Idioms on Ambition and Determination

Idioms
English idioms relating to
AMBITION - DETERMINATION

1. Have a bee in one's bonnet
A person who has a bee in their bonnet has an idea which constantly occupies their thoughts.
"She's got a bee in her bonnet about moving to New York."

2. Beyond one's wildest dreams
If something is beyond your wildest dreams, it is better than you imagined or hoped for.
"The research team received a grant from the government that was beyond their wildest dreams."

3. Blood, sweat and tears
A project or action which involves blood, sweat and tears requires a lot of effort and hard work.
"His success wasn't due to luck; it was blood, sweat and tears
all the way."

4. Have something on the brain
If you have something on the brain, you think or talk about it constantly.
"Stop talking about golf. You've got golf on the brain!"

5.Claw one's way back
In a situation which has deteriorated, if you claw your way back, you gradually regain your former
position through determination, energy and hard work.
"After a serious accident, the Olympic gold medallist clawed his way
back to the top, to the admiration of all."

6. Dig in your heels If you dig in your heels, you refuse to do something, especially if
someone is trying to convince you to do so.
"My grandfather dug in his heels and refused to move to an apartment."

7. An eager beaver
The term eager beaver refers to a person who is hardworking and enthusiastic, sometimes considered overzealous.
"The new accountant works all the time - first to arrive and last to leave - a real eager beaver!"

8. Explore all avenues
If you explore all avenues, you try out every possibility in order to obtain a result or find a solution.
"We can't say it's impossible until we've explored all avenues."

9. Fight tooth and nail
If you fight tooth and nail for something, you fight with all your energy.
"The Transport Minister fought tooth and nail to have to have the proposed road safety law accepted."

10. Fly by the seat of your pants
If you fly by the seat of your pants, you do something without knowledge or experience, using only your instinct and hoping that you will succeed.
"Without any formal training, he decided to fly by the seat of his pants and try his luck in NewYork."

11. Go all out
If you go all out to achieve or obtain something, you make a great effort, using all possible strength and resources.
"The candidate went all out to obtain the nomination.

12. Go the extra mile If you go the extra mile, you do more than what is expected of you.
"You can count on Tom; he's always willing to go the extra mile."

13. Go to great lengths
When trying to achieve something, if you go to great lengths, you do everything that is possible in order to succeed.
"The two parties went to great lengths to reach an agreement."

14. Keep your nose to the grindstone
A person who keeps their nose to the grindstone is someone who concentrates on working hard at his job.

15. Have one's heart set on something
Someone who has their heart set on something wants it very much.
"From an early age Tiger had his heart set on becoming a professional golfer."

16. Hell-bent on something
If you are hell-bent on doing something, you are recklessly determined to do it, even if it's dangerous or stupid.
"Although he is still weak, he's hell-bent on playing the match."

17. Hitch one's wagon to a star
Someone who hitches their wagon to a star has great ambitions and is very determined to reach their goal.
"At an early age she decided to hitch her wagon to a star and become rich and famous."

18. Kill two birds with one stone
If you kill two birds with one stone, you succeed in doing two things at the same time.
"By studying on the train on the way home every week-end, Claire kills two birds with one stone."

19. Make hay while the sun shines
This expression is used as an encouragement to take advantage of a good situation which may not last.
Successful sportsmen are advised to make hay while the sun shines.

20. Make headway
If you make headway, you make progress in what you are trying to achieve.
"Investigators have made little headway in their search for the causes of the catastrophe."

21. Mean business
If someone means business, they are serious about what they announce.
"The boss says that in future any missing material will be reported to the police, and he looks as though he means business."

22. Move heaven and earth
To say that you will move heaven and earth means that you are prepared to do everything that is possible in order to obtain or achieve something.
"I promise I will move heaven and earth to get a work permit for you."

23. Overplay your hand
If you overplay your hand, you are overconfident and spoil your chances of success by trying to obtain too much.
"Sam is hoping for a bonus for his good results, but he may be overplaying his hand if he asks for a promotion."


24. Pester power
This expression refers to the power children exert over their parents by continually nagging or pestering them until they accept to buy advertised toys or fashionable products.
"Pester power leads busy parents to buy more and more for their children."

25. Reach for the moon
If you reach for the moon, you are very ambitious and try to achieve something even if it's difficult.

26. Raise/lower your sights
If you raise or lower your sights, you raise or lower your expectations,or you are more or less ambitious..
"He had to lower his sights and accept a less well-paid job than what he had hoped for."

27. Sink one's teeth into something
If you sink your teeth into something, you do it with a lot of energy and enthusiasm.
"When Julie got promoted, she immediately sank her teeth into her new job."

28. Stand on your own two feet
If you stand on your own two feet, you are independent and need no help from anyone.
"When young people leave home, they learn to stand on their own two feet."

29. Stand one's ground
If you stand your ground, you maintain your position and refuse to yield or give way.
"He claimed innocence and stood his ground in spite of the repeated accusations."

30. Stick to one's guns
If you stick to your guns, you show determination when faced with opposition.
"The government stuck to its guns in spite of the criticism."

31. The sky's the limit
To say "the sky's the limit" means that there is no limit to the possibility of success or progress for someone or something.
"How successful do you think the project will be? Who knows... the sky's the limit!"

32. Waiting in the wings
If someone is waiting in the wings, they are waiting for an opportunity to take action, especially to replace someone else in their job or position.
"There are many young actors waiting in the wings, ready to show their talent."