In the United States, people love using expressions to show strength and spirit. One way Americans do this is by using idioms—short phrases that mean more than the words they use. Idioms can help us explain feelings, ideas, or actions in fun and simple ways. Some idioms talk about staying strong, no matter how tough life gets. These idioms are great for kids to learn, especially when they feel like giving up.
This article will focus on idioms about not giving up. These phrases are used when someone keeps trying, even when things are hard. Americans often use them to cheer each other on or to describe someone who never quits. If you’re facing a challenge, these idioms can give you words to stay positive and strong.
Idioms About Not Giving Up
1. Hang in there
Meaning: Don’t give up, keep trying
Example Sentence:
• Hang in there, the school year is almost over.
• I told my friend to hang in there during her math test.
Other ways to say: Keep going, stay strong
Fun Fact/Origin: Became popular in the 1970s with posters showing a cat hanging from a branch.
Usage: Used to encourage someone to not give up during hard times.
2. Keep your chin up
Meaning: Stay brave and happy in a tough situation
Example Sentence:
• Keep your chin up, you’ll get better at basketball.
• Mom told me to keep my chin up after I lost the game.
Other ways to say: Be positive, don’t feel down
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from soldiers being told to stand tall and proud.
Usage: Used to lift someone’s spirits when they’re feeling sad.
3. When the going gets tough, the tough get going
Meaning: Strong people keep trying when things get hard
Example Sentence:
• She didn’t quit the race. When the going got tough, she got tougher.
• I remembered that saying when I had to finish my science project.
Other ways to say: Push through, be strong
Fun Fact/Origin: A popular American football coach used this to motivate his players.
Usage: Used to describe people who don’t give up under pressure.
4. Bite the bullet
Meaning: Do something hard without complaining
Example Sentence:
• I didn’t want to get a shot, but I bit the bullet.
• He bit the bullet and did his chores.
Other ways to say: Face it, tough it out
Fun Fact/Origin: Soldiers bit on bullets during pain before modern medicine.
Usage: Used when someone does something difficult without giving up.
5. Stick it out
Meaning: Keep doing something until it’s done, even if it’s hard
Example Sentence:
• It was a long game, but we stuck it out.
• I stuck it out and finished my book report.
Other ways to say: Don’t quit, see it through
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from the idea of “sticking” with something, like glue.
Usage: Used when someone doesn’t quit even when it’s boring or tough.
6. Tough it out
Meaning: Endure something hard without quitting
Example Sentence:
• He toughed it out during football practice.
• I had a cold, but I toughed it out and went to school.
Other ways to say: Be strong, push through
Fun Fact/Origin: Often used in sports and military training.
Usage: Used when someone keeps going even when it’s not easy.
7. Never say die
Meaning: Don’t give up hope
Example Sentence:
• Our team was losing, but we never said die.
• I always remember to never say die during tests.
Other ways to say: Keep trying, never quit
Fun Fact/Origin: Used by athletes and sports fans in the USA.
Usage: Used to show a never-give-up attitude.
8. Go the extra mile
Meaning: Do more than what is needed
Example Sentence:
• She went the extra mile to help her friend study.
• My teacher said I went the extra mile on my project.
Other ways to say: Try harder, give more effort
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from Roman soldiers who were forced to carry loads an extra mile.
Usage: Used when someone tries their best and more.
9. Burning the midnight oil
Meaning: Staying up late to finish work
Example Sentence:
• I burned the midnight oil studying for the test.
• He burned the midnight oil to finish his drawing.
Other ways to say: Stay up late working, work hard
Fun Fact/Origin: Before electricity, people used oil lamps to work at night.
Usage: Used when someone works late without quitting.
10. Don’t throw in the towel
Meaning: Don’t quit
Example Sentence:
• I wanted to stop, but I didn’t throw in the towel.
• She didn’t throw in the towel even when it got tough.
Other ways to say: Keep going, don’t give up
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from boxing—throwing a towel means surrendering.
Usage: Used to tell someone to keep trying.
11. Pick yourself up
Meaning: Try again after failing or falling
Example Sentence:
• He picked himself up after falling off his bike.
• I didn’t pass the quiz, but I picked myself up and studied harder.
Other ways to say: Try again, don’t stay down
Fun Fact/Origin: Used in sports and training to push people to try again.
Usage: Used when someone doesn’t stay upset after a failure.
12. Get back on the horse
Meaning: Try again after failing or getting hurt
Example Sentence:
• I fell in the race, but I got back on the horse.
• She failed once but got back on the horse.
Other ways to say: Try again, start over
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from horseback riding—if you fall, you get back on.
Usage: Used when someone keeps trying after falling.
13. Keep plugging away
Meaning: Keep working slowly but steadily
Example Sentence:
• I kept plugging away at my homework until it was done.
• He plugged away at his painting every day.
Other ways to say: Keep going, continue working
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from the sound of a slow engine or tool working.
Usage: Used when someone works on something for a long time.
14. Roll with the punches
Meaning: Adjust to hard times and keep going
Example Sentence:
• When things didn’t go well, he rolled with the punches.
• I learned to roll with the punches during group work.
Other ways to say: Adapt, stay strong
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from boxing—moving your body to take hits better.
Usage: Used when someone deals with problems calmly.
15. Keep fighting
Meaning: Don’t give up in hard times
Example Sentence:
• She kept fighting, even after losing a round.
• I told my friend to keep fighting when he was sad.
Other ways to say: Stay strong, don’t stop trying
Fun Fact/Origin: Common in sports and military talk.
Usage: Used to cheer someone on during a challenge.
16. Hold your ground
Meaning: Stay strong and don’t give up
Example Sentence:
• I held my ground when they wanted me to quit.
• She held her ground in the debate.
Other ways to say: Stand firm, stay steady
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from battlefields where soldiers stayed in place.
Usage: Used when someone stands up for themselves.
17. Stand tall
Meaning: Be brave and proud, even in hard times
Example Sentence:
• I stood tall after I made a mistake in class.
• He stood tall after losing the game.
Other ways to say: Be proud, don’t shrink
Fun Fact/Origin: Used to show someone who doesn’t let trouble break them.
Usage: Used to encourage confidence and pride.
18. Power through
Meaning: Keep going even when tired or struggling
Example Sentence:
• I powered through my cold and finished my homework.
• She powered through the last mile of the race.
Other ways to say: Push through, finish strong
Fun Fact/Origin: Used in sports, school, and work in the USA.
Usage: Used when someone keeps going with effort.
19. Stay the course
Meaning: Keep going until the end
Example Sentence:
• I stayed the course and read the whole book.
• He stayed the course during a hard week.
Other ways to say: Keep going, follow through
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from sailing—keeping the ship on its path.
Usage: Used when someone sticks to a plan.
20. Keep at it
Meaning: Keep trying
Example Sentence:
• I kept at it until I solved the puzzle.
• She kept at it and finished her model.
Other ways to say: Don’t stop, try again
Fun Fact/Origin: Common in American classrooms and sports teams.
Usage: Used to encourage someone to continue.
21. Dig in your heels
Meaning: Refuse to give up
Example Sentence:
• I dug in my heels and didn’t quit the team.
• He dug in his heels during the project.
Other ways to say: Stand firm, be stubborn (in a good way)
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from the image of planting your feet firmly.
Usage: Used when someone stands strong and won’t quit.
22. Give it your all
Meaning: Try your hardest
Example Sentence:
• I gave it my all in the spelling bee.
• He gave it his all during tryouts.
Other ways to say: Try your best, do everything you can
Fun Fact/Origin: Often said by coaches and parents in the USA.
Usage: Used to show full effort.
23. Hold on
Meaning: Keep trying or wait through a hard time
Example Sentence:
• Just hold on, things will get better.
• I held on during the long hike.
Other ways to say: Don’t give up, stay patient
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from gripping tightly and not letting go.
Usage: Used in both emotional and physical struggles.
24. Keep your head above water
Meaning: Keep going, even if it’s hard
Example Sentence:
• I kept my head above water during finals week.
• He’s just trying to keep his head above water with work.
Other ways to say: Stay afloat, survive
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from swimming—keeping from sinking.
Usage: Used when someone is just managing to keep up.
25. Stick to your guns
Meaning: Don’t back down from your decision
Example Sentence:
• I stuck to my guns and kept my idea.
• She stuck to her guns during the argument.
Other ways to say: Stand firm, don’t change
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from soldiers staying at their weapons.
Usage: Used when someone doesn’t change their mind.
26. Push through
Meaning: Keep going despite difficulty
Example Sentence:
• He pushed through the pain and finished the race.
• I pushed through my nerves to give the speech.
Other ways to say: Keep going, move forward
Fun Fact/Origin: Common in sports and school encouragement.
Usage: Used when someone doesn’t let tough times stop them.
27. Stay strong
Meaning: Don’t let tough times break you
Example Sentence:
• Stay strong—we’re almost there.
• I told my friend to stay strong during her move.
Other ways to say: Be brave, hold on
Fun Fact/Origin: Common phrase in American cards and posters.
Usage: Used for comfort and encouragement.
28. Keep your eye on the prize
Meaning: Focus on your goal
Example Sentence:
• I kept my eye on the prize and studied hard.
• She kept her eye on the prize during training.
Other ways to say: Stay focused, don’t get distracted
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from contests where the prize is the goal.
Usage: Used when someone is working hard for something.
29. Don’t back down
Meaning: Refuse to quit or be afraid
Example Sentence:
• He didn’t back down when others disagreed.
• I didn’t back down from the challenge.
Other ways to say: Stand tall, keep going
Fun Fact/Origin: Used often in speeches and sports.
Usage: Used when someone faces fear or pressure.
30. Stay in the game
Meaning: Don’t quit
Example Sentence:
• I stayed in the game even when it was tough.
• She stayed in the game until the end.
Other ways to say: Don’t quit, keep playing
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from sports like baseball and football.
Usage: Used when someone keeps going even when it’s hard.
31. Grin and bear it
Meaning: Smile and keep going even when it’s hard
Example Sentence:
• I had to grin and bear it through the long meeting.
• He grinned and bore it during his dentist visit.
Other ways to say: Tolerate, put up with
Fun Fact/Origin: Used since the 1700s in English-speaking countries.
Usage: Used when someone accepts a hard situation quietly.
32. Pull through
Meaning: Survive a tough situation
Example Sentence:
• She pulled through after the flu.
• I pulled through and passed the hard test.
Other ways to say: Make it through, recover
Fun Fact/Origin: Commonly used in hospitals and recovery stories.
Usage: Used for both health and life challenges.
33. Don’t give an inch
Meaning: Don’t give up any ground or control
Example Sentence:
• I didn’t give an inch during the debate.
• They didn’t give an inch in the game.
Other ways to say: Stand firm, hold steady
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from battles—holding your place.
Usage: Used when someone won’t let others push them around.
34. Fight tooth and nail
Meaning: Fight very hard to win or survive
Example Sentence:
• He fought tooth and nail to win the contest.
• I fought tooth and nail to keep my spot on the team.
Other ways to say: Fight hard, struggle fiercely
Fun Fact/Origin: Very old phrase showing how animals fight.
Usage: Used when someone puts up a strong fight.
35. Keep climbing
Meaning: Keep trying, even when things get harder
Example Sentence:
• She kept climbing toward her dream.
• I kept climbing through every level of the video game.
Other ways to say: Move forward, keep trying
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from hiking or mountain climbing.
Usage: Used when working toward a big goal.
36. Stay the fight
Meaning: Keep fighting and don’t quit
Example Sentence:
• I stayed in the fight and kept going till the end.
• She stayed the fight even after others left.
Other ways to say: Keep trying, stay in
Fun Fact/Origin: Used in boxing and military stories.
Usage: Used to show bravery and never giving up.
37. March on
Meaning: Keep moving forward
Example Sentence:
• We marched on through the rain.
• He marched on even after the team lost.
Other ways to say: Move ahead, keep going
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from soldiers walking through battle.
Usage: Used when people don’t stop moving forward.
38. Don’t lose heart
Meaning: Don’t stop believing in yourself
Example Sentence:
• I told my sister not to lose heart after her fall.
• He didn’t lose heart even when it got really hard.
Other ways to say: Keep hope, stay strong
Fun Fact/Origin: “Heart” is often used to mean courage.
Usage: Used when someone is feeling discouraged but keeps going.
Quiz: Idioms About Not Giving Up
Instructions: Choose the best meaning for each idiom. Pick A, B, or C. These questions help you learn idioms Americans use to talk about staying strong and not quitting.
Question Key
1. What does “hang in there” mean?
A) Let go of something
B) Keep trying during hard times
C) Stay home from school
2. If someone says “bite the bullet,” what are they doing?
A) Getting candy
B) Complaining loudly
C) Doing something hard without complaining
3. What does “get back on the horse” mean?
A) Ride a horse again
B) Try again after failing
C) Go on vacation
4. If someone says “don’t throw in the towel,” what should you do?
A) Keep going and not give up
B) Clean the kitchen
C) Start something new
5. What does “burning the midnight oil” mean?
A) Lighting a candle
B) Staying up late to work hard
C) Turning off the lights early
6. What does it mean to “dig in your heels”?
A) Run fast
B) Quit early
C) Refuse to give up or change
7. If you “grin and bear it,” what are you doing?
A) Laughing loudly
B) Smiling and doing something hard
C) Watching a cartoon
8. What does “stay strong” mean?
A) Get more muscles
B) Don’t let tough times break you
C) Take a long nap
9. What does “keep your head above water” mean?
A) Swim in the pool
B) Keep going during hard times
C) Wear a hat
10. What does “keep your chin up” mean?
A) Tilt your head back
B) Stay proud and hopeful
C) Look at the ceiling
11. What does “go the extra mile” mean?
A) Drive a car
B) Try a little harder
C) Walk fast
12. What does it mean to “stay the course”?
A) Finish a game
B) Quit before the end
C) Keep going until you finish
13. What does “fight tooth and nail” mean?
A) Brush your teeth
B) Eat dinner
C) Fight really hard to win or keep something
Answer Key
- B – Keep trying during hard times
- C – Doing something hard without complaining
- B – Try again after failing
- A – Keep going and not give up
- B – Staying up late to work hard
- C – Refuse to give up or change
- B – Smiling and doing something hard
- B – Don’t let tough times break you
- B – Keep going during hard times
- B – Stay proud and hopeful
- B – Try a little harder
- C – Keep going until you finish
- C – Fight really hard to win or keep something
Wrapping Up
Idioms about not giving up help people in the USA talk about courage and effort. These phrases remind us that staying strong matters. Whether you’re playing sports, doing homework, or facing a challenge, these idioms can help you stay brave.
They’re short, easy to remember, and used every day. So next time you’re having a hard time, remember one of these phrases and keep going.
