25 motivational idioms
Learning idioms can be fun and helps you understand everyday English much better. Here are 25 motivational idioms that can inspire you and help you sound more like a native speaker. Each idiom comes with a simple explanation and a sentence showing how you can use it.
1. No pain, no gain
You need to work hard for success.
Sarah studied hard for the math competition, knowing that no pain, no gain, and it paid off when she won first place.
2. The early bird catches the worm
If you wake up and start early, you’ll succeed.
Tom always starts his workday before everyone else, proving that the early bird catches the worm by finishing his tasks first.
3. Every cloud has a silver lining
Look for something good in a bad situation.
When she missed her flight, she found a silver lining by exploring the city she was stranded in and discovering new places.
4. Bite the bullet
Do something difficult because it’s necessary.
Even though it was raining, we had to bite the bullet and continue with the yard sale as planned.
5. Burn the midnight oil
Work late into the night.
Jack burned the midnight oil last week to prepare his business proposal for the upcoming client meeting.
6. Keep your chin up
Stay happy and don’t give up.
When Julie lost the tennis match, her coach told her to keep her chin up because there was always another chance to win.
7. Go the extra mile
Do more than what others expect.
The teacher went the extra mile to ensure that every student understood the lesson, staying late to offer extra help.
8. Shoot for the stars
Set high goals.
Our coach always tells us to shoot for the stars, which is why our team practices with such dedication.
9. Pull yourself together
Calm down and take control of your emotions.
After losing her notes, Emily had to pull herself together quickly to deliver the presentation from memory.
10. Take the bull by the horns
Handle a problem directly.
When the project started to fall behind schedule, he took the bull by the horns and reorganized the entire timeline.
11. The ball is in your court
It’s your turn to make a decision.
After the offer was made, the ball was in her court to negotiate a better salary.
12. Turn over a new leaf
Start behaving better.
This semester, Mark turned over a new leaf, arriving on time for every class.
13. Up the ante
Increase what’s at stake or the effort.
In an attempt to win back their customers, the company upped the ante by improving their warranty conditions.
14. Weather the storm
Survive a tough situation.
The small town weathered the storm of the economic downturn better than expected, with many businesses finding ways to thrive.
15. When the going gets tough, the tough get going
Strong people work harder in difficult times.
As soon as the work becomes difficult, the best employees show their true skill, because when the going gets tough, the tough get going.
16. You can’t make an omelet without breaking eggs
You can’t achieve something big without problems or sacrifices.
During the office remodel, the manager reminded her team that you can’t make an omelet without breaking eggs, expecting some disruptions.
17. We’ll cross that bridge when you come to it
Deal with a problem if and when it becomes necessary.
He decided to not worry about the potential problems of his plan, preferring to cross that bridge when he comes to it.
18. Get your act together
Organize yourself to perform better.
The director told the actors to get their act together before the dress rehearsal to ensure a flawless performance.
19. Hit the ground running
Start something energetically.
New employees are expected to hit the ground running, as the company prides itself on its dynamic work environment.
20. Make hay while the sun shines
Take advantage of a good situation.
Knowing the good weather wouldn’t last, the farmer worked from dawn till dusk to make hay while the sun shines.
21. Push the envelope
Go beyond the usual limits.
The new marketing campaign pushed the envelope with its innovative use of technology and creative content.
22. Raise the bar
Set higher standards.
After setting a new sales record last quarter, the team raised the bar for what they aimed to achieve in the next one.
23. Kick into high gear
To start working very effectively or energetically.
As the deadline approached, the entire office kicked into high gear, with everyone staying late and ensuring that the project was not only completed on time but done to the highest standard.
24. Start with a bang
To begin something in a very exciting or successful way.
The new restaurant in town started with a bang, hosting a grand opening that attracted hundreds of locals eager to try their unique dishes.
25. Grasp the nettle
To tackle a difficult problem bravely and decisively.
Knowing that delaying the decision would only create more issues, the team leader decided to grasp the nettle and addressed the conflicts within her team during the meeting.
These motivational idioms can help you express motivation and determination in English. Try using them in your daily conversations to improve your language skills and impress your friends!
