Opportunities are chances to do something new or improve your life. In the USA, people often use special expressions, called idioms, to talk about these moments. These phrases make conversations more colorful and help share ideas in a simple way. They can describe the excitement of a new chance or the importance of acting quickly.
Learning idioms about opportunity can make your English sound more natural. They are often used in movies, books, and everyday talk. Whether it’s a student getting ready for a big game or an adult thinking about a new job, these sayings help express those moments when life offers a door to step through. In this article, we’ll explore some common ones and learn how they’re used.
Idioms About Opportunity
1. Strike while the iron is hot
Meaning: Take action when the best chance is available.
Example Sentence:
• She applied for the job right away, striking while the iron was hot.
• We should sell the house now, while the iron is hot.
Other ways to say: Take the chance, act quickly
Fun Fact/Origin: This phrase comes from blacksmithing, when metal must be shaped while it’s still hot.
Usage: Used when telling someone to act before the opportunity is gone.
2. Make hay while the sun shines
Meaning: Take advantage of good conditions.
Example Sentence:
• We’ve got extra helpers today, so let’s make hay while the sun shines.
• Summer is the best time to sell lemonade, so make hay while the sun shines.
Other ways to say: Use the moment, take advantage
Fun Fact/Origin: Farmers had to harvest hay during sunny weather before rain ruined it.
Usage: Used when telling someone to act before the good conditions change.
3. The ball is in your court
Meaning: It’s your turn to take action.
Example Sentence:
• I sent the contract—now the ball is in your court.
• I’ve done my part, so the ball is in your court.
Other ways to say: Your move, your turn
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from tennis, where the ball must be returned after landing in your court.
Usage: Used to say that it’s now someone else’s responsibility to decide or act.
4. Open a door
Meaning: Create or be given a new chance.
Example Sentence:
• Meeting that coach opened a door for him in sports.
• This class could open a door to a better career.
Other ways to say: Create opportunity, give a chance
Fun Fact/Origin: Likens a chance to a door that can be opened to new places.
Usage: Used when someone gets a new possibility to improve or try something.
5. Window of opportunity
Meaning: A short time when something can be done.
Example Sentence:
• We have a small window of opportunity to fix this problem.
• The store sale gave us a window of opportunity to buy cheaper.
Other ways to say: Limited chance, short time to act
Fun Fact/Origin: Compares a chance to a window that will soon close.
Usage: Used when there is a limited time to take advantage of something.
6. Jump at the chance
Meaning: Accept an opportunity quickly and eagerly.
Example Sentence:
• She jumped at the chance to study abroad.
• He jumped at the chance to meet his favorite player.
Other ways to say: Grab the chance, leap at it
Fun Fact/Origin: Shows eagerness by comparing action to jumping quickly.
Usage: Used when someone takes an opportunity without hesitation.
7. Seize the day
Meaning: Live in the moment and take action now.
Example Sentence:
• He decided to seize the day and start his own business.
• Let’s seize the day and go on that road trip.
Other ways to say: Live for today, take the moment
Fun Fact/Origin: From the Latin phrase “Carpe diem,” meaning “pluck the day.”
Usage: Encourages immediate action to enjoy life or take chances.
8. Break new ground
Meaning: Do something innovative or start something new.
Example Sentence:
• Their new app is breaking new ground in education.
• She broke new ground with her unique art style.
Other ways to say: Innovate, pioneer
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from farming, meaning to dig and prepare unused land.
Usage: Used when starting something fresh or creative.
9. Bite the bullet
Meaning: Face a difficult situation bravely to move forward.
Example Sentence:
• He bit the bullet and asked for a promotion.
• She bit the bullet and signed up for the big race.
Other ways to say: Face the challenge, push through
Fun Fact/Origin: Soldiers would bite bullets during surgery before anesthesia.
Usage: Used when taking tough action to reach a goal.
10. Open doors
Meaning: Create new opportunities for success.
Example Sentence:
• Volunteering opened doors for her career in politics.
• This award could open doors for future work.
Other ways to say: Create chances, clear a path
Fun Fact/Origin: Compares opportunities to doors that let you into new spaces.
Usage: Used when something creates multiple possibilities.
11. Golden opportunity
Meaning: A perfect or rare chance.
Example Sentence:
• This scholarship is a golden opportunity for her.
• He saw the job offer as a golden opportunity.
Other ways to say: Perfect chance, rare opening
Fun Fact/Origin: Gold symbolizes value and rarity, like a great opportunity.
Usage: Used when a chance is highly valuable.
12. Pull some strings
Meaning: Use influence or connections to get something done.
Example Sentence:
• He pulled some strings to get his friend an interview.
• She pulled some strings to get concert tickets.
Other ways to say: Use connections, call in favors
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from puppet shows, where strings control movement.
Usage: Used when someone uses influence to create an opportunity.
13. Turn the tide
Meaning: Change a situation to your advantage.
Example Sentence:
• The new coach turned the tide for the team.
• A clever ad campaign turned the tide for the business.
Other ways to say: Reverse the situation, gain advantage
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from the ocean’s tides changing direction.
Usage: Used when things start going in your favor.
14. Shoot your shot
Meaning: Take a risk to try for success.
Example Sentence:
• He decided to shoot his shot and ask her to the dance.
• She shot her shot and pitched her idea to the CEO.
Other ways to say: Take your chance, go for it
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from sports like basketball, where you must shoot to score.
Usage: Used to encourage taking risks for a chance.
15. Beat the odds
Meaning: Succeed despite difficulties.
Example Sentence:
• She beat the odds and became a champion.
• They beat the odds to finish the project early.
Other ways to say: Overcome challenges, succeed against the chances
Fun Fact/Origin: Refers to winning even when the probability is low.
Usage: Used when success is surprising or rare.
16. Step up to the plate
Meaning: Take responsibility or act when needed.
Example Sentence:
• She stepped up to the plate when her team needed a leader.
• It’s time for you to step up to the plate and finish the work.
Other ways to say: Take charge, rise to the occasion
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from baseball, where the batter steps to home plate to face a pitch.
Usage: Used when encouraging someone to take action in an important moment.
17. Land on your feet
Meaning: Succeed after a difficult time.
Example Sentence:
• After losing his job, he landed on his feet with a better one.
• She always finds a way to land on her feet.
Other ways to say: Recover well, bounce back
Fun Fact/Origin: Refers to how cats often land on their feet after a fall.
Usage: Used when someone ends up in a good position after trouble.
18. Get your foot in the door
Meaning: Get an entry into a place or career.
Example Sentence:
• This internship will help you get your foot in the door.
• He got his foot in the door with a part-time job at the company.
Other ways to say: Gain entry, start small
Fun Fact/Origin: Refers to salesmen keeping a door open to make their pitch.
Usage: Used when starting small in hopes of bigger opportunities.
19. Take the plunge
Meaning: Decide to do something big or risky.
Example Sentence:
• They took the plunge and started their own business.
• She took the plunge and moved to New York.
Other ways to say: Dive in, go for it
Fun Fact/Origin: Compares making a big decision to jumping into water.
Usage: Used when someone makes a bold move.
20. Chance of a lifetime
Meaning: A very rare and special opportunity.
Example Sentence:
• Playing in the championship was the chance of a lifetime.
• Traveling abroad was the chance of a lifetime for him.
Other ways to say: Rare opportunity, once-in-a-lifetime chance
Fun Fact/Origin: Suggests the opportunity may only come once in someone’s life.
Usage: Used for extremely rare and valuable chances.
21. Roll the dice
Meaning: Take a risk with an uncertain outcome.
Example Sentence:
• They rolled the dice by investing in a new product.
• He rolled the dice and asked for a big raise.
Other ways to say: Take a gamble, risk it
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from gambling games where dice decide the result.
Usage: Used when making a risky decision.
22. Go for broke
Meaning: Risk everything for a big reward.
Example Sentence:
• She went for broke to win the race.
• They went for broke launching their new store.
Other ways to say: Risk it all, all or nothing
Fun Fact/Origin: From gambling, meaning to risk all your money in one play.
Usage: Used when someone risks everything for success.
23. Turn over a new leaf
Meaning: Start fresh and try to improve.
Example Sentence:
• He turned over a new leaf after moving to a new city.
• She turned over a new leaf and began studying hard.
Other ways to say: Start fresh, make a change
Fun Fact/Origin: “Leaf” refers to a page in a book; turning it shows a new chapter.
Usage: Used when someone makes a fresh start.
24. In the right place at the right time
Meaning: Being somewhere at the perfect moment for success.
Example Sentence:
• She got the job by being in the right place at the right time.
• He met his favorite player in the right place at the right time.
Other ways to say: Lucky timing, perfect moment
Fun Fact/Origin: Suggests success is partly about timing and location.
Usage: Used when luck plays a big role in getting an opportunity.
25. Light at the end of the tunnel
Meaning: Signs of improvement after trouble.
Example Sentence:
• After months of hard work, we can see the light at the end of the tunnel.
• The project is tough, but there’s a light at the end of the tunnel.
Other ways to say: Hope ahead, relief in sight
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from trains exiting dark tunnels into daylight.
Usage: Used when challenges are almost over.
26. On the horizon
Meaning: Likely to happen soon.
Example Sentence:
• A big promotion could be on the horizon for her.
• New opportunities are on the horizon for the company.
Other ways to say: Coming soon, about to happen
Fun Fact/Origin: Refers to things appearing in view, like the sun on the horizon.
Usage: Used for opportunities or events that are expected soon.
27. Play your cards right
Meaning: Act wisely to get the best result.
Example Sentence:
• If you play your cards right, you could get a scholarship.
• She played her cards right and got a promotion.
Other ways to say: Be smart, use strategy
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from card games where winning depends on good play.
Usage: Used when success depends on wise actions.
28. On a silver platter
Meaning: Given with no effort required.
Example Sentence:
• The job was handed to him on a silver platter.
• She got the role on a silver platter because of family ties.
Other ways to say: Handed over easily, without effort
Fun Fact/Origin: Silver platters were used to serve expensive food to the wealthy.
Usage: Used when opportunities come without hard work.
29. Miss the boat
Meaning: Fail to take advantage of an opportunity.
Example Sentence:
• He missed the boat by not investing earlier.
• She missed the boat on the sale and paid full price.
Other ways to say: Lose a chance, be too late
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from actually missing a ship’s departure.
Usage: Used when someone is too late to act.
30. At the drop of a hat
Meaning: Willing to act quickly without hesitation.
Example Sentence:
• She’s ready to travel at the drop of a hat.
• He’ll help you at the drop of a hat.
Other ways to say: Immediately, right away
Fun Fact/Origin: Hats were once dropped to start races or fights.
Usage: Used when someone acts instantly.
31. Fortune favors the bold
Meaning: Brave actions often lead to success.
Example Sentence:
• She asked the CEO directly—fortune favors the bold.
• They launched the new store despite risks because fortune favors the bold.
Other ways to say: Courage pays off, be brave
Fun Fact/Origin: From an old Latin proverb meaning luck comes to the brave.
Usage: Used to encourage taking bold steps.
32. Take the bull by the horns
Meaning: Deal with a problem directly.
Example Sentence:
• He took the bull by the horns and fixed the mistake.
• She took the bull by the horns and asked for feedback.
Other ways to say: Face it head-on, handle directly
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from bull wrestling, where grabbing horns shows control.
Usage: Used when someone faces a challenge without fear.
33. A foot in the door
Meaning: A small start that could lead to more opportunities.
Example Sentence:
• The summer job gave him a foot in the door in the tech industry.
• Volunteering gave her a foot in the door at the museum.
Other ways to say: Entry point, small start
Fun Fact/Origin: Similar to “get your foot in the door,” from salesmen holding doors open.
Usage: Used when starting with small opportunities that can grow.
34. Call the shots
Meaning: Be in control and make decisions.
Example Sentence:
• She called the shots during the project.
• The coach calls the shots for the team.
Other ways to say: Be in charge, make the decisions
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from shooting sports where the person in control decides when to fire.
Usage: Used for those in control of a situation.
35. Move mountains
Meaning: Achieve something very difficult.
Example Sentence:
• She moved mountains to get her degree.
• They moved mountains to build the new park.
Other ways to say: Overcome huge challenges, achieve the impossible
Fun Fact/Origin: Refers to the great effort needed to move something massive.
Usage: Used when someone accomplishes a huge task.
36. Sink or swim
Meaning: Succeed or fail without help.
Example Sentence:
• New hires must sink or swim in this fast-paced company.
• It was sink or swim during his first big speech.
Other ways to say: Do or die, succeed or fail
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from survival in water without aid.
Usage: Used when someone must rely on their own ability.
37. All your eggs in one basket
Meaning: Put all your hopes or resources into one plan.
Example Sentence:
• Don’t put all your eggs in one basket with that investment.
• She put all her eggs in one basket by applying to only one college.
Other ways to say: Single gamble, one plan only
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from farmers carrying eggs—if the basket drops, all are lost.
Usage: Used to warn against relying on one plan.
38. The early bird catches the worm
Meaning: Acting early gets the best results.
Example Sentence:
• He wakes up early because the early bird catches the worm.
• The early bird catches the worm at sales events.
Other ways to say: Act early, be first
Fun Fact/Origin: Birds that rise early often find food before others.
Usage: Used to stress the value of acting early.
39. Knock on doors
Meaning: Ask for opportunities actively.
Example Sentence:
• She knocked on doors until she found a sponsor.
• He knocked on doors looking for freelance work.
Other ways to say: Seek out, request help
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from literally knocking on people’s doors to offer goods or services.
Usage: Used when someone actively looks for chances.
40. Ride the wave
Meaning: Take advantage of something already going well.
Example Sentence:
• The company is riding the wave of online sales growth.
• She rode the wave of popularity from her viral video.
Other ways to say: Benefit from success, join the momentum
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from surfing, where riding a wave carries you forward.
Usage: Used when benefiting from an existing trend.
41. Luck of the draw
Meaning: Success or failure decided by chance.
Example Sentence:
• Getting a good roommate is the luck of the draw.
• Winning the raffle was just the luck of the draw.
Other ways to say: Pure luck, chance outcome
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from drawing cards or lots in games of chance.
Usage: Used when results are due to luck, not skill.
42. Opportunity knocks
Meaning: A chance for success has appeared.
Example Sentence:
• Opportunity knocked when the company offered her a role.
• He answered when opportunity knocked with a new project.
Other ways to say: Chance arrives, opportunity appears
Fun Fact/Origin: Refers to a person knocking on a door to offer something.
Usage: Used when an opportunity shows up unexpectedly.
43. Pave the way
Meaning: Make it easier for others to succeed.
Example Sentence:
• Her research paved the way for new medical treatments.
• He paved the way for future players in the league.
Other ways to say: Clear the path, prepare the ground
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from laying down a path to make travel easier.
Usage: Used when someone’s actions create opportunities for others.
Quiz: Idioms About Opportunity
Instructions: Choose the correct answer for each question. Only one answer is correct.
Question Key
1. If someone says “Strike while the iron is hot,” what do they mean?
A) Wait until next week to act
B) Take action while the chance is good
C) Avoid making a decision
2. What does “Make hay while the sun shines” suggest?
A) Work only at night
B) Take advantage of good conditions
C) Wait for the perfect weather
3. If “the ball is in your court,” what should you do?
A) Pass it to someone else
B) Take your turn to act
C) Stop playing
4. What is a “window of opportunity”?
A) A regular glass window
B) A short time to take action
C) A long break from work
5. What does it mean to “jump at the chance”?
A) Refuse an offer
B) Accept an opportunity quickly
C) Think about it for months
6. If you “shoot your shot,” what are you doing?
A) Taking a risk to try for success
B) Practicing photography
C) Throwing something away
7. What does “beat the odds” mean?
A) Fail when things are easy
B) Win when the chances are low
C) Avoid taking risks
8. To “step up to the plate” means to:
A) Avoid responsibility
B) Take action when needed
C) Serve food to someone
9. What does “get your foot in the door” mean?
A) Start with a small opportunity
B) Block someone’s way
C) Close all doors
10. If something is the “chance of a lifetime,” it is:
A) Very rare and valuable
B) Something that happens daily
C) Not worth trying
11. To “play your cards right” means to:
A) Act wisely for success
B) Win a card game
C) Avoid taking chances
12. What does “miss the boat” mean?
A) Arrive early for a trip
B) Fail to take advantage of a chance
C) Sail away on time
13. “The early bird catches the worm” means:
A) Sleep in and relax
B) Act early to get the best result
C) Wait for others to go first
14. If “opportunity knocks,” what should you do?
A) Ignore it
B) Recognize and act on the chance
C) Close the door quickly
15. “Pave the way” means to:
A) Build a road
B) Make it easier for others to succeed
C) Block someone’s path
Answer Key
- B) Take action while the chance is good
- B) Take advantage of good conditions
- B) Take your turn to act
- B) A short time to take action
- B) Accept an opportunity quickly
- A) Taking a risk to try for success
- B) Win when the chances are low
- B) Take action when needed
- A) Start with a small opportunity
- A) Very rare and valuable
- A) Act wisely for success
- B) Fail to take advantage of a chance
- B) Act early to get the best result
- B) Recognize and act on the chance
- B) Make it easier for others to succeed
Wrapping Up
Opportunities can change our lives, and Americans often use idioms to talk about them. These sayings make language more colorful and help share ideas in a simple way. By learning idioms like “strike while the iron is hot” or “get your foot in the door,” you can sound more natural in conversations.
Whether it’s a rare chance or a quick decision, these expressions remind us to be ready when life opens a door. In the USA, many believe success often comes to those who act at the right time.
