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IDIOM
Idioms from transport
Idiom: Go downhill
Meaning / Definition
Gradually become worse.
Get progressively worse.
Examples
My hometown has started to go downhill in the last few years.
Tim and Mary started to argue soon after they got married, and their
business went downhill from there.
Tim's health went downhill fast.
After getting out of prison Tim just went downhill.
Tim's performance started going downhill when he got a part-time job.
Since the car crash, Tim's tennis game has really gone downhill.
Idiom Dead-end street
Meaning / Definition
A situation in which no progress can be made
Examples
Tim found himself stuck in a low-paid, dead-end job.
The use of dead-end street reduces the amount of car traffic on
residential streets
Tim drove into a dead-end street and had to back out.]
What are the signs of a dead-end relationship?
Tim is not happy with his marriage; it is a dead-end relationship.
Idiom: Take the wind out of someone's sails
Meanings / Definitions
A sailboat needs wind to move.
Make someone feel less confident
Examples
Tim didn't get a good comment from his boss. It really took the wind out of
his sails.
It took the wind out of the Tim's sails when he lost his job.
Idiom: Hit the road
Meaning / Definition
Leave or depart
Examples
Let's hit the road early. We need to arrive there by noon.
Hurry up; it's time to hit the road.
See you. I need to hit the road to catch my bus.
Idiom: Take off
Meaning / Definition
Go, leave
Depart on a plane
Examples
You ought to take off your coat because it is hot here.
Our plane takes off at noon. We have to go to the airport now.
Take off the gloves – Boxing: To attack earnestly, without mercy.
Boxing gloves are worn for protection of the boxer's hands and to lessen
the impact of the punches; bare-knuckle boxing is much more savage
and dangerous.
Idiom: Runaround
Meaning / Definition
Not answer a question or request, direct them somewhere else for the
answer.
Examples
I'm trying to get a passport, but the embassy staff keeps giving me the
runaround.
Tim asked Jacky on a date this Sunday but she gave him the runaround.
David complained about the shipping cost, but they gave him the
runaround. They blamed on the delivery company.
Idiom: Ride the wave
Meaning / Definition
Make use of luck of current success to achieve more success
Examples
Ride the wave to a better position.
We should ride the wave of the technology, rather than trailing it.
He was still able to ride the wave of profitability, founded a Viennese
publishing house in 1784.
The solution is attractive for developers wishing to ride the wave of rich
web applications for mobile users.
Idiom: Jump on the bandwagon
Meaning / Definition
Get involved in something that has recently become very popular.
Examples
David has finally jumped on the bandwagon and started a personal blog.
Publishers jumped on the e-books bandwagon even though they didn't
know if they could sell e-books.
Everyone has jumped on the bandwagon to learn how to use computers.
Idiom: Burn one's bridges
Meaning / Definitions
Denouncing one's boss in a written resignation means one has burned
one's bridges
Eliminate all possibilities of retreat; make one's decision irrevocable.
Example
Tim burned his bridges when he walked out angrily.
It's silly to burn one's bridges.
Idiom: Smooth sailing
Meaning
Progress without difficulty
An easy situation
Example
We had a hard time setting up the new program but it'll be smooth sailing
from here on.
After Tim left the company, it was smooth sailing.
Idiom: In the same boat
Meaning
Having the same problems.
Examples
You don't need to help them, but you could be in the same boat someday.
You're not alone. We are all in the same boat.
Idiom: Get something off the ground
Meaning / Definition
Put something into operation after having organized it.
Example
David finally got the campaign off the ground.
The project should get off the ground towards the end of this month.
Tim tried to start a company, but it never got off the ground.
Idiom: Uphill road
Example
The uphill road continued endlessly without a sight of any tollgate.
Idiom: Off the beaten track
Meaning
Unusual
Off the main road
Examples
Yesterday we went to a small restaurant for lunch; it was off the beaten
track.
His cottage is isolated and off the beaten track, so you may need extra
direction on how to get there.
If you enjoy getting off the beaten track, you should try this CD.
Idiom: Runaway success
Examples
It was a runaway success with his company.
David enjoyed the runaway success of his first self-produced album.
The runaway success of Hoyle's book led to numerous knockoffs.
Idiom: Drive someone up the wall
Meaning
Annoy or irritate someone very much.
Examples
The dust in the warehouse drives me up the wall!
Tim left the party early because his wife was driving him up the wall with
her rude comments.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 2007
Meaning / Definition
Gradually become worse.
Get progressively worse.
Examples
My hometown has started to go downhill in the last few years.
Tim and Mary started to argue soon after they got married, and their
business went downhill from there.
Tim's health went downhill fast.
After getting out of prison Tim just went downhill.
Tim's performance started going downhill when he got a part-time job.
Since the car crash, Tim's tennis game has really gone downhill.
Idiom Dead-end street
Meaning / Definition
A situation in which no progress can be made
Examples
Tim found himself stuck in a low-paid, dead-end job.
The use of dead-end street reduces the amount of car traffic on
residential streets
Tim drove into a dead-end street and had to back out.]
What are the signs of a dead-end relationship?
Tim is not happy with his marriage; it is a dead-end relationship.
Idiom: Take the wind out of someone's sails
Meanings / Definitions
A sailboat needs wind to move.
Make someone feel less confident
Examples
Tim didn't get a good comment from his boss. It really took the wind out of
his sails.
It took the wind out of the Tim's sails when he lost his job.
Idiom: Hit the road
Meaning / Definition
Leave or depart
Examples
Let's hit the road early. We need to arrive there by noon.
Hurry up; it's time to hit the road.
See you. I need to hit the road to catch my bus.
Idiom: Take off
Meaning / Definition
Go, leave
Depart on a plane
Examples
You ought to take off your coat because it is hot here.
Our plane takes off at noon. We have to go to the airport now.
Take off the gloves – Boxing: To attack earnestly, without mercy.
Boxing gloves are worn for protection of the boxer's hands and to lessen
the impact of the punches; bare-knuckle boxing is much more savage
and dangerous.
Idiom: Runaround
Meaning / Definition
Not answer a question or request, direct them somewhere else for the
answer.
Examples
I'm trying to get a passport, but the embassy staff keeps giving me the
runaround.
Tim asked Jacky on a date this Sunday but she gave him the runaround.
David complained about the shipping cost, but they gave him the
runaround. They blamed on the delivery company.
Idiom: Ride the wave
Meaning / Definition
Make use of luck of current success to achieve more success
Examples
Ride the wave to a better position.
We should ride the wave of the technology, rather than trailing it.
He was still able to ride the wave of profitability, founded a Viennese
publishing house in 1784.
The solution is attractive for developers wishing to ride the wave of rich
web applications for mobile users.
Idiom: Jump on the bandwagon
Meaning / Definition
Get involved in something that has recently become very popular.
Examples
David has finally jumped on the bandwagon and started a personal blog.
Publishers jumped on the e-books bandwagon even though they didn't
know if they could sell e-books.
Everyone has jumped on the bandwagon to learn how to use computers.
Idiom: Burn one's bridges
Meaning / Definitions
Denouncing one's boss in a written resignation means one has burned
one's bridges
Eliminate all possibilities of retreat; make one's decision irrevocable.
Example
Tim burned his bridges when he walked out angrily.
It's silly to burn one's bridges.
Idiom: Smooth sailing
Meaning
Progress without difficulty
An easy situation
Example
We had a hard time setting up the new program but it'll be smooth sailing
from here on.
After Tim left the company, it was smooth sailing.
Idiom: In the same boat
Meaning
Having the same problems.
Examples
You don't need to help them, but you could be in the same boat someday.
You're not alone. We are all in the same boat.
Idiom: Get something off the ground
Meaning / Definition
Put something into operation after having organized it.
Example
David finally got the campaign off the ground.
The project should get off the ground towards the end of this month.
Tim tried to start a company, but it never got off the ground.
Idiom: Uphill road
Example
The uphill road continued endlessly without a sight of any tollgate.
Idiom: Off the beaten track
Meaning
Unusual
Off the main road
Examples
Yesterday we went to a small restaurant for lunch; it was off the beaten
track.
His cottage is isolated and off the beaten track, so you may need extra
direction on how to get there.
If you enjoy getting off the beaten track, you should try this CD.
Idiom: Runaway success
Examples
It was a runaway success with his company.
David enjoyed the runaway success of his first self-produced album.
The runaway success of Hoyle's book led to numerous knockoffs.
Idiom: Drive someone up the wall
Meaning
Annoy or irritate someone very much.
Examples
The dust in the warehouse drives me up the wall!
Tim left the party early because his wife was driving him up the wall with
her rude comments.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 2007
