15 IDIOMS ABOUT MOTIVATION, EFFORT, AND SUCCESS
Staying motivated and ambitious at times can be hard for many people. But keep in mind that determined people are the ones who are most likely to achieve their goals and they are always striving for progress and excellence.
If you are an ambitious and go-getting type of person, you may be interested to learn about the idiomatic expressions you can use to describe yourself or somebody else.
Take a look at these 15 idiomatic American English expressions about motivation, effort, and success.
A BRAINSTORM
– A very smart idea
Examples:
Arthur started his business by brainstorming.
She won the fair with her brainstorming and science skills.
They had a brainstorm that made the teachers happy.
A HUSTLER
– A go-getter type of person who gets money aggressively
Examples:
Marco is a hustler who makes easy money by doing bad stuff.
Don’t get fooled by insurance hustlers near the mall.
Our neighbors paid thousands of dollars to that hustler.
A PEP TALK
– A talk to encourage people or to help them have confidence
Examples:
The professor gave us a great pep talk about college.
Doctor Mike was having a pep talk with cancer patients.
I gave a pep talk in our classroom.
AN EAGER BEAVER
– Ambitious, industrious, or a hard-working person
Examples:
Tommy is an eager beaver type of guy.
Lucia has a nice house because she’s such an eager beaver.
George is a real eager beaver in the office.
BRING HOME THE BACON
– To achieve success; earn the family’s income
Examples:
I hope Janice brings home the bacon.
Lilly needs to work because it brings home the bacon.
You don’t need to be the best to bring home the bacon.
COME THROUGH WITH FLYING COLORS
– To succeed and achieve something worthy
Examples:
Angel came through with flying colors on her exams.
In my view, Rommel had come through with flying colors.
Robin was nervous about taking his college admission exam, but he came through with flying colors!
GET DOWN TO BRASS TACKS
– To start working on something important
Examples:
Everyone’s here, let’s get down to brass tacks.
We have to wait for other members before getting down to brass tacks.
They immediately get down to brass tacks after having lunch.
HIGH OFF THE HOG
– To live in luxury and high level of comfortability
Examples:
Just keep dreaming, one day you’ll be living high off the hog.
Sam is living high off the hog.
We worked hard to be able to live high off the hog.
IN SEVENTH HEAVEN
– Very happy
Examples:
I feel like in seventh heaven after hearing her good news.
They’re in seventh heaven after winning the lottery.
Tina is in seventh heaven when she found out she’s going to Disneyland.
IN THE SWING OF THINGS
– To adapt or adjust to a new surrounding
Examples:
Keisha is getting in the swing of things and making new friends.
Mark has to get in the swing of things with his new job.
I’ve been working here for 2 months now and I was just getting into the swing of things.
ON A SHOESTRING
– To have a very little amount of money
Examples:
You can’t open up a business on a shoestring.
I need to borrow some money, we’re on a shoestring.
We made the program on a shoestring budget.
PULLING STRINGS
– To secretly use influence or power and make something possible
Examples:
I’ll try to pull some strings to get you hired.
Why don’t you pull some strings to get me nice feedback?
Donna may be able to pull strings if you need the documents urgently.
STRAIGHT FROM THE HORSE’S MOUTH
– To hear from or be informed by the person involved; a reliable/dependable source
Examples:
I got the news straight from the horse’s mouth.
Dominic is selling his house, I heard it straight from the horse’s mouth.
It’s true she’s seeing a new guy, heard it straight from the horse’s mouth.
THE BLACK SHEEP
– A family member with a bad reputation
Examples:
Bella is the black sheep in her family.
The elders always say that there’s a black sheep in every family.
Tim has always been the black sheep of the family.
THE CREAM OF THE CROP
– The best one; the top choice
Examples:
Max was chosen as the prom king, he’s the cream of the crop.
They read all the essays and yours was the cream of the crop.
Ron will be promoted, he’s the cream of the crop.
