Everyone has goals. A goal is something you want to do or finish. It could be winning a game, getting good grades, or learning to swim. Reaching a goal can be fun, but it also takes time and effort. People use special phrases to talk about trying hard and not giving up. These phrases are called idioms.
Idioms are groups of words that mean something different from the words you see. When people talk about reaching goals, they often use idioms to describe working hard, staying strong, and finishing what they started. These sayings can help you understand what others mean and also make your own speaking or writing more fun. Let’s learn some of them together.
Idioms for Achieving Goals
1. Reach for the stars
Meaning: Try to do something great or big.
Within a Sentence: She always reaches for the stars with her science projects. / I told my friend to reach for the stars and try out for the team.
In Other Words: Aim high. / Try your best.
2. Hit the ground running
Meaning: Start something with energy and speed.
Within a Sentence: On the first day of school, I hit the ground running. / He hit the ground running with his homework.
In Other Words: Start fast. / Begin strong.
3. Keep your eye on the prize
Meaning: Stay focused on your goal.
Within a Sentence: I keep my eye on the prize when studying for a test. / She kept her eye on the prize during the big race.
In Other Words: Don’t lose focus. / Remember what you want.
4. Go the extra mile
Meaning: Do more than what is needed.
Within a Sentence: She goes the extra mile to help her friends. / I went the extra mile by cleaning the room after the project.
In Other Words: Work harder. / Do extra.
5. Put your nose to the grindstone
Meaning: Work very hard.
Within a Sentence: I put my nose to the grindstone to finish my book report. / He put his nose to the grindstone to get better at basketball.
In Other Words: Work without stopping. / Focus and try hard.
6. Climb the ladder
Meaning: Move up step by step.
Within a Sentence: She climbed the ladder from being shy to class leader. / He’s climbing the ladder in his music lessons.
In Other Words: Keep improving. / Make progress.
7. On the right track
Meaning: Doing things the correct way to succeed.
Within a Sentence: If you study a little each day, you’re on the right track. / He’s on the right track to becoming a better reader.
In Other Words: Going the right way. / Making good choices.
8. See it through
Meaning: Finish what you started.
Within a Sentence: I didn’t like the art project at first, but I saw it through. / She always sees her work through to the end.
In Other Words: Don’t quit. / Keep going.
9. Get the ball rolling
Meaning: Start something.
Within a Sentence: Let’s get the ball rolling on our group project. / He got the ball rolling by writing the first sentence.
In Other Words: Begin. / Start working.
10. Break new ground
Meaning: Do something new or different.
Within a Sentence: She broke new ground with her science idea. / Our team broke new ground by trying a new play.
In Other Words: Try something new. / Be first.
11. Burn the midnight oil
Meaning: Stay up late working hard.
Within a Sentence: I burned the midnight oil studying for the big test. / He burned the midnight oil finishing his science fair board.
In Other Words: Stayed up late. / Worked hard at night.
12. Step up your game
Meaning: Try harder to do better.
Within a Sentence: I stepped up my game in math class. / She stepped up her game in practice and made the team.
In Other Words: Improve. / Try more.
13. Cross the finish line
Meaning: Complete something.
Within a Sentence: I crossed the finish line on my reading challenge. / She crossed the finish line on her art project.
In Other Words: Finish. / Complete it.
14. Keep your head in the game
Meaning: Stay focused.
Within a Sentence: I kept my head in the game during the spelling bee. / He kept his head in the game while building the model.
In Other Words: Don’t lose focus. / Concentrate.
15. Rise to the occasion
Meaning: Do well when it’s important.
Within a Sentence: She rose to the occasion during her school speech. / I rose to the occasion on test day.
In Other Words: Do your best. / Handle the challenge.
16. Crack the code
Meaning: Solve a hard problem.
Within a Sentence: I cracked the code in my math puzzle. / She cracked the code on how to fix the computer.
In Other Words: Solve it. / Figure it out.
17. Make a name for yourself
Meaning: Become known for doing something well.
Within a Sentence: He made a name for himself in art class. / She made a name for herself in soccer.
In Other Words: Become known. / Get noticed.
18. All in a day’s work
Meaning: Something that’s part of your goal or job.
Within a Sentence: Cleaning up was all in a day’s work for the team. / Helping others is all in a day’s work for the teacher.
In Other Words: Normal part of the job. / Just part of the goal.
19. Reach a milestone
Meaning: Achieve an important step.
Within a Sentence: I reached a milestone by reading 10 books. / Winning my first race was a big milestone.
In Other Words: Big step. / Special moment.
20. Make the grade
Meaning: Do well enough to succeed.
Within a Sentence: I made the grade on my spelling test. / She worked hard and made the grade in math.
In Other Words: Do well. / Pass.
21. Light at the end of the tunnel
Meaning: Hope that a hard time is almost over.
Within a Sentence: After studying for weeks, I saw the light at the end of the tunnel. / She saw the light at the end of the tunnel after her long project.
In Other Words: Almost done. / It’s getting better.
22. Follow through
Meaning: Finish what you promised.
Within a Sentence: He followed through on his goal to read every night. / I followed through on my goal to exercise daily.
In Other Words: Keep your word. / Finish.
23. Give it your best shot
Meaning: Try as hard as you can.
Within a Sentence: I gave it my best shot in the spelling bee. / She gave it her best shot in the swim meet.
In Other Words: Try hard. / Do your best.
24. Turn the corner
Meaning: Start to do better.
Within a Sentence: He turned the corner in math after more practice. / I turned the corner after a tough start in reading.
In Other Words: Improve. / Getting better.
25. Ace it
Meaning: Do very well.
Within a Sentence: I aced my science test. / She aced her piano recital.
In Other Words: Did great. / Nailed it.
26. On top of the world
Meaning: Feeling very happy after success.
Within a Sentence: I felt on top of the world after scoring a goal. / She was on top of the world after finishing her project.
In Other Words: Very happy. / Proud.
27. Push the envelope
Meaning: Try more than usual.
Within a Sentence: He pushed the envelope by writing a longer essay. / She pushed the envelope with her design.
In Other Words: Go beyond. / Do extra.
28. One step at a time
Meaning: Take small steps to reach a goal.
Within a Sentence: I’m learning the piano one step at a time. / She’s getting better at reading one step at a time.
In Other Words: Go slowly. / Keep trying.
29. Move mountains
Meaning: Do something hard.
Within a Sentence: She moved mountains to help her team win. / I moved mountains to learn that song.
In Other Words: Did something big. / Worked hard.
30. Call the shots
Meaning: Be in charge.
Within a Sentence: She called the shots during the group project. / He likes to call the shots when we play games.
In Other Words: Be the leader. / Make the choices.
31. Make it happen
Meaning: Do what it takes to succeed.
Within a Sentence: I worked hard to make it happen. / She made it happen with her project idea.
In Other Words: Do the work. / Get it done.
32. Rise and shine
Meaning: Get up and start the day ready.
Within a Sentence: I rise and shine to study before school. / She rises and shines for soccer practice.
In Other Words: Start fresh. / Be ready.
33. Pull it off
Meaning: Succeed at something difficult.
Within a Sentence: He pulled it off and won the spelling bee. / We pulled it off and built the best model.
In Other Words: Did it. / Succeeded.
34. Put your best foot forward
Meaning: Try your hardest and do your best.
Within a Sentence: I put my best foot forward on the first day of school. / She put her best foot forward in the contest.
In Other Words: Try hard. / Show your best.
35. Go for it
Meaning: Try something with confidence.
Within a Sentence: I decided to go for it and try out. / She said, “Go for it,” before my turn.
In Other Words: Give it a try. / Be brave.
36. Bring your A-game
Meaning: Do your best work.
Within a Sentence: He brought his A-game to the final match. / I brought my A-game to the spelling contest.
In Other Words: Be your best. / Show skill.
37. Keep at it
Meaning: Don’t stop trying.
Within a Sentence: Keep at it, and you’ll get better. / I kept at it until I solved the puzzle.
In Other Words: Don’t give up. / Keep going.
38. Finish strong
Meaning: End well, even if it’s hard.
Within a Sentence: I finished strong on the last lap. / She finished strong in her speech.
In Other Words: End well. / Give it your all.
39. Get the hang of it
Meaning: Learn how to do something.
Within a Sentence: I got the hang of typing fast. / He got the hang of building LEGO towers.
In Other Words: Learn it. / Figure it out.
40. Take the lead
Meaning: Be the one in charge or ahead.
Within a Sentence: She took the lead in the game. / I took the lead during the class project.
In Other Words: Go first. / Be the leader.
41. Practice makes perfect
Meaning: Doing something again and again helps you get better.
Within a Sentence: Practice makes perfect with the piano. / He learned that practice makes perfect in basketball.
In Other Words: Keep practicing. / Improve with time.
42. Play to your strengths
Meaning: Use what you’re good at.
Within a Sentence: I play to my strengths in math. / She played to her strengths in art class.
In Other Words: Use your skills. / Do what you’re best at.
43. Make every minute count
Meaning: Use your time wisely.
Within a Sentence: I made every minute count during the test. / She made every minute count in rehearsal.
In Other Words: Don’t waste time. / Use your time well.
44. Keep pushing
Meaning: Keep trying, even when it’s hard.
Within a Sentence: I kept pushing through the tough workout. / He kept pushing until he finished the model.
In Other Words: Don’t stop. / Try harder.
45. Knock it out of the park
Meaning: Do something really well.
Within a Sentence: She knocked it out of the park in her presentation. / I knocked it out of the park on my quiz.
In Other Words: Did awesome. / Great job.
46. Put your heart into it
Meaning: Care about what you’re doing and try hard.
Within a Sentence: He put his heart into the painting. / I put my heart into learning my part.
In Other Words: Care deeply. / Try with love.
47. A win-win situation
Meaning: Everyone benefits.
Within a Sentence: Working together was a win-win situation. / Helping each other was a win-win.
In Other Words: Everyone wins. / Good for all.
48. Take the plunge
Meaning: Go for something even if it’s scary.
Within a Sentence: I took the plunge and joined the play. / She took the plunge and shared her idea.
In Other Words: Be brave. / Go ahead.
49. Stay the course
Meaning: Keep going until you finish.
Within a Sentence: I stayed the course during the reading challenge. / He stayed the course through the rainy race.
In Other Words: Keep on going. / Don’t stop.
50. Rise above it
Meaning: Do well even when things go wrong.
Within a Sentence: She rose above it when the mic broke. / I rose above it after a bad start.
In Other Words: Keep going. / Don’t let it stop you.
51. Take it to the next level
Meaning: Make something better.
Within a Sentence: I took my art to the next level with more color. / He took his reading to the next level with harder books.
In Other Words: Improve more. / Step it up.
52. The sky’s the limit
Meaning: There are no limits to what you can do.
Within a Sentence: The sky’s the limit if you keep trying. / With her talent, the sky’s the limit.
In Other Words: You can do anything. / No stopping you.
53. Shoot for the moon
Meaning: Try for something big.
Within a Sentence: I shot for the moon with my story. / She shot for the moon with her project idea.
In Other Words: Dream big. / Try for something great.
54. Bring it home
Meaning: Complete something well.
Within a Sentence: He brought it home with a strong ending. / I brought it home by solving the last question.
In Other Words: Finish great. / End well.
55. Turn dreams into reality
Meaning: Make your wishes come true through effort.
Within a Sentence: She turned dreams into reality with hard work. / I turned dreams into reality by practicing.
In Other Words: Make it real. / Do what you dreamed.
56. Put your mind to it
Meaning: Focus and work hard to do something.
Within a Sentence: If you put your mind to it, you can succeed. / He put his mind to it and learned the song.
In Other Words: Try and focus. / You can do it.
57. Level up
Meaning: Improve your skills or rank.
Within a Sentence: I leveled up in my reading group. / She leveled up in karate class.
In Other Words: Move up. / Get better.
58. Keep your chin up
Meaning: Stay hopeful.
Within a Sentence: Keep your chin up, you’re doing great. / I told him to keep his chin up after the loss.
In Other Words: Don’t give up. / Stay positive.
59. Go out on a limb
Meaning: Take a risk.
Within a Sentence: I went out on a limb and tried a new style. / She went out on a limb and shared her idea.
In Other Words: Be brave. / Take a chance.
60. Make it count
Meaning: Do your best so it matters.
Within a Sentence: I made it count on my last try. / She made it count on her final move.
In Other Words: Give your best. / Do it well.
True/False Quiz: Idioms for Achieving Goals
- If you “go the extra mile,” you’re doing more than expected.
- “Hit the ground running” means you tripped while running.
- “Keep your eye on the prize” means focus on what you want.
- “Throw in the towel” means keep trying no matter what.
- “Practice makes perfect” means that doing something again helps you get better.
- If you “pull it off,” it means you didn’t succeed.
- “Get the ball rolling” means to stop working on a task.
- “Put your best foot forward” means you tried your hardest.
- “Make it count” means do your best so it matters.
- “See it through” means to stop in the middle of your goal.
- If someone “knocks it out of the park,” they did a great job.
- “Go for it” means don’t try at all.
- “Rise to the occasion” means you did well when needed.
- “Stay the course” means give up early.
- “Reach for the stars” means try to do something big.
Answer Key
- True
- False
- True
- False
- True
- False
- False
- True
- True
- False
- True
- False
- True
- False
- True
Scoring Guide
- 15 Correct Answers: Idiom Master!
- 10–14 Correct Answers: You really get idioms, nice work!
- 6–9 Correct Answers: You’re learning, keep going!
- 0–5 Correct Answers: Let’s learn about idioms together!
Conclusion
Idioms are special phrases that help us talk about goals in a fun way. Instead of just saying “try hard” or “do your best,” we can say things like “go the extra mile” or “reach for the stars.” These phrases make your speaking and writing more interesting.
When you use idioms, it shows you understand how people talk about working hard and never giving up. Keep practicing them in class, at home, and with friends. The more you use them, the better you’ll become at sharing your ideas clearly. Keep going, you’re on the right track.
