is still on the drawing board.
• Our project ideas are on the drawing board right now.
Other ways to say: In the planning stage, not ready yet
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from when people used drawing boards to plan buildings.
Usage: Use when something is still in the idea stage.
17. In store
Meaning: Something is waiting to happen
Example Sentence:
• We don’t know what’s in store for tomorrow.
• She’s excited to see what’s in store this year.
Other ways to say: Coming up, waiting to happen
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from stores keeping things for later use.
Usage: Use when talking about what might happen.
18. On track
Meaning: Going the right way for the future
Example Sentence:
• He’s on track to finish his book this month.
• We are on track to win the prize.
Other ways to say: Doing well, moving in the right direction
Fun Fact/Origin: From train tracks, meaning staying on the right path.
Usage: Use when things are going as planned.
19. The days ahead
Meaning: The near future
Example Sentence:
• We have lots to do in the days ahead.
• In the days ahead, she’ll learn to play piano.
Other ways to say: Coming days, upcoming time
Fun Fact/Origin: A simple way to talk about future days.
Usage: Use when thinking about the near future.
20. Sooner or later
Meaning: Something will happen eventually
Example Sentence:
• Sooner or later, it will stop raining.
• He’ll clean his room sooner or later.
Other ways to say: Eventually, in time
Fun Fact/Origin: This phrase means that time will bring it.
Usage: Use when something will happen but you’re not sure when.
21. In due time
Meaning: After enough time has passed
Example Sentence:
• You’ll get your turn in due time.
• She will learn it in due time.
Other ways to say: Later, when the time is right
Fun Fact/Origin: It means “when it’s the proper time.”
Usage: Use to say something will happen when ready.
22. Lay the groundwork
Meaning: To prepare for something in the future
Example Sentence:
• They’re laying the groundwork for a new park.
• She laid the groundwork for her science fair project.
Other ways to say: Get ready, prepare early
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from a building, where the ground must be ready first.
Usage: Use when starting something big.
23. The road ahead
Meaning: The future path or what’s next
Example Sentence:
• The road ahead won’t be easy, but we’ll do our best.
• We don’t know what the road ahead will bring.
Other ways to say: Future journey, what’s next
Fun Fact/Origin: Based on walking or driving forward into the future.
Usage: Use when thinking about what will happen next.
24. A step in the right direction
Meaning: A good start or choice
Example Sentence:
• Studying more is a step in the right direction.
• Joining the club is a step in the right direction.
Other ways to say: Good progress, smart move
Fun Fact/Origin: From walking—if you take steps in the right way, you’ll get where you want to go.
Usage: Use when someone is making good progress.
25. From here on out
Meaning: Starting now and into the future
Example Sentence:
• From here on out, I’ll do my homework on time.
• From here on out, we’ll eat dinner earlier.
Other ways to say: Starting now, going forward
Fun Fact/Origin: Simple way of marking a fresh start.
Usage: Use when starting a new habit or change.
26. Turn over a new leaf
Meaning: Start fresh or try to be better
Example Sentence:
• He turned over a new leaf by being on time.
• She turned over a new leaf and started studying more.
Other ways to say: Make a fresh start, change for the better
Fun Fact/Origin: The “leaf” means a page in a book. Turning it means starting new.
Usage: Use when someone is trying to improve.
27. Leave the past behind
Meaning: Forget the old and move forward
Example Sentence:
• He left the past behind and made new friends.
• She left the past behind after moving schools.
Other ways to say: Move on, start fresh
Fun Fact/Origin: A way of saying to focus on what’s next, not what already happened.
Usage: Use when someone chooses to move forward.
28. Set your sights on
Meaning: Decide on a future goal
Example Sentence:
• She set her sights on becoming a vet.
• He set his sights on joining the basketball team.
Other ways to say: Aim for, go after
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from aiming a tool or weapon at a target.
Usage: Use when someone has a clear future goal.
Quiz: Idioms About Future
Instructions: Choose the best answer for each question. Each question checks if you understand the idioms about the future. Pick A, B, or C.
Question Key
1. What does “just around the corner” mean?
A) It already happened
B) It will happen very soon
C) It is far away
2. If someone says, “time will tell,” what do they mean?
A) You can find out now
B) You must ask someone else
C) You will find out later
3. What does “on track” mean?
A) Moving the wrong way
B) Doing the right things for the future
C) Sitting still
4. What does “lay the groundwork” mean?
A) Clean the floor
B) Get ready for something
C) Stop working
5. If your goal is “just a step in the right direction,” what does that mean?
A) You are going backward
B) You made a small mistake
C) You are starting to do the right thing
6. What does “the best is yet to come” mean?
A) The best part already happened
B) Nothing good is coming
C) Something great will happen in the future
7. If something is “on the horizon,” what does it mean?
A) It happened yesterday
B) It is about to happen
C) It is hiding forever
8. What does “leave the past behind” mean?
A) Think about the past every day
B) Try to forget old problems and move on
C) Keep talking about past mistakes
9. What does “set your sights on” mean?
A) Forget your goal
B) Pick a new dream to chase
C) Aim for something in the future
10. If something is “in the pipeline,” what does it mean?
A) It is stuck
B) It is being planned or worked on
C) It is broken
Answer Key
- B) It will happen very soon
- C) You will find out later
- B) Doing the right things for the future
- B) Get ready for something
- C) You are starting to do the right thing
- C) Something great will happen in the future
- B) It is about to happen
- B) Try to forget old problems and move on
- C) Aim for something in the future
- B) It is being planned or worked on
Wrapping Up
Talking about the future helps us dream, plan, and stay hopeful. These idioms make it easier to share ideas about what might happen next. When we hear or use phrases like “the best is yet to come” or “on the horizon,” we feel ready for new things. These sayings are part of how we think ahead and stay positive.
Now you can use these future idioms in school, with friends, or in stories. They help us say big ideas in a short, fun way. Keep learning and using them—you’ll sound like a pro!
