Road Idioms: Common Sayings Inspired by Travel and Driving
Welcome to the ultimate list of travel-related road idioms and idioms relating to the road, path and driving.
Road Idioms in English
idiom – definition – example use
A Fork in the Road
- A point where a decision must be made between two or more options
• After finishing school, she reached a fork in the road—should she go to university or start working?
A Long Haul
- A long and difficult journey or process
- Learning a new language is a long haul, but it’s worth it.
All Roads Lead to Rome
- Many different methods can lead to the same result
• Whether you study online or in a classroom, all roads lead to Rome when it comes to learning English.
At a Crossroads
- Facing an important decision or choice
• After graduating, she found herself at a crossroads, unsure whether to travel or start working.
At Full Throttle
- At maximum speed or effort
• The company is working at full throttle to launch the new product.
At the Wheel
- In control of a vehicle or a situation
• With the new manager at the wheel, the company is making great progress.
Backseat Driver
- Someone who gives unwanted advice while someone else is in control
• My brother is such a backseat driver—he always tells me how to drive even though I have a license.
Blaze a Trail
- To be the first to do something new and make a path for others
• The scientist blazed a trail in medical research, helping future doctors find new treatments.
Bump in the Road
- A small problem or setback
• We had a bump in the road when our flight was delayed, but we still made it to the wedding.
Burn Up the Road
- To drive very fast
• He burned up the road trying to get to the hospital in time.
Change Gears
- To shift focus or direction
• After years in finance, he decided to change gears and become a teacher.
Cross That Bridge When You Come to It
- To deal with a problem when it happens, not before
• We don’t need to worry about the deadline yet; we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it.
Dead End
- A situation with no way forward
• His job turned out to be a dead end, so he started looking for new opportunities.
Down the Road
- In the future
• We will make a decision about the project down the road.
Drive Around the Bend
- To make someone go crazy or extremely annoyed
• His constant complaining is driving me around the bend.
End of the Line
- The final point or conclusion of something
• After years of trying, they realized their business had reached the end of the line.
Fast Lane
- A busy, exciting, or high-pressure way of life
• He enjoys living in the fast lane, always traveling and working on new projects.
Full Speed Ahead
- Moving forward with energy and determination
• They’re going full speed ahead with their wedding plans.
Get Off Track
- To lose focus or direction
• We were discussing the budget, but we got off track talking about vacations.
Get the Show on the Road
- To begin an event or activity
• We have everything ready, so let’s get the show on the road.
Get Up to Speed
- To learn the necessary information to move forward
• It took a few weeks, but I finally got up to speed on my new job.
Go Down a Road
- To take a particular approach or make a decision that leads in a specific direction
• If you go down this road, you’ll have to work very hard to succeed.
Go Off the Rails
- To become uncontrollable or chaotic
• The meeting went off the rails when people started arguing.
Go the Extra Mile
- To put in extra effort to achieve something
• She always goes the extra mile to help her customers.
Hit a Roadblock
- To encounter an obstacle or difficulty
• We were making good progress on the project until we hit a roadblock with funding.
Hit the Brakes
- To stop suddenly or slow down
• We need to hit the brakes on spending before we run out of money.
Hit the Gas
- To speed up or make something happen faster
• We need to hit the gas on this project if we want to finish by Friday.
Hit the Open Road
- To start a journey, especially a long road trip
• After buying a new car, they were excited to hit the open road.
Hit the Road
- To leave or start a journey
• It’s getting late—we should hit the road now.
In the Driver’s Seat
- In control of a situation
• Now that he’s been promoted, he’s in the driver’s seat at the company.
In the Same Lane
- Having the same goals or thinking in the same way
• Before we start, let’s make sure we’re in the same lane about our objectives.
Life in the Slow Lane
- A relaxed or simple lifestyle
• After years in the city, they moved to a small town for life in the slow lane.
Lose Your Way
- To become lost or confused about what to do
• He started his career strong, but later he lost his way and struggled to find direction.
Make a U-Turn
- To completely change direction or opinion
• The company made a U-turn on its policy after customers complained.
Middle of the Road
- Moderate or not extreme
• His political views are middle of the road, so he listens to both sides.
My Way or the Highway
- A strict ultimatum, meaning “do it my way or leave”
• The coach told the players, “It’s my way or the highway if you want to stay on the team.”
Off the Beaten Path
- In a place that is not well known or frequently visited
• We found a beautiful little café off the beaten path.
On the Road to Success
- Making progress toward a goal
- With hard work and dedication, he is on the road to success.
One for the Road
- A final drink before leaving
• Before heading home, they decided to have one for the road.
On the Right Track
- Making progress in the right direction
• After months of hard work, we are finally on the right track with our business.
Pave the Way
- To make something easier for others to follow
• Her achievements paved the way for future female athletes.
Pedal to the Floor
- To go at full speed or effort
- They put the pedal to the floor to meet the deadline.
Put the Brakes On
- To slow down or stop something
• The government put the brakes on the new law due to public protests.
Put the Pedal to the Metal
- To accelerate quickly
• If we want to get there on time, we need to put the pedal to the metal.
Ride Shotgun
- To sit in the front passenger seat of a car
• He called riding shotgun before anyone else, so he got the front seat.
Road Less Traveled
- An unconventional or less common choice
• Instead of working in an office, he took the road less traveled and became a freelance artist.
Road to Nowhere
- A plan or effort that leads to no result
• Their business idea was a road to nowhere because there was no demand for it.
Road to Recovery
- The process of improving after a problem or difficulty
• After the accident, he started on the road to recovery with physical therapy.
Steer Clear Of
- To avoid something
• You should steer clear of that area at night because it’s not safe.
Take the High Road
- To behave in a morally superior way, especially when others do not
• Even though she was upset, she took the high road and didn’t retaliate.
Take the Scenic Route
- To take a longer but more pleasant or interesting path
• Instead of using the highway, we took the scenic route along the coastline.
Take the Wheel
- To take control of a situation
• When the manager left, Sarah had to take the wheel and lead the team.
The Rubber Meets the Road
- The point at which a plan or idea is put into practice
• You’ve studied a lot, but now the rubber meets the road when you take the test.
The Road Ahead
- The future or what is coming next
• The company has big plans for the road ahead.
The Road Less Traveled
- An unconventional or less common choice
• Instead of working in an office, he took the road less traveled and became a freelance artist.
Travel Light
- To pack minimally for a trip
- She prefers to travel light and only takes a small bag.
Yellow Brick Road
- A path that leads to success or adventure
• After getting his first big job offer, he felt like he was on the yellow brick road to success.
These are words and phrases from the English dictionary considered as Idioms. The list contains American idioms and British English Idioms related to roads.
to be added:
- A whistle-stop tour
- Tour de force
- Street smart
- Hit the Road Jack
- Turn the Corner
Interested in Travel Idioms?
To see the ultimate list of idioms related to travel then visit our comprehensive list with meaning and example sentences called travel idioms.
Questions About Road Idioms
What is the phrase of road?
The phrase “road” in idioms typically refers to a metaphorical journey or direction in life, a course of action, or a particular phase of progress. Common idioms with “road” include “the road to success” (a journey towards achieving goals) or “down the road” (in the future).
What are the idiomatic expressions for driving?
Common driving-related idiomatic expressions include:
- “Hit the road” – To leave or begin a journey.
- “Burning rubber” – Driving very fast, often used to describe a vehicle speeding.
- “Drive someone up the wall” – To irritate or annoy someone greatly.
- “Take the wheel” – To take control, often used figuratively to mean taking charge of a situation.
- “Put the brakes on” – To stop or slow down progress in something.
What is the idiom “at a crossroads”?
The idiom “at a crossroads” refers to a point in life where someone must make an important decision or choose between different paths or opportunities. It suggests a time of change or significant decision-making.
What is the saying “one for the road”?
The phrase “one for the road” refers to having a final drink (usually alcoholic) before leaving or embarking on a journey. It can also be used more figuratively to mean having one last thing before departing or finishing something.
Useful Information to Learn Words and Phrases
Learn English Idioms To effectively learn English idioms, it’s helpful to familiarize yourself with idioms dictionaries, as they provide clear definitions and usage examples. Understanding idioms helps you grasp the deeper meanings in conversations, books, films, and even music. “The largest idiom dictionary” will guide you to various idiomatic expressions that are both commonly used and idioms that you may not have encountered yet. For example, in the idioms dictionary, “road” often appears in expressions like “the road less traveled,” representing life’s difficult or less conventional choices.
What Does “Road” Mean in an Expression? In idiomatic expressions, “road” can symbolize a journey or path, both literally and figuratively. Expressions such as “crossroads” and “down the road” refer to decisions, choices, or future events. The phrase “on the road” refers to being out traveling, while “roadblock” can refer to any obstacle or challenge one faces. These idiomatic expressions add depth and color to the language.
American Idioms Many common idioms originate from American culture and are rooted in its history, such as “the road to success” or “the American Dream.” Understanding American idioms can help you connect with cultural references in everyday language.
Idioms Dictionary: Key Features An idioms dictionary provides the definition, origin, and usage of expressions like “at a crossroads” or “one for the road.” This can help learners and speakers understand how idioms fit into conversation, films, or even theatrical contexts. It often explains how these idioms relate to real-life actions or concepts, making them easier to incorporate into speech.
Guide to Road Expressions When learning road-related idioms, remember that the expressions can refer to both literal driving and figurative paths in life. For example, “the road ahead” refers to the future or an upcoming challenge, while “on the road” often means traveling or starting something new. By examining road phrases in context, you’ll see how they’re used to signify stages, journeys, or the act of making choices.
Related Terms & Definitions In learning these idiomatic expressions, you’ll also encounter related terms like “hill” or “route” that could influence your understanding of these expressions. A “dead end” refers to a situation that has no progress, while “take a detour” means taking an alternative course of action.