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C1 ADVANCED · VOCABULARY · IDIOMS

Idioms: work, success and failure

Idioms like go the extra mile, back to the drawing board and make or break.

Finn the puffin with glasses and a book, your vocabulary teacher
Finn says

These idioms are useful whenever you talk about careers, projects, success and failure – common topics in the C1 Speaking test and in articles, reviews and proposals. Most idioms are informal: they sound natural when you speak and in informal emails, articles and reviews, but can sound out of place in an essay or a report. Look at the label next to each one.

Success and effort

go the extra mile
make more effort than is expected ✍️ Also in essays & reports
Good teachers always go the extra mile.
climb the career ladder
move to better jobs over time ✍️ Also in essays & reports
She climbed the career ladder quickly.
make or break
decide whether something will succeed or fail ✍️ Also in essays & reports
The next six months will be make or break for the company.
think outside the box
think in an original way 🗣 Speaking & informal writing
We need to think outside the box.

Problems and failure

back to the drawing board
start planning again after a failure 🗣 Speaking & informal writing
The plan failed, so it's back to the drawing board.
cut your losses
stop something failing before you lose more ✍️ Also in essays & reports
They decided to cut their losses and close the shop.
a dead end
a situation with no future or progress ✍️ Also in essays & reports
He felt his job was a dead end.
bite off more than you can chew
try to do more than you are able to 🗣 Speaking & informal writing
I think I've bitten off more than I can chew.
go down like a lead balloon
be very badly received 🗣 Speaking & informal writing
My joke went down like a lead balloon.
the writing is on the wall
there are clear signs that something will fail ✍️ Also in essays & reports
The writing was on the wall for the old factory.
up in the air
not yet decided 🗣 Speaking & informal writing
Our holiday plans are still up in the air.

Say it with an idiom

The same idea, first in plain English, then with an idiom.

  • Plain: The staff do more than they have to.With an idiom: The staff always go the extra mile.Positive and suitable for a review or proposal.
  • Plain: Our idea didn't work, so we have to start again.With an idiom: Our idea failed, so it's back to the drawing board.Natural in Speaking.
  • Plain: There were clear signs the shop would close.With an idiom: The writing was on the wall for the shop.Works in articles and essays.
  • Plain: Nothing is decided yet.With an idiom: Everything is still up in the air.Informal and natural.
Finn the puffin, smiling kindly
Finn's exam tip

Be careful with overused idioms like 'think outside the box' – examiners have heard them thousands of times. A less common idiom used accurately, like 'the writing is on the wall', makes a much stronger impression.

Quick check

Choose the best answer.

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