20 English idioms about success to raise the bar on your writing and take you on the road

to victory on your exams

 From ‘go the extra mile’ to ‘move mountains’, show off the fruits of your labour with these phrases
about hard work and success
 Putting in blood, sweat and tears is not all it takes – it’s just as important to work smart, too

1. Be on a roll
Meaning: To experience a prolonged spell of success or good luck
Example: The award-winning young cellist is on a roll sweeping up accolades in every competition.

2. Bend over backwards

Meaning: Make every effort to achieve something, especially to be fair or helpful
Example: I learned from my dad to bend over backwards to help those in need.

3. Blood, sweat and tears

Meaning: Extremely hard work; unrelenting effort
Example: He is pouring in his blood, sweat and tears to get a PhD.

4. Burning the candle at both ends

Meaning: To do more than one ought to; to overextend oneself
Example: My uncle’s doctor said his illness was brought on by stress and recommended that he stop
burning the candle at both ends.

5. Get cracking
Meaning: Act quickly and decisively
Example: You better get cracking for the internship interview tomorrow.

6. Go into overdrive
Meaning: To begin to work very hard; to perform intensely or very well
Example: When the publishing deadline was moved up a week, we had to go into overdrive to get all of the
articles done on time.

7. Go the extra mile

Meaning: Make a special effort to achieve something
Example: We go the extra mile to look after the elderly because they have contributed so much to society,
and we want to thank them with our services.

8. Hang in there
Meaning: Remain persistent and determined in difficult circumstances
Example: I know you have gone through a lot of difficulties, but hang in there – things can only improve
from here.

9. Hit the books

Meaning: To begin to study in a serious and determined way
Example: I have to hit the books this weekend – I have two exams next week.

10. Hit the jackpot

Meaning: Have great or unexpected success, especially in making a lot of money quickly
Example: JK Rowling hit the jackpot with her hugely successful Harry Potter series.
11. Jump through hoops
Meaning: Go through an elaborate or complicated procedure to achieve an objective
Example: We had to jump through a lot of hoops to get funding to develop our app – nobody gives away
money without making you work for it.

12. Keep one’s nose to the grindstone

Meaning: Work hard and continuously
Example: Determined to become a doctor, she kept her nose to the grindstone all through secondary
school and university.

13. Kill two birds with one stone

Meaning: Achieve two aims at once
Example: Getting enough sleep kills two birds with one stone – you rest your body and help your mind
remember what it has learned.

14. Make a comeback

Meaning: Achieve success after retirement or failure
Example: The fencer expressed confidence that he would make his comeback after undergoing surgery for
his injury.

15. Make the cut

Meaning: To succeed at something or meet a requirement; to be chosen out of a field of candidates or
possibilities
Example: I am sorry you did not make the cut this year, but maybe you can apply again next year!

16. Move mountains

Meaning: to do something that seems impossible, particularly when love or a particular belief makes you
feel determined to succeed
Example: I believe if we all work together, our passion can move mountains and create a better future.

17. Raise the bar

Meaning: To set a higher standard for other people to follow
Example: The Olympian plans to raise the bar for other athletes by setting a new world record.

18. Stay the course

Meaning: Pursue a difficult task to the end
Example: We’ll succeed in the end if we just stay the course.

19. Where there’s a will, there’s a way

Meaning: Determination will overcome any obstacle
Example: I know it will be difficult for us to win this game, but where there’s a will, there’s a way.

20. Work your fingers to the bone

Meaning: Work very hard
Example: We lived in a tiny flat and had no money, so my mother had to work her fingers to the bone
every day to feed our family.

Source: South China Morning Post

https://www.scmp.com/yp/learn/learning-resources/article/3170843/20-english-idioms-about-success-
raise-bar-your-writing