all to the good
Meaning: for the best; for one’s benefit.
Example: “He missed his train, but it was all to the good because the train had a crash.”
Focused Idiom Category
Success and Failure Idioms
Success and failure idioms express achievement, progress, victory, defeat, standards, missed opportunities, and the final result of an effort. They are heard in sports, education, careers, business, personal goals, and any situation where performance is judged. This page keeps the result at the centre: expressions about choosing a path or facing a problem are assigned to decision or difficulty categories unless success or failure is the established main meaning. Each idiom includes a short explanation and an example sentence showing achievement, progress, or setback in context. The A–Z jump menu supports quick study, and related links connect naturally to work, risk, and problems. Learners can use these idioms to speak more naturally about achievement and setbacks while recognising the colourful language used in reports, interviews, commentary, and everyday encouragement.
30Relevant idioms
A
A Idioms
1 entriesC
C Idioms
1 entriescarry all before one
Meaning: to be exceptionally successful.
Example: “He carried all before him on school prize day.”
D
D Idioms
3 entriesdamp squib
Meaning: something which fails to be as successful or exciting as it promised to be.
Example: “The charity ball was a bit of a damp squib.”
dead on one’s or its feet
Meaning: exhausted; worn out; no longer effective or successful.
Example: “She’s really dead on her feet.”
do justice to something
Meaning: to do something well; to represent or portray something accurately.
Example: “Sally really did justice to the contract negotiations.”
F
F Idioms
5 entriesfall between two stools
Meaning: to come somewhere between two possibilities and so fail to meet the requirements of either.
Example: “It falls between two stools.”
fall by the wayside
Meaning: to give up and quit before the end; not to succeed.
Example: “John fell by the wayside and didn’t finish college.”
fancy someone’s chances
Meaning: to have confidence in someone’s [including one’s own] ability to be successful.
Example: “We all think she will refuse to go out with him, but he certainly fancies his chances.”
feather in one’s cap
Meaning: an honour; something of which one can be proud.
Example: “Getting a new client was really a feather in my cap.”
fighting chance
Meaning: a good possibility of success, especially if every effort is made.
Example: “They have at least a fighting chance of winning the race.”
G
G Idioms
3 entriesget a lucky break
Meaning: to have good fortune; to receive a bit of luck.
Example: “Mary really got a lucky break when she got that job.”
get credit (for something)
Meaning: to receive praise or recognition for one’s role in something.
Example: “Mary should get a lot of credit for the team’s success.”
get nowhere fast
Meaning: not to make progress; to get nowhere.
Example: “No matter what I do, I’m just getting nowhere fast.”
H
H Idioms
1 entrieshang on to someone’s coat-tails
Meaning: to gain good fortune or success through another person’s success, rather than through one’s own efforts.
Example: “Bill isn’t very creative, so he hangs on to John’s coat-tails.”
I
I Idioms
1 entriesin a dead heat
Meaning: [finishing a race] at exactly the same time; tied.
Example: “The two horses finished the race in a dead heat.”
L
L Idioms
2 entriesland on one’s feet and land on both feet
Meaning: to recover satisfactorily from a trying situation or a setback.
Example: “Her first year was terrible, but she landed on both feet.”
law unto oneself
Meaning: one who makes one’s own laws or rules; one who sets one’s own standards of behaviour.
Example: “He’s a law unto himself.”
M
M Idioms
4 entriesmake a clean sweep
Meaning: to do something completely or thoroughly, with no exceptions.
Example: “The managing director decided to sack everybody, so he made a clean sweep.”
make a comeback
Meaning: to return to one’s former career.
Example: “After ten years in retirement, the singer made a comeback.”
make a go of it
Meaning: to make something work out all right.
Example: “It’s a tough situation, but Ann is trying to make a go of it.”
make good as something
Meaning: to succeed in a particular role.
Example: “I hope I make good as a teacher.”
O
O Idioms
1 entriesof the first water
Meaning: of the finest quality.
Example: “This is a very fine pearl— a pearl of the first water.”
P
P Idioms
2 entriespass muster
Meaning: to measure up to the required standards.
Example: “I tried my best, but my efforts didn’t pass muster.”
past someone’s or something’s best and past someone’s or something’s sell-by date; past it
Meaning: less good or efficient now than someone or something was before.
Example: “Joan was a wonderful singer, but she’s past her best now.”
R
R Idioms
1 entriesrest on one’s laurels
Meaning: to enjoy one’s success and not try to achieve more.
Example: “Don’t rest on your laurels.”
S
S Idioms
1 entriessecond to none
Meaning: better than anyone or anything else.
Example: “This is an excellent car—second to none.”
T
T Idioms
1 entriestake a stab at something
Meaning: to make a try at something, sometimes without much hope of success.
Example: “I don’t know if I can do it, but I’ll take a stab at it.”
W
W Idioms
3 entrieswin the day and carry the day
Meaning: to be successful; to win a competition, argument, etc.
Example: “Our team didn’t play well at first, but we won the day in the end.”
win through
Meaning: to succeed.
Example: “After many setbacks, we won through in the end.”
wither on the vine
Meaning: to decline or fade away at an early stage of development.
Example: “Don’t let it wither on the vine.”
Helpful Answers
Frequently asked questions
What are success and failure idioms?
They are expressions used to describe achievement, progress, victory, defeat, poor performance, missed goals, or the result of an effort.
Are these idioms useful for work?
Yes. They appear in performance reviews, project updates, interviews, business news, sports, and discussions about goals.
How are they different from problem idioms?
Problem idioms focus on the challenge, while success and failure idioms focus mainly on the outcome or standard reached.
Can they be encouraging?
Many success idioms motivate or praise, while failure idioms can describe lessons, warnings, or disappointing outcomes.
How should learners study them?
Pair contrasting expressions for success and failure, then practise them with realistic goals, competitions, projects, or personal experiences.
