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20 Powerful English Idioms of Motivation

20 Powerful English Idioms of Motivation

20 Powerful English Idioms of Motivation

20 Powerful English Idioms of Motivation

20 Powerful English Idioms of Motivation

We all need a little extra motivation every now and again, whether it be to climb that mountain, write that first chapter of the world’s greatest novel, or simply to get out of bed on a freezing winter morning and run for the bus to work…

If YOU need motivation today, check out our handpicked list of 20 powerful English idioms of motivation, including quotations from nineteenth century novelist George Eliot and former US President Theodore Roosevelt, among others.

[Click here to learn more about how to use idioms in teaching English.]

sth = something

20 Powerful English Idioms of Motivation – Part 1

1. idiom: Give it your best shot.

literal meaning: Do the best that you can.

example:

– ‘Dad – I’m having problems with this homework. It’s too difficult.’

– ‘Just have a go, son. Give it your best shot, and I’ll have a look at it after the football.’

 

2. idiom: The sky’s the limit.

literal meaning: There is no limit to what you can achieve.

example: Once you’re a fully qualified doctor, the sky’s the limit!

 

3. idiom: There’s no such thing as impossible. Even the word itself says ‘I’m possible’!

literal meaning: Think positively.

example:

– ‘This crossword puzzle is impossible!’

– ‘Nothing’s impossible, grandpa! Even the word itself says “I’m possible”‘!

– ‘Very clever, Douglas!’

20 Powerful English Idioms of Motivation

There’s no such thing as impossible.

4. idiom: Dance like nobody’s watching.

literal meaning: Do not be self-conscious in public.

example:

– ‘I can’t give a speech in front of the whole school, mum!’

– ‘Don’t be silly, Daniel. You’ve got to dance like nobody’s watching!’

 

5. idiom: ‘Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.’ – Theodore Roosevelt

literal meaning: Don’t wait until the conditions for success are perfect.

example:

– ‘I get so overwhelmed when I think about climate change. I feel so powerless. I want to help but what can I do?’

– ‘A great man once said: Do what you can, with what you have, where you are. Start small and local, then build up from there.’

 

6. idiom: Take things one day at a time.

literal meaning: Focus on making today a good day, rather than being anxious about the future.

example: ‘You’re making a good recovery, Brian. It’s going to be slow progress, but just take it one day at a time, right?’

 

7. idiom: You can only do your best. You can’t do any more than that.

literal meaning: As long as you try your best, that will be good enough.

example:

– ‘I’m so nervous about this exam. What if I make a complete mess of it?’

– ‘Look, you can only do your best, Barbara. You can’t do any more than that.’

 

8. idiom: Put your best foot forward.

literal meaning: Try as hard as you possibly can to achieve a difficult task.

example:

– ‘I’m off to my job interview. Wish me luck!’

– ‘Good luck, mate! Put your best foot forward – you’ll be fine.’

 

9. idiom: Knock it out of the park!

literal meaning: Aim for a big success.

example:

– ‘Where are you off to?’

– ‘It’s the first night of the school play. I’m playing saxophone in the band.’

– ‘Great! Hope it goes really well for you. Knock it out of the park, love!’

 

10. idiom: ‘It’s never too late to be what you might’ve been.’ – George Eliot

literal meaning: Don’t give up because you feel time is running out.

example:

– ‘I can’t take another day in this boring job! Whatever happened to my dream of going to university and becoming an architect?’

– ‘You can still do it, Jennifer. As George Eliot said, “It’s never too late to be what you might’ve been.”


What is motivation – and how can I find it?


20 Powerful English Idioms of Motivation – Part 2

There’s no such thing as impossible.

You got this!

11. idiom: ‘Carpe diem.’ [Latin]: ‘Seize the day.’ – Horace [Roman poet]

literal meaning: Now is the time to try your best.

example:

– ‘It’s all or nothing! Either I complete the sale on those two houses today or I’m gonna get fired.’

– ‘Carpe diem! Seize the day.’

– ‘Thanks, Tony.’

 

12. idiom: ‘PMA: Positive Mental Attitude.’ – Napoleon Hill

literal meaning: Positive thinking is an active way of increasing your chances of success.

example: If you think you’re gonna fail – you probably will! Remember these three letters – PMA: Positive. Mental. Attitude.

 

13. idiom: It’s a marathon not a sprint.

literal meaning: Don’t rush to be a success – take your time and enjoy each stage of the process.

example:

– ‘I wish this course were over. But there are three more years to go!’

– ‘Look, just take it slowly. It’s a marathon not a sprint. Try to treasure each moment.’

 

14. idiom: Set your sights on sth.

literal meaning: Set a clear goal that you want to achieve.

example:

– ‘Are you still working a double shift? Still saving up for a car?’

– ‘Yeah. I’ve set my sights on a white MINI Cooper.’

 

15. idiom: To have [got] sth in the bag.

literal meaning: To be assured of success.

example:

– The interview went really well. The job looks perfect for me, really. But I don’t know how many other people they have seen.’

– ‘Don’t worry. I’m sure you’ve got it in the bag.’

 

16. idiom: To have the world at your feet.

literal meaning: Anything is possible for you.

example: Yeah, Jamie has just graduated with a First. He starts his new job next week. And he’s seeing a lovely lass. I reckon they’ll be getting married next year. They’re in the process of buying a house, I think. You know, it must be lovely to have the world at your feet.

 

17. idiom: To make inroads in(to) sth.

literal meaning: To make progress towards achieving your goal.

example:

– ‘There are so many leaves come down in the garden this year. It’s gonna take a while to get rid of them all.’

– ‘Looks like you’ve started making inroads into it, though, Paul.’

– ‘Yeah. I’ll get out there after lunch and have another try.’

 

18. idiom: Go for it!

literal meaning: Try to achieve your goal wholeheartedly.

example:

– ‘Hey, dad, can I borrow your guitar later? I want to learn some new chords.’

– ‘No problem. Go for it!

 

19. idiom: To bear fruit.

literal meaning: To show signs of success.

example:

– ‘I noticed that Jane’s oil paintings have really improved recently.’

– ‘Yes, all her hard work and dedication is definitely starting to bear fruit.’

 

20. idiom: ‘I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.’ – Thomas Edison

literal meaning: Failure is not the end but represents the valuable opportunity to try again.

example:

– ‘I failed mum. I went to pieces in the exam. It was awful. I’m never going to understand maths!’

– ‘Failure is just a state of mind, darling. It’s actually a good opportunity to work out what you did wrong and then have another go. Remember that quote by Thomas Edison – about inventing the lightbulb – I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.”


Can you think of any more English idioms of motivation? Why not comment and leave your suggestion below.


This material about English Idioms of Motivation is completely free to use and in the public domain, so please feel free to share it widely!

If you have any feedback about these free resources, we’d love to hear from you! Please leave a comment or review below or on Facebook or Twitter.


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20 English Idioms of Sadness

20 English Idioms of Sadness

20 English Idioms of Sadness

20 English Idioms of Sadness

How do you react when you feel down in the mouth? Do you have a face like a wet weekend, when you don’t get your own way? What kind of situation or event would make you fall to pieces, or feel absolutely gutted? Have you or any of your friends or family ever had a midlife crisis? What did they end up doing? Whether you handle stress and emotional crises calmly, or find yourself sinking deeper and deeper into despair, this handy list of 20 English idioms of sadness will help you understand common idioms and expressions in English about sadness.

[Click here to learn more about how to use idioms in teaching English.]

sby = somebody    sth = something

1. idiom: be down in the mouth / down in the dumps

literal meaning: be sad for a short time

example: The twins were down in the dumps this morning, so after lunch I took them to the playground and they had a lovely time.

 

2. idiom: reduce sby to tears

literal meaning: make sby cry

example: Then my boss started having a go at me, and telling me what a bad employee I was, and I couldn’t stand it any longer… I began sobbing. You know, that woman reduced me to tears.

 

3. idiom: have a face like a wet weekend

literal meaning: look sad

example: Look – I know you’ve lost your phone, but you’ve been sitting there all morning with a face like a wet weekend! Why don’t you read a book or do a jigsaw puzzle, or something?

 

4. idiom: be too sad for words

literal meaning: be so sad that you cannot express how you feel

example: The loss of David’s beloved mother is quite simply too sad for words.

 

5. idiom: have a lump in your throat

literal meaning: feel like you are about to cry

example: ‘How was the graduation ceremony, mum? Did you cry?’ ‘I was fine until I saw Jemima receive her certificate from the Dean and then I began to feel a lump in my throat. But no, I didn’t cry.’

 

6. idiom: break sby’s heart / have your heart broken by sby

literal meaning: to be hurt very badly emotionally by a romantic partner

example: ‘I’m sorry, Jason – it’s over! I can’t… I can’t…’ ‘Don’t go, darling. I’m sorry. I can explain… Don’t… Don’t leave me here with a broken heart.’

 

7. idiom: feel low / blue / out of sorts

literal meaning: not feel very strong emotionally; feel a little depressed

example: ‘What’s up with you today?’ ‘I don’t know. You know, I just feel a bit low today. You know – out of sorts.’

 

8. idiom: be / feel gutted

literal meaning: be disappointed

example: I was gutted I didn’t get the job. What’s wrong with me? I just can’t seem to get a break.

 

9. idiom: be a sad state of affairs

literal meaning: be a very sad – and perhaps avoidable – situation

example: The fact that your grandfather died on a trolley in a hospital corridor without getting the medical care and attention that he needed was a very sad state of affairs. I’m so sorry.

 

10. idiom: be / end up sadder but wiser

literal meaning: end up feeling sadder but with greater wisdom gained from life experience

example: I still don’t think it was right to get divorced, but my ex-husband absolutely insisted upon it. So, as you can see it’s been a long, hard road but… but… You know what? I think I’ve ended up sadder but wiser.

 

11. idiom: take sth hard

literal meaning: be badly affected emotionally by an event

example: ‘Terry’s dog died of leukaemia last month.’ ‘Is that why he’s been so withdrawn recently?’ ‘Yeah – he took it really hard. Poor guy.’

 

12. idiom: be cut up about sth / sby

literal meaning: be very upset about sth / sby

example: ‘Josephine had to go to court to try and get custody of her kids. She lost.’ ‘Yeah, I know. She seems pretty cut up about it.’ ‘Well, wouldn’t you be?’

 

13. idiom: go / fall to pieces

literal meaning: suddenly break down emotionally

example: Mum had been on edge all day, because of the debt collector calling, but when she found out that Benji had been in an accident and was in hospital she just went to pieces.

 

14. idiom: not be the same since…

literal meaning: be different after a sad event

example: To be honest, I haven’t been the same since Oscar died. I loved him so much.

 

15. idiom: be beside yourself with grief

literal meaning: be very upset – even inconsolable – due to the death of a loved one

example: ‘Alex, please come round and talk to our mother. She hasn’t come downstairs for two days.’ ‘What do you expect? Since dad’s sudden passing, she’s been beside herself with grief.’

 

16. idiom: misery loves company

literal meaning: people who feel sad like to share their problems with others

example: ‘Since he got divorced, Brian can’t stop going on about his problems – endlessly!’ ‘Well, you know what they say – “misery loves company“.’

 

17. idiom: sink into despair

literal meaning: gradually feel more and more hopeless

example: Following the rat infestation, as the number of court cases mounted, the manager of Alan’s Fish Bar began to sink deeper into despair.

 

18. idiom: have a midlife crisis

literal meaning: behave in an out of character manner after reaching middle age

example: ‘After her fortieth birthday, my sweet little neighbour Ola cut her hair, ditched her long-term boyfriend, put her lovely flat on the market and set off on an indefinite charity walk around the world.’ ‘It looks like a midlife crisis to me.’

 

19. idiom: heart sinks / get that sinking feeling

literal meaning: get a sudden feeling of disappointment and/or fear

example: When Polly opened her exam results and saw that she had failed Maths, her heart sank.

 

20. idiom: cry your eyes / heart out

literal meaning: cry a lot

example: ‘What have you done to Martha? She’s upstairs in her bedroom, crying her eyes out!’ ‘I haven’t done nothing, mum! Well – she took my phone, so I chucked her doll in the bin.’


This material is completely  free to use and public domain, so please feel free to share it widely!

If you have any feedback about these free resources, we’d love to hear from you! Please leave a comment or review below or on Facebook or Twitter.


Photo by Eric Ward on Unsplash