Idioms
Success
The full list of 20 words in this set. Open any word for its pronunciation, collocations, a band 8 sentence and the mistakes Vietnamese learners make.
Learn this set with flashcards20 words
- 1
- 2
seize the opportunityidiom/siːz ðə ˌɒpəˈtjuːnəti/
to take advantage of an opportunity quickly before it disappears
“You should seize the opportunity to study abroad while scholarships are available.”
- 3
get the ball rollingidiom/ɡet ðə bɔːl ˈrəʊlɪŋ/
to start an activity or process so that it can continue
“Let's get the ball rolling by assigning tasks to each team member.”
- 4
make a name for oneselfidiom/meɪk ə neɪm fə wʌnˈself/
to become well known or respected for something you do
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- 5
strike while the iron is hotidiom
to take quick action to use an opportunity while it is still available.
“When the university offered her a scholarship, she struck while the iron was hot and accepted.”
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get one's foot in the dooridiom (verb phrase)
to obtain a first small opportunity that could lead to further success in a company or industry
“She volunteered at the magazine to get her foot in the door.”
- 8
go the extra mileidiom/ɡəʊ ðə ˈɛkstrə maɪl/
to make more effort than is expected in order to help or impress someone
“She always goes the extra mile to help customers resolve their problems.”
- 9
make a breakthroughidiom/meɪk ə ˈbreɪkθruː/
to achieve an important discovery or a significant advance after effort or research.
“Scientists hope to make a breakthrough in cancer treatment within the next decade.”
- 10
make the gradeidiom (v)/meɪk ðə ɡreɪd/
to reach the required standard or to succeed
“After months of practice, she finally made the grade and got into the honours programme.”
- 11
be on the right trackidiom/bi ɒn ðə raɪt træk/
to be doing something in a way that will probably lead to success
“”
- 12
hit the ground runningidiom/hɪt ðə ˈgraʊnd ˈrʌnɪŋ/
to start something and make immediate progress or have immediate success
“When she joined the team she hit the ground running and had a plan within a week.”
- 13
stand out (from the crowd)idiom
to be much more noticeable or remarkable than others in a group.
“Her portfolio really made her stand out from the crowd during the interview.”
- 14
the sky's the limitidiom/ðə skaɪz ðə ˈlɪmɪt/
there is no limit to what someone can achieve or how good something can be
“With the right training, the sky's the limit for his career.”
- 15
a stepping stone (to)idiom/ə ˈstɛpɪŋ stəʊn/
an action or experience that helps someone make progress toward a long‑term goal.
“That internship was a stepping stone to a permanent position at the firm.”
- 16
come out on topidiom (v)/kʌm aʊt ɒn tɒp/
to finish as the winner or to have the best result
“Despite fierce competition, our team came out on top in the regional finals.”
- 17
have what it takesidiom (verb phrase)/hæv wɒt ɪt teɪks/
to possess the necessary qualities or abilities to succeed at something
“She clearly has what it takes to be an excellent teacher.”
- 18
take the plungeidiom/teɪk ðə plʌndʒ/
to decide to do something important or risky, especially after thinking about it for a while
“After months of thinking, she finally took the plunge and started her own business.”
- 19
break new groundidiom/breɪk njuː ˈɡraʊnd/
to do something innovative or pioneering; to introduce new ideas or methods
“The research team broke new ground with their study on renewable materials.”
- 20
carve out a nicheidiom/kɑːv aʊt ə niːʃ/
to create a specialized role, position, or market space where one can succeed.
“By focusing on eco-friendly packaging, the small company carved out a niche in the market.”