If you want to learn idioms and expressions about success, you've hit the jackpot! Keep reading and don't forget to do the exercise below to make sure you remember everything or download the whole free Idioms Guide for free with exercises and solutions.
Success Idioms
Here you have a list with the most common idioms about success. Check it out and put them in practice at work or learn more idioms with a teacher.
- To come a long way
- To hit the jackpot
- To kill two birds with one stone
- To live up to your expectations
- To make a comeback
- To make the cut
- With flying colors
- To rise to the occasion
- To save the day
- Third time lucky (also: Third time's a charm)
- Where there's a will, there's a way
- A win-win situation
1. To come a long way 🏃🏽
- Definition: Make a lot of progress.
- Example: IT has come a long way in the last 20 years.
2. To hit the jackpot 🎰
- Definition: Have great or unexpected success, especially in making a lot of money quickly; to find exactly what you desired.
- Example: Marcy hit the jackpot with her new job -it's basically her dream job, plus a huge salary.
3. To kill two birds with one stone 🎰
- Definition: Solve two problems with one action or solution.
- Example: I might as well kill two birds with one stone and drop off my tax forms while I'm at the mall for the computer part I need.
4. To live up to your expectations 👏🏼
- Definition: To be as good as expected or hoped for.
- Example: The proposal sounded great, but it didn’t live up to our expectations.
5. To make a comeback 💪🏼
- Definition: Achieve success after retirement or failure.
- Example: I thought they were filing for bankruptcy, but they actually made a comeback.
6. To make the cut ✂️
- Definition: To be among the options to continue; avoid elimination.
- Example: The requirements to get in were very hard, but I still made the cut.
7. With flying colors 🌈
- Definition: To excel; to pass a test or an exam easily or very successfully.
- Example: Sylvia had passed her exams with flying colors.
8. To rise to the occasion 🙌🏼
- Definition: Show that you can deal with a difficult situation successfully.
- Example: No one was sure if he could handle the pressure of making a speech, but he rose to the occasion and did an excellent job.
9. To save the day 🙏🏼
- Definition: Make a bad situation end successfully.
- Example: Just when things looked hopeless, my manager came along and saved the day.
10. Third time lucky (also: Third time's a charm) 🍀
- Definition: Two attempts at something have already failed but perhaps the third will be successful.
- Example: This is the second time I have failed the exam, but as they say - third time lucky.
11. Where there's a will, there's a way 🎯
- Definition: If you are determined enough, you can find a way to achieve what you want, even if it is very difficult.
- Example: No one believed we would make it, but where there’s a will, there’s a way.
12. A win-win situation 🏆
- Definition: A result or situation that is good for everyone who is involved.
- Example: Flexible working hours are a win-win situation for employers and employees.
Success idioms summary
| Idioms used in a sentence | Meaning |
| ■ IT has come a long way in the last 20 years. | - Made a lot of progress |
| ■ Marcy hit the jackpot with her new job -it's basically her dream job, plus a huge salary. | - Have great or unexpected success, especially in making a lot of money quickly; to find exactly what you desired |
| ■ I might as well kill two birds with one stone and drop off my tax forms while I'm at the mall for the computer part I need. | - Solve two problems with one action or solution |
| ■ The proposal sounded great, but it didn’t live up to our expectations. | - To be as good as expected or hoped for |
| ■ I thought they were filing for bankruptcy, but they actually made a comeback. | - Achieve success after retirement or failure |
| ■ The requirements to get in were very hard, but I still made the cut. | - To be among the options to continue; avoid elimination |
| ■ Sylvia had passed her exams with flying colors. | - Excel; pass a test or an exam easily or very successfully |
| ■ No one was sure if he could handle the pressure of making a speech, but he rose to the occasion and did an excellent job. | - Show that you can deal with a difficult situation successfully |
| ■ Just when things looked hopeless, my manager came along and saved the day. | - Make a bad situation end successfully |
| ■ This is the second time I have failed the exam, but as they say - third time lucky. (Also: third time’s a charm) | - Two attempts at something have already failed but perhaps the third will be successful |
| ■ No one believed we would make it, but where there’s a will, there’s a way. | - If you are determined enough, you can find a way to achieve what you want, even if it is very difficult |
| ■ Flexible working hours are a win-win situation for employers and employees. | - A result or situation that is good for everyone who is involved |
Conversation questions to practice success idioms
- Have you ever hit the jackpot with anything?
- When was a time you killed two birds with one stone?
- Think of the last movie you saw - did it live up to your expectations?
- When you were at school, did you use to pass all your exams with flying colors?
- Talk about a time you saved the day.
- Do you think that where there's a will there's a way?
- Talk about a recent win-win situation.
Exercise to practice success idioms
Fill the gaps with the correct word:
- Happy and engaged employees are a __-win situation for both workers and the company.
- I know you don't believe it, but trust me - where there's a __, there's a way.
- You've failed twice, but go for it again! Third time __.
- Thanks so much for that amazing idea! You've saved the __.
- We trusted her, but she didn't really rise to the __.
- Congrats to the whole team! We've passed with __ colors!
- It seems the company is making a __ when they least expected it.
- This report won't make the __.
- I'll give you a ride and kill two birds with one __.
- We've hit the __ with the new employee - she's amazing!
- The company has come a long __ in the last 5 years.
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