Traveling is something people do for fun, work, or learning. Some take long road trips, while others fly in airplanes to new places. When we travel, we experience new things, meet new people, and make fun memories. Because traveling is such a big part of life, people have created many special sayings called idioms to describe the things that happen while we go from one place to another.
Idioms for traveling are short phrases that use simple words but have deeper meanings. They help us talk about our trips in a more interesting way. These idioms can be about starting a trip, facing surprises on the way, or getting home safely. In this article, we will learn 45 traveling idioms that are fun to use and easy to understand.
Idioms for Travelling
1. Hit the road
Meaning: To start a journey
Example Sentence:
– We packed our bags and hit the road early in the morning.
– Dad said it’s time to hit the road before traffic starts.
Other ways to say: Start the trip, get going
Fun Fact/Origin: This phrase began with early car travel when people started driving on long roads.
Usage: Used when someone begins traveling somewhere.
2. Off the beaten path
Meaning: To go to a place that is not well known
Example Sentence:
– We found a cool little beach off the beaten path.
– The trail was quiet and off the beaten path.
Other ways to say: Hidden place, not popular
Fun Fact/Origin: This comes from walking trails where people don’t usually go.
Usage: Used to describe special or quiet places not many people visit.
3. Travel light
Meaning: To carry very few things
Example Sentence:
– I like to travel light with just one backpack.
– Mom said to travel light for our weekend trip.
Other ways to say: Pack lightly, take just the basics
Fun Fact/Origin: People started using this phrase when airlines had baggage limits.
Usage: Used when someone doesn’t bring much with them.
4. In the same boat
Meaning: In the same situation as someone else
Example Sentence:
– We were all in the same boat when our flight was delayed.
– Everyone forgot their homework, so we were in the same boat.
Other ways to say: In the same spot, going through the same thing
Fun Fact/Origin: It comes from sailing where everyone on a boat faces the same sea.
Usage: Used when people share the same problem.
5. Catch the travel bug
Meaning: To start loving travel a lot
Example Sentence:
– After her first trip, she caught the travel bug.
– I caught the travel bug when we went to the mountains.
Other ways to say: Love to travel, always want to go
Fun Fact/Origin: “Bug” here means a strong feeling, like catching a cold but in a fun way.
Usage: Used when someone suddenly loves traveling.
6. Live out of a suitcase
Meaning: To travel a lot and not stay in one place
Example Sentence:
– He lives out of a suitcase for work.
– After three trips, I feel like I live out of a suitcase.
Other ways to say: Always traveling, never home
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from not unpacking while on the move.
Usage: Used when someone travels so much they don’t unpack.
7. Jet lag
Meaning: Feeling tired after flying across time zones
Example Sentence:
– I had jet lag after flying from California to New York.
– She felt sleepy all day because of jet lag.
Other ways to say: Travel tiredness, time change tiredness
Fun Fact/Origin: The term comes from airplanes (jets) and the lag in your body’s clock.
Usage: Used when someone is tired from a long flight.
8. At a crossroads
Meaning: Having to make a big choice
Example Sentence:
– He was at a crossroads between two cities to move to.
– I’m at a crossroads about which trip to take.
Other ways to say: Have a big decision, must choose
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from roads crossing each other, needing to pick a path.
Usage: Used when someone must decide what to do next.
9. Hit the jackpot
Meaning: To get very lucky
Example Sentence:
– We hit the jackpot with that cheap hotel!
– Finding a flight for $50 was hitting the jackpot.
Other ways to say: Got lucky, great find
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from winning money in a game or lottery.
Usage: Used when something great happens by surprise.
10. Call it a day
Meaning: To stop and rest
Example Sentence:
– After hiking for hours, we called it a day.
– Let’s call it a day and go back to the hotel.
Other ways to say: Stop for now, end for today
Fun Fact/Origin: This phrase has been used since the 1800s to mean work is done.
Usage: Used to stop doing something, usually after a trip or long walk.
11. Miss the boat
Meaning: To miss a chance or opportunity
Example Sentence:
– We missed the boat on those concert tickets.
– I missed the boat when I forgot to book the hotel early.
Other ways to say: Lost the chance, too late
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from actual boats leaving when people weren’t on time.
Usage: Used when someone doesn’t act quickly enough.
12. Throw someone off track
Meaning: To confuse or distract someone
Example Sentence:
– The wrong directions threw us off track.
– The loud noise threw me off track during the tour.
Other ways to say: Distract, confuse
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from trains being off their tracks.
Usage: Used when someone is led away from what they meant to do.
13. On the road again
Meaning: To start traveling again
Example Sentence:
– After resting, we were on the road again.
– School break is over, and I’m on the road again for work.
Other ways to say: Traveling again, back to the trip
Fun Fact/Origin: Made popular by a country song in the U.S.
Usage: Used when someone starts traveling after a break.
14. Pit stop
Meaning: A short break during travel
Example Sentence:
– We made a pit stop for snacks and gas.
– Let’s take a pit stop before the next city.
Other ways to say: Quick break, short stop
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from race car drivers stopping for fuel or tires.
Usage: Used during road trips to mean a short rest.
15. Wheels up
Meaning: The plane has taken off
Example Sentence:
– It’s wheels up at 10 a.m. for our flight.
– Wheels up in five minutes—get to your seats.
Other ways to say: Flight started, we took off
Fun Fact/Origin: Refers to when a plane’s wheels leave the ground.
Usage: Used when flights begin.
16. Make tracks
Meaning: To leave quickly
Example Sentence:
– We made tracks before the storm hit.
– Let’s make tracks or we’ll be late.
Other ways to say: Hurry up, leave fast
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from the idea of leaving footprints or trails
Usage: Used when people want to leave fast.
17. Going places
Meaning: Likely to be successful or travel a lot
Example Sentence:
– She’s smart and brave—she’s going places.
– That travel blog is really going places!
Other ways to say: Doing well, heading far
Fun Fact/Origin: Can mean both actual travel and doing great things
Usage: Used to talk about success or travel.
18. Off and running
Meaning: Started and going strong
Example Sentence:
– Our road trip is off and running!
– The bus was off and running before I sat down.
Other ways to say: Started well, going already
Fun Fact/Origin: Often used in sports races
Usage: Used to describe the start of something exciting.
19. Fly by the seat of your pants
Meaning: To do something without planning
Example Sentence:
– We didn’t plan much, just flew by the seat of our pants.
– He flew by the seat of his pants and still found the hotel.
Other ways to say: Do things as they come, guess as you go
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from old pilots flying without tools
Usage: Used when people act without a plan.
20. On the go
Meaning: Always busy or traveling
Example Sentence:
– She’s always on the go, visiting new cities.
– I’ve been on the go since 6 a.m.
Other ways to say: Very busy, always moving
Fun Fact/Origin: Became popular with modern fast-paced life
Usage: Used to describe active travelers.
21. Pack your bags
Meaning: Get ready to leave or travel
Example Sentence:
– We packed our bags for the beach.
– Mom told us to pack our bags—we’re going on a trip!
Other ways to say: Get ready, prepare to leave
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from the act of filling suitcases before trips
Usage: Used when someone is preparing to go somewhere.
22. Burn rubber
Meaning: To drive very fast
Example Sentence:
– The car burned rubber down the highway.
– He burned rubber to get us to the airport on time.
Other ways to say: Drive fast, speed off
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from car tires squealing on pavement
Usage: Used when talking about fast driving.
23. Go the extra mile
Meaning: Do more than expected
Example Sentence:
– The hotel went the extra mile and gave us snacks.
– She always goes the extra mile to help others.
Other ways to say: Do more, be very helpful
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from traveling farther than needed
Usage: Used when someone puts in extra effort.
24. Take the scenic route
Meaning: Choose a longer but more beautiful path
Example Sentence:
– We took the scenic route through the mountains.
– I always take the scenic route near the lake.
Other ways to say: Longer way, beautiful path
Fun Fact/Origin: Scenic means full of pretty views
Usage: Used when choosing a lovely travel path.
25. Hit a roadblock
Meaning: Face a problem that stops you
Example Sentence:
– We hit a roadblock when the road was closed.
– Our plans hit a roadblock with the weather.
Other ways to say: Face a problem, get stopped
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from roads being blocked
Usage: Used when something interrupts progress.
26. Smooth sailing
Meaning: Easy and without problems
Example Sentence:
– After takeoff, the flight was smooth sailing.
– Once we passed traffic, the trip was smooth sailing.
Other ways to say: Easy going, no problems
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from sailing when the water is calm
Usage: Used when travel goes well without trouble.
27. Jump on the bandwagon
Meaning: To join something popular
Example Sentence:
– We jumped on the bandwagon and booked that trendy tour.
– He jumped on the bandwagon and started road-tripping.
Other ways to say: Join the crowd, do what others do
Fun Fact/Origin: From old parades with bands playing
Usage: Used when someone joins a trend.
28. Make a pit stop
Meaning: To stop briefly while traveling
Example Sentence:
– We made a pit stop for snacks.
– I need a pit stop before the next town.
Other ways to say: Take a break, stop quickly
Fun Fact/Origin: Borrowed from race car language
Usage: Used during trips when stopping for a short time.
29. On cloud nine
Meaning: Very happy
Example Sentence:
– She was on cloud nine after the trip to Disney.
– I was on cloud nine when we landed in Hawaii.
Other ways to say: So happy, overjoyed
Fun Fact/Origin: The number 9 was once used to describe high clouds
Usage: Used when someone is extremely happy.
30. Lost in the middle of nowhere
Meaning: In a place far from anything
Example Sentence:
– We got lost in the middle of nowhere with no signal.
– The cabin was cozy but in the middle of nowhere.
Other ways to say: Far from town, very remote
Fun Fact/Origin: Describes places far from cities or people
Usage: Used when someone is far from civilization.
31. Take a rain check
Meaning: To delay or reschedule something
Example Sentence:
– We’ll take a rain check on the trip—it’s snowing.
– He took a rain check on the hike because he felt sick.
Other ways to say: Postpone, do it later
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from baseball games canceled by rain
Usage: Used when putting off plans.
32. Drive someone up the wall
Meaning: To annoy someone
Example Sentence:
– The long wait drove me up the wall.
– Traffic drove Dad up the wall.
Other ways to say: Annoy, bother
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from the image of being so annoyed you want to escape
Usage: Used when something is frustrating during travel.
33. Hit the brakes
Meaning: To stop suddenly
Example Sentence:
– We hit the brakes when a deer crossed the road.
– He hit the brakes before missing the turn.
Other ways to say: Stop fast, slow down
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from using car brakes
Usage: Used for quick stops in travel.
34. Go off the rails
Meaning: To stop going as planned
Example Sentence:
– The vacation went off the rails when the bus broke.
– Our hike went off the rails after we got lost.
Other ways to say: Get off track, go wrong
Fun Fact/Origin: From trains that leave their tracks
Usage: Used when travel plans go badly.
35. Take the wheel
Meaning: To take control
Example Sentence:
– Mom took the wheel so Dad could nap.
– I’ll take the wheel while you eat.
Other ways to say: Take control, drive
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from taking the steering wheel of a car
Usage: Used when someone starts driving or leading.
36. Have itchy feet
Meaning: Want to travel
Example Sentence:
– After two weeks at home, I had itchy feet.
– He gets itchy feet every summer and needs to explore.
Other ways to say: Want to move, feel restless
Fun Fact/Origin: “Itchy” means needing to do something
Usage: Used when someone wants to travel again.
37. Get the show on the road
Meaning: To begin something
Example Sentence:
– Let’s get the show on the road and start driving.
– Time to get the show on the road—it’s late!
Other ways to say: Start now, begin
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from traveling shows starting performances
Usage: Used when starting a trip or event.
38. Steer clear of
Meaning: To avoid
Example Sentence:
– Steer clear of that road—it’s full of potholes.
– We steer clear of busy spots on vacation.
Other ways to say: Avoid, stay away
Fun Fact/Origin: From steering wheels to change direction
Usage: Used when someone wants to avoid something.
39. Break new ground
Meaning: To go somewhere or try something new
Example Sentence:
– We broke new ground visiting that small island.
– She broke new ground with her travel vlog.
Other ways to say: Try something new, go first
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from digging new land
Usage: Used when doing something no one else has done.
40. Go full steam ahead
Meaning: To move forward with energy
Example Sentence:
– It was full steam ahead once we got the tickets.
– We’re going full steam ahead with our plans.
Other ways to say: Move fast, go all in
Fun Fact/Origin: From steam-powered trains
Usage: Used when someone is going forward without stopping.
41. Blow off steam
Meaning: To release stress or energy
Example Sentence:
– We went biking to blow off steam after the drive.
– Hiking helps me blow off steam.
Other ways to say: Relax, let out stress
Fun Fact/Origin: From steam escaping engines
Usage: Used when people want to feel better after stress.
42. Off the rails
Meaning: Out of control
Example Sentence:
– The vacation went off the rails after we lost our bags.
– Dinner plans went off the rails when the power went out.
Other ways to say: Out of hand, went wild
Fun Fact/Origin: From trains going off tracks
Usage: Used when things go crazy or out of order.
43. Road rage
Meaning: Anger while driving
Example Sentence:
– That driver had serious road rage.
– Don’t get road rage when traffic is bad.
Other ways to say: Driving anger, car frustration
Fun Fact/Origin: From people getting mad in traffic
Usage: Used when someone is very mad while driving.
44. Right up your alley
Meaning: Something perfect for you
Example Sentence:
– That hiking trail is right up your alley.
– Museums are right up her alley.
Other ways to say: Just your thing, perfect for you
Fun Fact/Origin: “Alley” means a path or interest
Usage: Used to say something matches someone’s likes.
45. Get lost
Meaning: Can mean either get away or lose your way
Example Sentence:
– We got lost in the woods but found our way.
– I love to get lost in a new city and explore.
Other ways to say: Lose your way, wander
Fun Fact/Origin: Can mean fun wandering or real confusion
Usage: Used in both good and bad travel times.
Quiz: Idioms for Travelling
Instructions: Choose the best answer that matches the meaning of the idiom. Each question has only one correct answer.
Question Key
1. What does “hit the road” mean?
A) To hurt your feet
B) To start a trip
C) To fix a car
2. If someone is “off the beaten path,” where are they?
A) In a popular place
B) On a bus
C) In a quiet or unknown place
3. What does it mean to “travel light”?
A) To use a flashlight
B) To take only a few things
C) To fly in the morning
4. What does “in the same boat” mean?
A) Sailing together
B) In the same situation
C) Rowing fast
5. If you “catch the travel bug,” what happened?
A) You got sick on a trip
B) You love traveling
C) You got bug bites
6. What does “make a pit stop” mean?
A) Visit a pit
B) Take a short break
C) Dig a hole
7. If you are “on cloud nine,” how do you feel?
A) Lost in the sky
B) Very happy
C) Wet from rain
8. What does “go the extra mile” mean?
A) Drive far
B) Travel more than needed
C) Do more than expected
9. If your trip “hit a roadblock,” what happened?
A) You stopped for gas
B) Something blocked your way
C) You went too fast
10. What does “pack your bags” mean?
A) Carry groceries
B) Put things in a suitcase
C) Clean the room
11. If someone has “itchy feet,” what do they want?
A) To wear shoes
B) To travel
C) To rest
12. What does “get the show on the road” mean?
A) Watch a movie in the car
B) Pack up the stage
C) Start a trip or event
13. If someone “takes the scenic route,” what are they doing?
A) Going the long way with nice views
B) Driving through traffic
C) Skipping stops
14. What does “blow off steam” mean?
A) Yell at someone
B) Relax or let out stress
C) Fix a steam machine
15. If someone says “steer clear of that place,” what should you do?
A) Drive there slowly
B) Avoid it
C) Visit it with friends
Answer Key
- B) To start a trip
- C) In a quiet or unknown place
- B) To take only a few things
- B) In the same situation
- B) You love traveling
- B) Take a short break
- B) Very happy
- C) Do more than expected
- B) Something blocked your way
- B) Put things in a suitcase
- B) To travel
- C) Start a trip or event
- A) Going the long way with nice views
- B) Relax or let out stress
- B) Avoid it
Wrapping Up
Idioms for travelling are fun and easy to use. They help us talk about trips in interesting ways. Some idioms mean starting a journey, while others tell how we feel or what goes wrong. By learning these sayings, we can talk like smart travelers.
Now that you’ve read 45 idioms and tried the quiz, you’re ready to use them in your own stories or conversations. Whether you’re on a trip or just dreaming about one, these phrases can make your words more exciting.
