Means of transport - Idioms

Hello! Here are some expressions related to the different means of transport. Moreover, you will find two expressions used in specific areas: the first one is mainly used in the United States and the second comes from British English.   

‘’Cool your jets’’ is mainly used in the U.S. and it’s said to a person who is angry or unsettled to calm down.

‘’Rearrange the deckchairs on the Titanic’’ (used in the UK and Australia) means that people are making small changes which will have no effect while the project (or whatever) is in trouble.

‘’To be just the ticket’’ is used to describe that something is exactly what is needed. Ex.: If you want to improve your English, this blog is just the ticket.

‘’To get on the gravy train’’ refers to attempt to make money quickly, easily and often dishonestly. Ex.: I think you should stop talking to him, I mean, he’s always trying to get on the gravy train.

‘’There’s never a road without a turning’’ means that there’s always a change, and no situation in life stays the same forever.  

‘’(A) train of thought’’ refers to the connections between the different parts of an event or argument, and which brings them together. Ex.: I was considering the various options to increase the sales when a deafening noise broke my train of thought.

‘’(Not) to rock the boat’’ = Used to ask someone to do nothing that might cause trouble, spark a controversy or upset a stable situation. Ex.: After the announcement of this year’s encouraging results, it was decided not to rock the boat by discussing international investments immediately.

‘’On the wagon’’ = Someone who is on the wagon is no longer drinking alcohol. Ex.: No beer for me please, I’m on the wagon.

‘’Paddle one’s own canoe’’ = If you paddle your own canoe it means that you do what you want to do without help or any interference from the others. Ex.: She decided to paddle her own canoe and built her own company.

‘’Any port in a storm’’ = It refers to any solution you will accept in case of emergency which in other circumstances you would not. These products are of low quality but it’s a case of any port in a storm, due to the bad weather we can’t find the regional products we used to work with.

‘’Hit the road’’ = It means to leave a place in order to go somewhere else, to begin or resume a journey. Ex.: They hit the road after the last event scheduled.

‘’I’ll cross that road when I come into it’’ = You can say that if you’ll think about something just when it happens but not in advance.

‘’My way or the highway’’ = This idiom suggests an ultimatum. If people don’t do what you say, they will have to quit or leave (the project, the structure, etc…). So, if you’re the listener, you don’t have many options (do it the way I want or not at all). It could be said from anyone in a power position over someone else. 

‘’Jump on the bandwagon’’ = Used when a person or an organization decides to do something or join a movement - often in an opportunist way - when it’s already successful or fashionable. You can find other forms of this idiom like: get on/ climb on/ hop on the bandwagon.

‘’(To put) the cart before the horse’’ is used when people are doing things in the wrong (or not logical) order like deciding what to wear while they don’t even know exactly the purpose of the event.

 ‘’Go play in the traffic’’ is a way of telling people you get tired of them, so go away.

‘’Backseat driver’’ refers to an annoying person who gives advice to the one doing something, especially when it’s wrong or unwelcome. In a car, this idiom refers to a passenger who tells the driver how to drive…

‘’Asleep at the wheel’’ refers to someone who is not doing their job or taking their responsibilities very carefully, and who is not paying sufficient attention particularly when it’s required. You can also find ‘’asleep at the switch’’.

Idioms are often funny but above all, they are useful when you learn another language. See you soon!