Opportunities, Achieving Success, Successful People & Things and 6 More Topics · English Idioms: Success

to fail to take advantage of an opportunity

"He never misses a trick."

"The shrewd investor never misses a trick when it comes to finding profitable business ventures."

another opportunity for one to do or achieve something one previously failed at

"She got a second bite at the cherry."

"After failing his driving test he is hoping for a second bite at the cherry next month."

to make sure that there is still a possibility or chance for something to be done or achieved at a later time

"Let us leave the door open for negotiation."

"The CEO's resignation leaves the door open for a younger candidate to take over the company leadership."

to make a process easier and more successful by providing support or taking action to overcome obstacles or resistance

"We greased the skids for them."

"The manager decided to grease the skids for the new employee's integration into the team."

to make the necessary preparations for an event or situation

"We prepare the ground for change."

"The team worked hard to prepare the ground for the new product launch next month."

used to mean that a specific place provides many opportunities to become wealthy and successful with little effort

"They thought streets paved with gold."

"Many immigrants arrived in the city believing its streets were paved with gold, seeking instant fortune."

a situation in which making a lot of money becomes possible with minimal time or effort

"The politician jumps on the gravy train for his own benefit."

"He saw the new government position as a gravy train, expecting easy money and little work."

to earn enough money to be able to pay for the necessities of life

"He works hard to bring home the bacon."

"As the only earner in the family she works two jobs to bring home the bacon every week."

to become noticed or well-known by doing something, particularly something unusual or impressive

"He wants to make his mark."

"The young artist traveled to Paris hoping to make her mark in the competitive world of contemporary painting."

to be extremely popular or successful

"Her new song went down a bomb."

"The comedian's latest show went down a bomb with the audience, and everyone left the theater laughing and smiling."

to bring about either success or failure for someone or something

"This audition will make or break his career."

"This audition will make or break her acting career because the director is looking for a new star."

to be left in a situation where one either succeeds or fails

"It is sink or swim now."

"The company gave no training to new employees, so it was sink or swim from the very first day on the job."

to be the first individual who discovers something or does something new and authentic

"She loves to blaze a trail."

"The scientist decided to blaze a trail in renewable energy research by developing a completely new type of solar panel."

used to describe a risky or extreme action or solution that could either lead to great success or complete failure

"This is kill or cure."

"Investing all our remaining capital into this speculative venture is a kill or cure strategy for the company."

used to describe a situation in which one barely manages to do something or escape danger

"I passed the test by the skin of my teeth."

"I passed the final exam by the skin of my teeth with the lowest possible passing grade."

to manage to find something or someone after a long time of searching

"We ran him to ground."

"After weeks of diligent investigation, the detective finally managed to run the fugitive to ground in a remote town."

to succeed in achieving the required result or solving the encountered problem

"This will do the trick."

"Adding a little more salt to the soup did the trick and it tasted delicious after that."

to create opportunities that lead to success

"His degree opened doors for him."

"Having a degree from a top university can open doors for you when you start looking for employment."

to achieve an initial level of success in dealing with a particular task, situation, challenge, etc.

"I could not get to first base."

"I have been studying for months but I cannot get to first base with this difficult language."

(of a process or event) without encountering any problems, difficulties, or obstacles

"The event went without its hitch."

"The wedding ceremony proceeded without a hitch, much to the relief of the happy couple."

to perform a clever or skillful action, find a quick solution to a problem, or successfully complete a task or job

"She turned a trick."

"The resourceful mechanic managed to turn a trick by fixing the engine with only basic tools."

to continue to succeed fast

"The project is going great guns."

"Since they hired the new manager, the company has been going great guns and profits have increased significantly."

to achieve success, especially in a competitive or high-stakes situation

"They bring home bacon."

"The dedicated team worked tirelessly to bring home the bacon, securing the crucial contract for their company."

a situation where something regains success or popularity

"It's a new lease on life."

"After the successful rebranding, the struggling business experienced a new lease on life and increased customer interest."

(of a person) doing something one is trained for or is very good at

"The doctor in action."

"Watching the skilled surgeon in action during the complex operation was truly inspiring for the medical students."

working or operating correctly and without any problems

"The old car is in good working order."

"The vintage car is still in perfect working order and runs as smoothly as when it was new."

at the peak or maximum level of performance, engagement, or energy

"The party was in full swing."

"The party was in full swing by midnight with everyone dancing and laughing and having a great time."

a person with secret skills or ideas that when become known, they surprise people

"The dark horse won the election."

"The dark horse won the election and surprised everyone who had favored the leading candidate."

someone who is very rich or influential, particularly a politician or business owner

"He is a fat cat."

"The public grew increasingly resentful of the perceived greed of the fat cat executives receiving massive bonuses."

to achieve or experience significant success or progress, often with a sense of confidence and positive momentum

"She really has it going on."

"After months of hard work, our team finally has it going on with the new project."

a person who achieves success, wealth, etc., at the later stages of life compared to others

"He was a late bloomer in sports."

"He was a late bloomer in sports and did not make the varsity team until his senior year."

to be in a situation in which one can have what they desire or need

"You are in luck today!"

"She was in luck when she found a twenty-dollar bill on the sidewalk."

the person who holds the highest position or achieves the greatest success in a particular context or competition

"He is king of the hill."

"After winning the championship for the third consecutive year, she solidified her position as the undisputed king of the hill in her sport."

in a distinctive and very successful way

"She passed the test with flying colors."

"She passed her driving test with flying colors on the very first attempt without any mistakes."

(of a person or organization) to be exceptionally influential or important

"His words carry weight."

"As a respected elder in the community, her opinions always carry weight in important decisions."

a sudden but brief success that is not sustained

"He was a flash in the pan."

"The young singer was just a flash in the pan because nobody remembers her songs from last year."

to achieve or experience significant success or progress, often with a sense of confidence and positive momentum

"She has it going on."

"With her innovative business strategies and confident execution, it's clear she's got it going on."

an individual who is highly skilled or experienced in a specific activity or profession

"He is a man."

"The experienced negotiator proved to be a true man in the complex international trade discussions."

in good health after a period of illness or injury

"I am back on my feet."

"After the accident it took him several weeks to get back on his feet again."

to manage to stand upright after taking a fall or being knocked down

"He regained his feet."

"After tripping on the rug, he quickly regained his feet and continued walking."

to have achieved great success or made great progress

"You have come a long way!"

"The technology has come a long way since the first mobile phones were invented decades ago."

to become more and more successful with the passage of time

"His business went from strength to strength."

"Since opening last year the small bakery has gone from strength to strength and now employs ten people."

to be in a place or position where one needs to make a lot of progress in order to achieve a desired result

"She is good, but she has a long way to go."

"The student has improved but still has a long way to go before she can pass the advanced exam."

to experience success or good fortune, particularly after a period of facing challenges or setbacks

"She always lands on her feet."

"After losing his job, he managed to land on his feet by starting his own successful business."

to return to a position of success, influence or popularity after experiencing a decline or setback

"The old actor is making a comeback."

"The old singer made a comeback with a new album that surprised everyone by becoming very popular."

to make an effort to improve a situation after an unfortunate event or unexpected setback

"After the war, we had to pick up the pieces."

"After the divorce she had to pick up the pieces of her life and start over in a new city."

to improve a situation or one's behavior for better results

"You must put your house in order."

"Before applying for the loan, the company needed to get its financial house in order."

a very great success

"The event was a roaring success."

"The event was a roaring success and the organizers are already planning next year's gathering."

an unattractive or unsuccessful person or thing that later turns attractive or successful

"He was an ugly duckling."

"She was considered an ugly duckling in her youth but blossomed into a confident and beautiful woman."

used to refer to a company, organization, etc. that is prosperous and developing rapidly

"The company is on its feet."

"Thanks to the innovative new product, the startup is finally on its feet and showing significant growth."

to become successful again after experiencing difficulties or financial problems

"They will regain their feet."

"After the economic downturn, the small businesses are working hard to regain their feet and stabilize operations."

to have a very successful outcome, often despite initial challenges or difficulties

"Everything will come up roses."

"Despite the early setbacks, the project came up roses and exceeded everyone's expectations."

to take time to recover, heal, or regain strength after a difficult or painful experience

"The team went home to lick their wounds."

"After losing the election the defeated politician went home to lick his wounds and plan his next campaign."

a sudden and significant change, improvement, or increase

"The computer was a quantum leap forward."

"The invention of the smartphone was a quantum leap in communication technology that changed the world forever."

to make effort to fix all the small problems of something, such as an activity or project

"We must iron out kinks."

"Before the official launch, the development team worked tirelessly to iron out the kinks in the new software."

slowly becoming successful again after a period of constant failure

"The project is back on the rails."

"After months of therapy his life is finally back on the rails and he feels hopeful about the future."

gaining more popularity, power, or influence

"Her career is in ascendant."

"With each successful film and endorsement deal, the young actress's star is clearly in the ascendant."

returning to the right path after a failure, mistake, etc.

"My diet is back on track now."

"After a few setbacks the construction project is now back on track and expected to finish on time."

the final small detail added to complete and improve something, giving it a polished, finished quality

"Add a finishing touch."

"She added a few finishing touches to the cake before serving it to her guests at dinner."

something extra that is added to something that is already good in order to make it perfect

"The bonus is icing on the cake."

"Winning the championship was amazing, and the cash prize was the icing on the cake."

the final adjustment to something already good or satisfactory just to make it perfect

"A good boss is the cherry on the sundae."

"Getting a promotion was wonderful but the cherry on top of the cake was the corner office with a beautiful view."

in a state of moving or progressing rapidly, particularly with regards to one's career, success, or lifestyle

"He lives his life in the fast lane."

"He has been living in the fast lane since winning the lottery but his friends worry he will crash eventually."

in a process of recovering or improving from a failure or setback

"He is on the mend."

"Following the difficult project, the team is now on the mend, focusing on recovery and future planning."

used to describe someone or something that attracts a great deal of public attention

"She lives in the public eye."

"Famous politicians must be careful about their behaviour because they are constantly in the public eye."

a well-known or influential person, especially in a specific field or industry

"The band is a big name in jazz."

"The band is a big name in jazz and has performed at festivals all over the world."

someone or something that manages to attract a lot of attention and popularity for a short period of time

"She is the flavor of the month in Hollywood."

"That social media platform is just the flavor of the month and will probably be forgotten by next year."

to experience a sudden rise to fame and glory

"She really hit the big time."

"After years of struggling, the band finally hit the big time with their third album."

to become well-known or respected in a particular field or area through one's achievements or actions

"He made a name for himself as a chef."

"He hopes to make a name for himself as a musician by playing at local venues and festivals."

to reach a great level of fame and success

"She always wanted to make it big."

"He moved to Hollywood hoping to make it big as an actor but ended up driving a taxi instead."

to make a person, place, or thing widely known, often for the first time

"This win put our town on the map."

"The discovery of gold in this small town put it on the map and attracted many visitors."

to prove someone's innocence or remove suspicion surrounding someone's reputation

"He fought hard to clear his name."

"The accused man spent years trying to clear his name after being wrongly convicted of a crime he did not commit."

something or someone that is currently the subject of a lot of gossip and discussion among the people in a particular community or social circle

"The new couple is the talk of the town."

"The celebrity wedding was the talk of the town for weeks after it happened."

to take action or make a statement in order to avoid embarrassment, humiliation, or loss of respect

"He lied to save face in front of his friends."

"He apologized publicly to save face after his mistake was exposed by the newspaper."

someone or something that receives a lot of attention by the public

"The actress loves being in the spotlight."

"The young actress enjoys being in the spotlight and loves giving interviews and appearing on television shows."

to undo or reverse something that has already been said or done, particularly when it is impossible to truly forget or ignore its impact or consequences

"You cannot unring the bell after speaking."

"You cannot unring a bell once the secret is out it is impossible to take it back."

someone who is important or influential within a small or limited group, but who may not be as significant or well-known in a larger context

"He's a big fish."

"While he's a big fish in a small pond at his local club, he's relatively unknown in the national sporting arena."

to be highly successful and popular

"At age twenty, she had the world at her feet."

"After graduating from university with top marks she had the world at her feet and many job offers."

to be rising up to a higher position or level

"Your career is on the way up."

"The young entrepreneur is definitely on the way up after securing major investors last month."

the important or influential people in a particular field or social setting

"Anyone who is anyone will be there."

"Anyone who is anyone in the fashion industry attended the exclusive show during Paris Fashion Week."

someone of great importance or influence

"The big cheese of the company arrives in a limousine."

"The big cheese from headquarters visited the local office to inspect operations."

an individual who is very famous or influential

"The CEO is the big enchilada around here."

"The CEO of the tech giant is considered the big enchilada in the industry."

a person whose fame or influence has widely spread

"He is a big fish."

"The investigative journalist managed to secure an exclusive interview with the big fish behind the international scandal."

a person or an organization that possesses great power or influence

"They brought in the big guns to solve the crisis."

"They brought in the big guns to solve the crisis and the CEO personally handled the negotiations."

someone of great importance or influence

"The big shot arrived in a limousine."

"The big shot arrived in a limousine and his security guards pushed through the crowd."

a person who has a lot of power or influence in a particular field, business, or community

"He is a big wheel in local politics."

"He is a big wheel in local politics and his endorsement can make or break a campaign."

to rise in wealth or status

"He has gone up in the world."

"Since moving to New York, she has really gone up in the world and now lives in a penthouse."

a person of great importance or influence

"The head honcho makes all the decisions."

"The head honcho makes all the decisions and his employees are afraid to question him."

having power or authority and commanding respect and attention, often implying confidence, assertiveness, and control

"The manager is in charge."

"With his booming voice and confident demeanor, the CEO was clearly large and in charge."

a successful person who becomes the target of criticism or resentment from others because of their achievements or prominence

"The tall poppy is often criticized."

"The tall poppy is often criticized and successful people are sometimes resented by their peers."

the individuals or groups who hold the most authority or influence in a particular organization, community, or situation

"The powers that be decided."

"The powers that be have decided to close the old factory and move all production to China."

a person who has a significant influence and is actively involved in bringing about change or progress in a particular field or industry

"He is a real mover and shaker in politics."

"She is a real mover and shaker in the tech industry and knows all the most influential people."

a person, organization, or entity that has immense potential, power, or influence, but is currently inactive, unaware, or not utilizing their capabilities

"The sleeping giant awoke."

"The sleeping giant awoke and the once quiet company suddenly became a dominant force in the industry."

the people who have a lot of power and authority within an organization but are not known by many people

"The decision was made by men in gray suits."

"The decision was made by men in gray suits who have never actually done the jobs of ordinary workers."

the influential and decision-making circles within a government, organization, or institution

"Decisions are made in the halls of power."

"The controversial policy was debated endlessly in the corridors of power before finally being approved by the government."

a group of powerful bankers or investors particularly from Switzerland who are believed to have secret political influence

"The gnomes of Zurich control much of the world's money."

"The company's future depends on the gnomes of Zurich who control the international banking system and interest rates."

to make sure that something benefits one instead of just wasting one's time

"Make the wait worth your while."

"The company offered a large bonus to make the extra work worthwhile for the employees."

to make effort to make someone feel happier or healthier

"A holiday will do you good."

"Taking a short break from work will do you a world of good and help you recharge your batteries."

an acquaintance of one with great power or influence that can advance one's interests

"He has a friend in court."

"Having a friend in court who understands the legal system can be incredibly beneficial during a complicated trial."

one's acquaintances who possess great influence and are willing to help one get out of trouble or achieve what one desires

"He has friends in high places."

"The project was approved quickly because the director had friends in high places at the city council."

something tangible and certain that one possesses, emphasizing the importance of appreciating and valuing it rather than seeking something else

"A bird in the hand is safe."

"He turned down the risky investment because he believes a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush."

to possess positive qualities or advantages that increase the likelihood of success or achievement in a particular area or situation

"You have a lot going for you."

"With your talent, determination, and strong network, you certainly have a lot going for you in this career."

to enjoy or benefit from a period of sudden success that something has brought

"They rode the wave of success."

"The company decided to ride the wave of growing demand for electric vehicles by launching several new models."

to find oneself in a better condition or situation

"We are better off now."

"After moving to the countryside, the family was much better off in terms of health and overall happiness."

to benefit one or improve one's situation in a variety of ways

"The medicine did me good."

"Complaining about the situation will not do you any good so try to focus on finding a solution instead."

to be in an advantageous or favorable position, particularly financially

"After the win, he is sitting pretty."

"After the inheritance she is sitting pretty with enough money to retire early and travel the world."

to use something, such as one's skills, possessions, etc.

"Put your savings to work."

"He put his savings to work by investing them in the stock market instead of leaving them in a bank account."

a personal investment or stake in a particular outcome, which motivates a person to be committed to achieving success or avoiding failure

"I have skin in the game."

"The manager has skin in the game because she invested her own money in the project so she will work hard."

to have an interest in the outcome of a particular situation

"He has no dog in this fight."

"The lawyer refused to take the case because his brother worked for the opposing company and he had a dog in the fight."

to offer a beneficial or valuable contribution or resource in a collaborative setting to achieve a common goal

"Bring skills to table."

"Each member of the team was asked to bring their unique expertise and innovative ideas to the table."

a share of money or benefits that are available to one

"Everyone wants a piece of the pie."

"The workers demanded a fair share of the pie after the company announced record breaking profits this year."

to take advantage of a favorable opportunity or circumstance while it is available, rather than waiting or procrastinating

"Make hay while the sun shines."

"The weather is beautiful so let us make hay while the sun shines and finish painting the house today."

material or information that can be used or processed, especially to generate further discussion, ideas, or productivity

"Every problem is grist for the mill."

"The criticism from her rivals was just grist for the mill because it motivated her to work even harder."

to have a significant impact or influence

"Kindness goes a long way."

"A simple apology can go a long way toward resolving conflicts and rebuilding trust between two people."

to change a situation in the favor of a person, group, etc.

"She tipped the balance today."

"The new evidence helped tip the balance of the trial in favor of the defense team."

to be advantageous or beneficial to someone or something in the long run

"Your patience will stand you in good stead."

"His ability to speak three languages will stand him in good stead when he applies for jobs at international companies."

to have favorable conditions or circumstances that support or propel one's progress or success

"He has the wind at his back now."

"With strong public support, the candidate had the wind at her back as she launched her campaign."