Transport Idioms: Transport or transportation is an essential commodity in our everyday life. The English language consists of various travel and transport idioms. These are road idioms that we encounter while in a conversation, reading or watching something.
To make things easier for you, this is an article we have created a transport idioms list that will help you increase your knowledge of English. They also have destination idioms which will further help you grasp some more things.
Enrich your Vocabulary by practicing the English Idioms that are commonly used in everyday conversations and understand their actual meaning.
Name of Transport Idioms
List of Transport Idioms
- (To have) itchy feet
- All hands on deck
- Any port in a storm
- Asleep at the wheel
- Backseat driver
- Bump in the road
- Burn one’s bridges
- Carry coals to Newcastle
- Circle the wagons
- Criticise the paint job on the Titanic
- Cross that bridge when one comes to it
- Fall off the wagon
- Fell off the back of a truck
- Fly by the seat of one’s pants
- Fly highs
- Give the green light to
- Go off the rails
- Go the extra mile
- Highways and byways
- Hit the road
- In a rut
- In someone’s wheelhouse
- In the driver’s seat
- In the same boat
- It’s not Rocket Science
- Jump on the bandwagon
- Jump the track
- Just around the corner
- Light at the end of the tunnel
- Lower the boom
- Miss the boat
- Off his trolley
- On a wing and a prayer
- On the fly
- On the home stretch
- On the right track
- Puddle jumper
- Put the cart before the horse
- Rearrange the deck chairs on the Titanic
- Rock the boat
- Run a tight ship
- Run-on fumes
- Send flying
- Shift gears
- Spin one’s wheels
- Take the high road
- Take the wind out of someone’s sails
- That ship has sailed
- That train has left the station
- The fifth wheel
- Third rail
- Thirty-thousand-foot view
- Throw someone under the bus
- To drive a hard bargain
- Train wreck
- Turn the corner
- Walk the plank
- Your mileage may vary
Meaning and Examples of some commonly used Transport Idioms
(To have) itchy feet
Meaning: The desire to break away from one’s routine, usually by traveling.
Example: Claire gets itchy feet now and then and travels to a new country.
All hands on deck
Meaning: A summons to all members of a ship’s crew to the deck, generally during a crisis.
Example: All hands on deck. The ship is going to hit the storm soon.
Any port in a storm
Meaning: In times of crisis, any option, no matter how unappealing, is acceptable.
Example: I don’t like Meg, but I had to approach her for help because she was the only one who remained in the office when my computer crashed last night. I suppose any port in a storm.
Asleep at the wheel
Meaning: Failure to perform one’s responsibilities or duties
Example: Johnson was expected to ensure that someone completed the paperwork before the deadline, but it looks that he fell asleep at the wheel.
Backseat driver
Meaning: A passenger in a car (not always in the backseat) who tries to instruct or criticise the driver’s driving abilities.
Example: John rapidly grew tired of Mary’s habit of becoming a backseat driver every time he drove her somewhere, so he just let her go.
Bump in the road
Meaning: A difficulty that occurs and obstructs forward progress
Example: The project encountered a bump in the road when Tom abruptly quit, but I’m confident we’ll be fine—we just need to redistribute his assignment and keep going.
Burn one’s bridges
Meaning: To demolish a bridge or path in front of oneself so that others cannot follow.
Example: When the troops withdrew from the area, they made a point of burning their bridges behind them.
Carry coals to Newcastle
Meaning: To do anything extra, frivolous, or unneeded
Example: I thought a bottle of wine would be a great present, but when I saw their liquor cabinet, I knew I had carried coals to Newcastle.
Circle the wagons
Meaning: To only communicate with persons in a dedicated group.
Example: Callie’s new circle of friends has circled the wagons, so she hardly ever speaks to me anymore.
Criticise the paint job on the Titanic
Meaning: Obsessing over minor errors while overlooking major ones.
Example: Sally will occasionally lose sight of the more excellent picture and criticise the paint job on the Titanic.
Cross that bridge when one comes to it
Meaning: To address something only when it occurs or becomes a problem.
Example: I’m not anxious about the job interview because it’s only a week away—I’ll cross that bridge when I come to it.
Fall off the wagon
Meaning: To resume any previously halted behaviour, usually one that is harmful in some way.
Example: I had quit smoking for about a year, but I fell off the wagon at Jeff’s bachelor celebration.
Fell off the back of a truck
Meaning: Buying something that one knows has been stolen.
Example: Pete once bought the lads a cheap bicycle that had fallen off the back of a truck.
Fly by the seat of one’s pants
Meaning: To act instinctively rather than according to a predetermined plan.
Example: I do not have any idea how to use this device; I’m just flying by the seat of my pants.
Fly highs
Meaning: To be delighted or cheerful.
Example: Molly has been flying high since passing her driver’s test.
Give the green light to
Meaning: To give permission or approval for something to happen or occur, or for someone to take action or complete a task.
Example: We’re only waiting for our management to give us the green light before releasing the latest software upgrade.
Go off the rails
Meaning: To fall into turmoil, malfunction, or disorder.
Example: Since the manager up and quit last month, our project has started to go off the rails.
Go the extra mile
Meaning: To go above and beyond what is required or anticipated to impress someone, achieve something, or do a task perfectly.
Example: I must state that our lawyer went go the extra mile to ensure that every component of our case was airtight.
Highways and byways
Meaning: Both primary and more minor, or less-travelled, highways are included.
Example: I’m spending the summer travelling around the Midwest, driving via highways and byways in search of interesting sites.
Hit the road
Meaning: To depart.
Example: We’d better hit the road before the traffic worsens.
In a rut
Meaning: Appearing to be trapped or stuck in a monotonous, unchanging pattern of life, employment, or personal behaviour.
Example: I had so many goals when I initially graduated from college, but now I am in a rut.
In someone’s wheelhouse
Meaning: In a person’s comfort zone.
Example: The political consequences of this topic, on the other hand, are clearly in the author’s wheelhouse.
In the driver’s seat
Meaning: in command or charge of things
Example: With the new CEO in the driver’s seat, the corporation has had its most lucrative quarter in years.
In the same boat
Meaning: Sharing a specific experience or event with another person.
Example: As tricky as living with a disability, remember that you are not alone—many other individuals are in the same boat as you.
It’s not Rocket Science
Meaning: It is not a quest, activity, or project that necessitates exceptional skill or intelligence.
Example: All you need to do is reformat your computer’s hard drive. It’s not rocket science!
Jump on the bandwagon
Meaning: To join something once it has achieved success or popularity.
Example: There will always be those eager to jump on the bandwagon and begin classes in whatever is trendy, even if they have little or no expertise.
Jump the track
Meaning: A train derailing from the track or deviate in unexpected directions
Example: The long-running drama has now deviated and jumped the track, so it would be ludicrous to attempt to explain it for the uninitiated.
Just around the corner
Meaning: Close to another area.
Example: The store isn’t far away; in fact, it’s right around the corner.
Light at the end of the tunnel
Meaning: A sign that something difficult or unpleasant is nearing its conclusion.
Example: I’ve been working on this book for almost a year, and now I can see the light at the end of the tunnel.
Lower the boom
Meaning: To put a stop to something or bring it to an end.
Example: I utilised demerits to lower the boom of the silliness in my class.
Miss the boat
Meaning: To lose a chance or an opportunity to do something.
Example: You’ll miss the boat if you don’t return the recruiter’s call right away.
Off his trolley
Meaning: Wild or insane
Example: When he informed me about his plans to renovate the old, condemned house, I felt he was off his trolley.
On a wing and a prayer
Meaning: Without much planning
Example: I didn’t have time to edit my term paper, so I submitted it on a wing and a prayer.
On the fly
Meaning: Quickly and casually, with little thought or preparation.
Example: I ran into my supervisor in town, so I had to make up an excuse, on the fly, for not being at work on the spot.
On the home stretch
Meaning: In the final stages of an activity, project, competition, etc.
Example: You’ve finished ten examinations and have two more to go – you’re on the home stretch now.
On the right track
Meaning: Making progress in a direction that is likely to succeed.
Example: With this new environmental programme, I believe we are on the right track.
Puddle jumper
Meaning: A tiny aeroplane used for very short distance travel, such as flying over a small body of water.
Example: Are you sure that this puddle jumper is safe? It appears to be powered by triple-A batteries!
Put the cart before the horse
Meaning: To accomplish things in the wrong order.
Example: Starting the fundraising before we know how much money we need is like putting the cart before the horse.
Rearrange the deck chairs on the Titanic
Meaning: To participate in or execute some task, activity, or course of action that will ultimately prove trivial.
Example: You’re looking for funding from the Arts Council? Why not rearrange the deckchairs on the Titanic while you’re at it?
Rock the boat
Meaning: To do or say something that could jeopardise a stable arrangement or disturb the status quo.
Example: My family members aren’t arguing right now, so don’t rock the boat by bringing up politics or other contentious issues.
Run a tight ship
Meaning: To keep a location, group, or organisation well-organised and running smoothly.
Example: Jane sure kept everything running in a tight ship. Without her guidance, the department has degraded into anarchy.
Run-on fumes
Meaning: To be exceedingly ineffective, insignificant, or unsuccessful.
Example: The picture is visually attractive due to its high production value, but no amount of artistic beauty can save a film whose paper-thin plot runs on fumes from start to finish.
Send flying
Meaning: Throwing or flinging someone through the air and onto the ground
Example: The intoxicated motorist slammed into the guy in the crosswalk, sending him flying.
Shift gears
Meaning: To abruptly change what one is doing or talking about.
Example: About halfway through the plot, the book shifts gears and begins a narrative from the antagonist’s point of view.
Spin one’s wheels
Meaning: carelessly or frivolously wasting one’s time or energy
Example: They kept me on to oversee what was left of this division, but to be honest, I’ve been spinning my wheels here for the last few years.
Take the high road
Meaning: To select the noblest, ethical, or diplomatic path of action or manner
Example: Strive always to take the high road while interacting with people, especially if they have previously mistreated you. Those who can learn to turn the other cheek are rewarded in life.
Take the wind out of someone’s sails
Meaning: to diminish one’s zeal, joy, or optimistic perspective
Example: It took the wind out of his sails when he discovered that he would forfeit over half of his bonus to taxes.
That ship has sailed
Meaning: Some alternative or possibility is no longer available or likely.
Example: If you were hoping to ask Mollie out, your ship has sailed; she’ll be at the dance with Peter.
That train has left the station
Meaning: Some choice, option, or opportunity is no longer available or feasible.
Example: I assumed I’d still be qualified for their internship programme, but it appears that the train has already left the station.
The fifth wheel
Meaning: Someone who serves no real purpose or place in a circumstance.
Example: I didn’t understand that the party was restricted for couples, so when I arrived alone, I felt like a fifth wheel.
Third rail
Meaning: An problem or topic that is so divisive that it would immediately harm or destroy a politician’s political career or credibility.
Example: For the previous two decades or so, any discussion about dismantling or altering the current healthcare unit has been a political third rail.
Thirty-thousand-foot view
Meaning: A reference to the view of the landscape from an aeroplane.
Example: You are going to enjoy the thirty-thousand-foot view from the window seat.
Throw someone under the bus
Meaning: To cause harm to another person to obtain an advantage for yourself
Example: I’m not going to throw my friend under the bus for something he did 25 years ago.
To drive a hard bargain
Meaning: To be an effective and relentless negotiator or dealmaker.
Example: Sal is notorious for driving a hard bargain, so I doubt you’ll be able to get the car that you want at the price you desire.
Train wreck
Meaning: Failure, tragedy, or catastrophe that is severe or total.
Example: This project has devolved into a train wreck. We’ve already spent so much time and money that I’m not sure how we’ll make up the difference.
Turn the corner
Meaning: After an especially difficult or stressful period, to begin to achieve success or improvement.
Example: I know rehab has been complex for you, but I think you’ve finally turned the corner.
Walk the plank
Meaning: To be compelled to accept the implications of a decision.
Example: Once the identity of the person who is embezzling money from the company is revealed, they will have to walk the plank.
Your mileage may vary
Meaning: The level to which you like, appreciate, benefit from, etc., something will vary according to your unique preferences or needs.
Example: It’s not a mind-blowing or significant picture, but I appreciated it for its spectacle and wit. However, your mileage may vary.