IELTS Idioms for Progress
1) be barking up the wrong tree
Meaning- If someone is barking up the wrong tree, they are following the wrong course of action because their beliefs about something are not correct.
Example- Scientists in Switzerland realized that most other researchers had been barking up the wrong tree.
2) be flogging a dead horse
Meaning- If someone is flogging a dead horse, they are wasting their time trying to achieve something that cannot be done. [BRITISH]
Example- After all our hard work, we don't seem to be making any progress. It feels like we're flogging a dead horse - it's all very discouraging.
3) gain ground
Meaning- If something or someone gains ground, they make progress and become more important or more powerful.
Example- His ideas on nutrition have been gaining ground in recent years.
4) get to grips with something or come to grips with something
Meaning- If you get to grips with or come to grips with a problem or task, you start to deal with it effectively, usually by making an effort to understand it.
Example- The present government has completely failed to get to grips with our economic problems. I must come to grips with this new system.
5) get your act together
Meaning- If you get your act together, you organize yourself effectively so that you can deal successfully with things. [INFORMAL]
Example- We're going to be 22 points behind by Monday and we've got to get our act together.
6) go around in circles or go round in circles
Meaning- If someone goesound in circles or goes round in circles, they achieve little because they repeatedly deal with the same point or problem.
Example- This was one of those debates which simply went round in circles.
Example- My mind was going around in circles, worrying, but I knew that no news was good news.
7) in the doldrums
Meaning- If a person, organization, economy, etc. is in the doldrums, they are not successful and are not making any progress.
Example- The restaurant business, like many other businesses, is in the doldrums.
8) in the pipeline
Meaning- If something is in the pipeline, it is planned or developed.
Example- Another development in the pipeline is closed-circuit TV cameras in most stores.
9) light at the end of the tunnel
Meaning- If there is light at the end of the tunnel, there is hope that a difficult situation might be coming to an end.
Example- After a very difficult time, we are seeing light at the end of the tunnel.
10) make headway
Meaning- If you make headway, you make progress with something that you are trying to achieve.
Example- A spokesman said the two sides have made headway on some issues.
11) on a roll
Meaning- If you are on a roll, you are making great progress and having a lot of success.
Example- I'd done my first deal and I was on a roll, I couldn't see anything going wrong.
Example- Once you get on a roll you feel as though you're unbeatable.
12) on the right track
Meaning- If someone or something is on the right track, they are acting or developing in a way that is likely to be successful.
Example- We are finding that guests for lunch and dinner are returning in increasing numbers - a sure sign that we are on the right track.
13) put something on hold
Meaning- If you put something on hold, you decide not to do it or deal with it until a later time.
Example- We'll have to put the project on hold until we get some more money.
Example- A few months later it was announced that the deal was on hold, perhaps permanently.
Example- A few months later it was announced that the deal was on hold, perhaps permanently.
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