Idioms – Progress

Hey guys!

Everybody knows the importance of learning some idioms and colloquial expressions, especially when you live in a foreign country. We always learn a lot of them by communicating with native speakers or watching movies and series. In this section, you learn some idioms and expressions to communicate in a more natural way when speaking English in a foreign country.

Here are a few Idioms related to the topic Progress.

* be barking up the wrong tree – waste one’s efforts by pursuing the wrong thing or path. (bater na porta errada, dar murro em ponta de faca)

It was a very sensitive case and yet for over one year the investigators kept barking up the wrong tree.

* be flogging a dead horse – waste energy on something that has no chance of succeeding.

(bater em bêbado)

He keeps trying to get his manuscripts published, but I think he is flogging a dead horse.

* gain ground – If a political party or an idea or belief gains ground, it becomes more popular or accepted. (ganhar campo)

The Republicans are gaining ground in the southern states.

* get to grips with something – to make an effort to understand and deal with a problem or situation.

(entender, lidar com, aceitar)

I can’t seem to get to grips with this problem.

* get your act together – get organized and on schedule. (tomar uma decisão, tomar jeito)

The official was asked to get his act together if he wanted to keep his post.

 *go around in circles – to do a lot or seem very busy without achieving anything. (andar em círculos)

We just keep going around in circles, talking without deciding anything.

* in the doldrums – unsuccessful or showing no activity or development. (estagnado)

Her career was in the doldrums during those years.

* in the pipeline – a plan, product, etc. that is in the pipeline is being discussed or prepared and will be produced or finished in the future. (em fase de preparação, esperando aprovação)

The CEO told the media there were no further acquisitions in the pipeline.

* light at the end of the tunnel – signs of improvement in a situation that has been bad for a long time, or signs that a long and difficult piece of work is almost finished. (uma luz no fim do túnel)

As finals approached, she felt that at last she could see the light at the end of the tunnel.

* make headaway – to make progress or get closer to achieving something. (ter progresso, progredir)

I’m trying to learn to drive, but I’m not making much headway (with it).

* on a roll – experiencing a period of success or good luck. (estar em uma maré de sorte)

They’ve won nine games in a row, so they’re obviously on a roll.

* on the right track – doing something correctly or well. (no caminho certo)

You haven’t quite got the answer yet, but you’re on the right track.

* put something on hold –  to decide not to do, change, or deal with something now, but to leave it until later. (deixar de lado, deixar pra depois, adiar por um tempo)

Some observers suggest that, as a result of this, he’ll just put the project on hold until the political climate changes.

I hope you learned some new idioms today, see you next time!