In the USA, people often use colorful expressions to talk about moving around. These phrases, called idioms, make language more fun and help people picture what is being said. They can describe walking, running, traveling, or even how fast or slow something happens. Knowing these idioms can make conversations more interesting and easier to understand.
Idioms about movement can be heard in everyday life — at school, at work, during sports, or in casual talks with friends. They are part of the way Americans share ideas in a lively way. In this article, we’ll explore some common idioms about movement, learn what they mean, and see how they can be used in daily conversations.
Idioms About Movement
1. Hit the road
Meaning: To start a trip or leave a place.
Example Sentence:
• We need to hit the road if we want to get to Chicago before dark.
• After dinner, they hit the road to drive back home.
Other ways to say: Leave, start a journey
Fun Fact/Origin: This phrase became popular in the USA in the 20th century with the rise of road travel.
Usage: Used when someone is about to begin traveling or heading somewhere.
2. On the move
Meaning: To be active or traveling from place to place.
Example Sentence:
• The firefighters were on the move all night during the storm.
• She’s always on the move with her busy job.
Other ways to say: Busy, traveling
Fun Fact/Origin: Often used in American sports and business to show constant activity.
Usage: Used to describe someone who is busy or going from one place to another.
3. Make tracks
Meaning: To leave quickly.
Example Sentence:
• We better make tracks before the rain starts.
• He made tracks as soon as the meeting ended.
Other ways to say: Hurry, get going
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from leaving footprints or tracks as you move.
Usage: Used when leaving quickly or in a hurry.
4. Get a move on
Meaning: To hurry up.
Example Sentence:
• Get a move on, or we’ll miss the bus.
• The coach told the team to get a move on during practice.
Other ways to say: Hurry, speed up
Fun Fact/Origin: A popular phrase in the USA to motivate someone to act faster.
Usage: Used to urge someone to do something more quickly.
5. Step it up
Meaning: To increase speed or effort.
Example Sentence:
• The runners stepped it up for the final lap.
• We need to step it up to finish the project on time.
Other ways to say: Go faster, put in more effort
Fun Fact/Origin: Common in American sports to encourage better performance.
Usage: Used when encouraging more effort or speed.
6. Shake a leg
Meaning: To hurry up or start moving.
Example Sentence:
• Come on, shake a leg, or we’ll be late for the movie.
• He told the kids to shake a leg and get ready for school.
Other ways to say: Move faster, get going
Fun Fact/Origin: Likely from sailors in the 19th century being told to get out of bed and start work.
Usage: Used to tell someone to hurry.
7. Pick up the pace
Meaning: To move faster.
Example Sentence:
• The hikers picked up the pace when it started to rain.
• You’ll have to pick up the pace if you want to win.
Other ways to say: Speed up, move quicker
Fun Fact/Origin: Often used in athletics and military training in the USA.
Usage: Used to encourage faster movement.
8. On the run
Meaning: Moving quickly or escaping.
Example Sentence:
• The kids were on the run, trying to catch the ice cream truck.
• He was on the run after winning the race.
Other ways to say: Running, escaping
Fun Fact/Origin: Also used in law enforcement to mean someone is avoiding capture.
Usage: Used for fast movement or when avoiding something.
9. Hit the ground running
Meaning: To start something quickly and with energy.
Example Sentence:
• She hit the ground running on her first day at work.
• The team hit the ground running after the meeting.
Other ways to say: Start fast, begin actively
Fun Fact/Origin: Military term for soldiers jumping from vehicles ready for action.
Usage: Used when beginning something with speed and energy.
10. Make a dash for it
Meaning: To run quickly to escape or reach something.
Example Sentence:
• They made a dash for it when the rain started.
• He made a dash for the bus before it left.
Other ways to say: Sprint, run fast
Fun Fact/Origin: Common in American English to describe quick movement toward a goal.
Usage: Used when moving quickly for a purpose.
11. Run out of steam
Meaning: To lose energy.
Example Sentence:
• The runner ran out of steam near the finish line.
• We ran out of steam after cleaning all day.
Other ways to say: Lose momentum, slow down
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from steam engines losing power when fuel runs low.
Usage: Used when someone slows down due to tiredness.
12. Go with the flow
Meaning: To move along without resisting change.
Example Sentence:
• We decided to go with the flow and see where the day took us.
• He goes with the flow when traveling.
Other ways to say: Adapt, follow along
Fun Fact/Origin: Popular in the USA during the 1960s counterculture movement.
Usage: Used when someone moves along with events without trying to control them.
13. Take it in stride
Meaning: To handle something calmly.
Example Sentence:
• She took the changes in stride.
• He took the long wait in stride.
Other ways to say: Stay calm, accept easily
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from walking or running smoothly without breaking pace.
Usage: Used when reacting calmly to challenges.
14. Make headway
Meaning: To move forward toward a goal.
Example Sentence:
• We made headway on the road trip.
• The hikers made headway through the forest.
Other ways to say: Progress, advance
Fun Fact/Origin: Sailing term for a ship moving forward.
Usage: Used when progress is made toward a goal.
15. Jump the gun
Meaning: To start before the proper time.
Example Sentence:
• He jumped the gun and started running before the whistle.
• They jumped the gun on announcing the news.
Other ways to say: Start early, act too soon
Fun Fact/Origin: From track races when runners start before the starting gun fires.
Usage: Used when acting too early.
16. Keep moving
Meaning: To continue without stopping.
Example Sentence:
• The hikers kept moving until they reached camp.
• We have to keep moving to stay on schedule.
Other ways to say: Continue, push forward
Fun Fact/Origin: Common in American travel and survival situations.
Usage: Used when urging steady progress.
17. Move mountains
Meaning: To achieve something very difficult.
Example Sentence:
• She moved mountains to make the event happen.
• They moved mountains to help the community.
Other ways to say: Achieve the impossible, accomplish a lot
Fun Fact/Origin: Biblical phrase used in the USA to show great effort.
Usage: Used when describing big achievements.
18. Pull ahead
Meaning: To move in front of others.
Example Sentence:
• The runner pulled ahead in the last lap.
• Our team pulled ahead in the race.
Other ways to say: Take the lead, move in front
Fun Fact/Origin: Often used in American politics and sports.
Usage: Used when gaining an advantage.
19. Take off
Meaning: To leave quickly or for something to become successful fast.
Example Sentence:
• The plane took off on time.
• Her career took off after the big movie role.
Other ways to say: Depart, launch
Fun Fact/Origin: Aviation term that became common in everyday English.
Usage: Used for both physical departure and rapid success.
20. Move up a gear
Meaning: To increase effort or speed.
Example Sentence:
• The cyclist moved up a gear for the last hill.
• We need to move up a gear to finish this job.
Other ways to say: Step it up, accelerate
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from driving, when shifting to a higher gear for more speed.
Usage: Used to describe increasing speed or effort.
21. In full swing
Meaning: At the busiest or most active point.
Example Sentence:
• The party was in full swing by midnight.
• The fair is in full swing this weekend.
Other ways to say: Fully active, going strong
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from the swinging motion of something moving at top speed.
Usage: Used when something is at its most active stage.
22. Head in the right direction
Meaning: To make progress toward a goal.
Example Sentence:
• We’re heading in the right direction with our plans.
• The hikers were heading in the right direction toward camp.
Other ways to say: Make progress, move forward
Fun Fact/Origin: Often used in both physical travel and personal goals in the USA.
Usage: Used when movement or actions are correct toward a goal.
23. Race against time
Meaning: To try to finish something before a deadline.
Example Sentence:
• The workers raced against time to fix the bridge.
• We were racing against time to catch the flight.
Other ways to say: Hurry, work fast
Fun Fact/Origin: Common in American emergency situations.
Usage: Used when speed is important to finish on time.
24. Go the extra mile
Meaning: To make more effort than expected.
Example Sentence:
• The teacher went the extra mile to help her students.
• He went the extra mile to make the party special.
Other ways to say: Work harder, do more
Fun Fact/Origin: From the Bible, meaning to do more than required.
Usage: Used to praise extra effort.
25. Stop in your tracks
Meaning: To stop suddenly.
Example Sentence:
• She stopped in her tracks when she saw the deer.
• The news stopped him in his tracks.
Other ways to say: Halt, pause suddenly
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from the image of leaving visible tracks and stopping suddenly.
Usage: Used when something makes someone stop immediately.
26. Follow in someone’s footsteps
Meaning: To do the same thing as someone else.
Example Sentence:
• He followed in his father’s footsteps and became a firefighter.
• She followed in her sister’s footsteps in playing soccer.
Other ways to say: Copy, imitate
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from literally walking in the path someone else took.
Usage: Used when someone takes a similar path in life.
27. Keep pace with
Meaning: To move at the same speed as something or someone.
Example Sentence:
• The small car kept pace with the traffic.
• He kept pace with his friend while running.
Other ways to say: Match speed, stay alongside
Fun Fact/Origin: Common in sports, travel, and education in the USA.
Usage: Used when matching someone’s speed or progress.
28. Cross that bridge when you come to it
Meaning: To deal with a problem when it happens, not before.
Example Sentence:
• We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it if the car breaks down.
• Don’t worry yet; cross that bridge when you come to it.
Other ways to say: Handle later, wait until necessary
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from travel, meaning you can’t cross a bridge until you reach it.
Usage: Used when deciding not to worry about something before it happens.
Quiz: Idioms About Movement
Instructions: Choose the correct meaning for each idiom. Each question has one correct answer. Use what you’ve learned from the idioms to find the best choice.
Question Key
1. What does “hit the road” mean?
a) To walk slowly
b) To start a trip or leave a place
c) To take a nap
2. If someone says “get a move on,” what are they telling you?
a) To work faster or hurry up
b) To relax and take a break
c) To stop moving
3. What does “pick up the pace” mean?
a) To slow down
b) To move faster
c) To stand still
4. When someone “hits the ground running,” what are they doing?
a) Starting something quickly with energy
b) Resting before starting
c) Walking slowly to prepare
5. What does “run out of steam” mean?
a) To lose energy or slow down
b) To gain speed
c) To work harder
6. If someone is “on the run,” what could it mean?
a) They are moving quickly or escaping
b) They are standing in one place
c) They are sleeping
7. What does “make a dash for it” mean?
a) To walk carefully
b) To run quickly toward something
c) To take your time
8. If you “jump the gun,” what are you doing?
a) Starting before the proper time
b) Starting exactly on time
c) Starting late
9. What does “keep pace with” mean?
a) To move at the same speed as something or someone
b) To run faster than everyone
c) To slow down to rest
10. When someone “goes the extra mile,” what do they do?
a) They do more than expected
b) They stop halfway
c) They walk an extra block
11. What does “stop in your tracks” mean?
a) To keep walking without stopping
b) To pause suddenly
c) To speed up
12. If you “follow in someone’s footsteps,” what are you doing?
a) Taking the same path or career as them
b) Walking in front of them
c) Avoiding their path
Answer Key
- b) To start a trip or leave a place
- a) To work faster or hurry up
- b) To move faster
- a) Starting something quickly with energy
- a) To lose energy or slow down
- a) They are moving quickly or escaping
- b) To run quickly toward something
- a) Starting before the proper time
- a) To move at the same speed as something or someone
- a) They do more than expected
- b) To pause suddenly
- a) Taking the same path or career as them
Wrapping Up
Idioms about movement are part of daily speech in the USA. They add color and make conversations more lively. You might hear them while traveling, in sports, or even at school and work. Learning these phrases helps you understand others better and express ideas more clearly.
Next time you hear someone say “hit the ground running” or “go the extra mile,” you’ll know exactly what they mean — and maybe you’ll start using them yourself.
