Sometimes we feel proud after finishing something important. It could be cleaning your room, winning a game, or helping a friend. When people talk about these moments, they often use special sayings called idioms. Idioms don’t always mean exactly what the words say, but they help make language more fun and colorful.
This article will teach you some idioms that mean “to accomplish” or “to get something done.” These phrases are used in everyday conversations. Learning them can help you better understand books, movies, and what people say. Let’s look at some of these idioms and see how they are used.
Idioms for Accomplish
1. Get the ball rolling
Meaning: Start doing something
Sample Sentences: Let’s get the ball rolling on our science project. / We got the ball rolling by picking a topic.
Other Way to Say: Start something / Begin a task
2. Cross the finish line
Meaning: Complete a task or goal
Sample Sentences: I crossed the finish line by finishing my book report. / We crossed the finish line when our poster was done.
Other Way to Say: Get it done / Reach the end
3. Hit the mark
Meaning: Do something right or successfully
Sample Sentences: Her answer hit the mark in class today. / He hit the mark with his painting.
Other Way to Say: Got it right / Nailed it
4. Pull it off
Meaning: Do something hard and succeed
Sample Sentences: We pulled it off and won the spelling bee. / She pulled off the surprise party.
Other Way to Say: Make it happen / Succeed
5. Rise to the occasion
Meaning: Do well when needed
Sample Sentences: He rose to the occasion during the big test. / I rose to the occasion and helped my team win.
Other Way to Say: Step up / Do your best
6. Knock it out of the park
Meaning: Do something really well
Sample Sentences: You knocked it out of the park with your speech. / They knocked it out of the park at the school play.
Other Way to Say: Did great / A big success
7. Come through
Meaning: Do what was needed or expected
Sample Sentences: She came through with the decorations. / My friend came through by finishing his part.
Other Way to Say: Did their job / Followed through
8. Get the job done
Meaning: Finish a task
Sample Sentences: We worked hard and got the job done. / He got the job done before dinner.
Other Way to Say: Finished it / Took care of it
9. Make the grade
Meaning: Meet the required level
Sample Sentences: I made the grade with my science quiz. / She studied hard and made the grade.
Other Way to Say: Passed / Did well
10. On the right track
Meaning: Doing things correctly
Sample Sentences: You’re on the right track with your project. / We’re on the right track with our team plan.
Other Way to Say: Going well / Doing fine
11. Carry it out
Meaning: Finish a plan
Sample Sentences: We carried out the cleanup perfectly. / She carried out the recipe step by step.
Other Way to Say: Finished it / Completed the plan
12. Make it happen
Meaning: Get something done
Sample Sentences: We made it happen with teamwork. / She made it happen with her idea.
Other Way to Say: Did it / Brought it to life
13. Come out on top
Meaning: Win or succeed
Sample Sentences: We came out on top in the class contest. / She came out on top after lots of practice.
Other Way to Say: Won / Did best
14. Put your mind to it
Meaning: Focus and succeed
Sample Sentences: You can do it if you put your mind to it. / He did it because he put his mind to it.
Other Way to Say: Stay focused / Work hard
15. Seal the deal
Meaning: Finish and make it official
Sample Sentences: We sealed the deal by turning in our form. / She sealed the deal with a handshake.
Other Way to Say: Finalize / Complete
16. Follow through
Meaning: Finish what you started
Sample Sentences: I followed through on my promise to help. / He followed through with his idea.
Other Way to Say: Completed it / Finished the job
17. Get the green light
Meaning: Get permission to start
Sample Sentences: We got the green light to begin the show. / She got the green light to join the team.
Other Way to Say: Got permission / Allowed to start
18. Have what it takes
Meaning: Be good enough to succeed
Sample Sentences: He has what it takes to be a leader. / I have what it takes to finish the puzzle.
Other Way to Say: Ready / Able
19. Come up with the goods
Meaning: Deliver what is expected
Sample Sentences: She came up with the goods for our project. / We came up with the goods just in time.
Other Way to Say: Did what’s needed / Finished the task
20. Give it your best shot
Meaning: Try your hardest
Sample Sentences: I gave it my best shot during the race. / She gave it her best shot in the spelling test.
Other Way to Say: Tried hard / Gave effort
21. Go the extra mile
Meaning: Do more than needed
Sample Sentences: He went the extra mile by cleaning the whole room. / I went the extra mile to help my group.
Other Way to Say: Did more / Worked harder
22. Break new ground
Meaning: Do something new
Sample Sentences: She broke new ground with her robot idea. / We broke new ground with our art project.
Other Way to Say: Try new things / Be first
23. Reach a goal
Meaning: Succeed at something planned
Sample Sentences: We reached our reading goal today. / I reached my goal by studying.
Other Way to Say: Got there / Succeeded
24. Work like a charm
Meaning: Succeed easily
Sample Sentences: Her plan worked like a charm. / The paint remover worked like a charm.
Other Way to Say: Worked well / Easy success
25. Go for it
Meaning: Try to do something
Sample Sentences: Just go for it and try out. / I told him to go for it in the contest.
Other Way to Say: Give it a try / Try now
26. Climb the ladder
Meaning: Move up or improve step by step
Sample Sentences: She climbed the ladder to become team captain. / He’s climbing the ladder with better grades.
Other Way to Say: Move ahead / Make progress
27. Turn the corner
Meaning: Start improving or succeeding
Sample Sentences: Our group turned the corner after we got organized. / He turned the corner on his homework.
Other Way to Say: Got better / Started succeeding
28. Make a name for yourself
Meaning: Become known for doing something well
Sample Sentences: She made a name for herself in art class. / He made a name for himself as a helper.
Other Way to Say: Became known / Got noticed
29. Reach the top
Meaning: Get to the highest level
Sample Sentences: She reached the top by practicing daily. / They reached the top of the scoreboard.
Other Way to Say: Got to the best / Became number one
30. Come full circle
Meaning: Finish where you started after learning or doing a lot
Sample Sentences: We came full circle on our project after testing and fixing. / I came full circle after helping where I once needed help.
Other Way to Say: Finished the loop / Returned stronger
31. Make it count
Meaning: Do something with effort and care
Sample Sentences: Let’s make it count on this last try. / She made it count with her final answer.
Other Way to Say: Try hard / Give it your best
32. Get off the ground
Meaning: Start something successfully
Sample Sentences: Our new idea got off the ground today. / His club got off the ground with lots of support.
Other Way to Say: Took off / Began well
33. Get somewhere
Meaning: Make progress
Sample Sentences: We’re finally getting somewhere with our science fair plan. / She’s getting somewhere with her music.
Other Way to Say: Moving ahead / Making progress
34. Push through
Meaning: Keep going until it’s done
Sample Sentences: I pushed through the hard math problems. / We pushed through even when we were tired.
Other Way to Say: Keep going / Don’t quit
35. Tie up loose ends
Meaning: Finish the last small parts of a task
Sample Sentences: We tied up loose ends on our report. / He tied up loose ends before presenting.
Other Way to Say: Finish it all / Wrap it up
36. Play your cards right
Meaning: Make smart choices to succeed
Sample Sentences: If you play your cards right, you can win. / She played her cards right and got the part.
Other Way to Say: Make good choices / Plan wisely
37. All in a day’s work
Meaning: A task that’s done as part of normal effort
Sample Sentences: Cleaning up was all in a day’s work. / Helping classmates is all in a day’s work for her.
Other Way to Say: Normal effort / Part of the job
38. Go off without a hitch
Meaning: Go smoothly without problems
Sample Sentences: The event went off without a hitch. / Our play went off without a hitch.
Other Way to Say: Worked well / No problems
39. Get your ducks in a row
Meaning: Get organized before starting
Sample Sentences: We got our ducks in a row before the fair. / She got her ducks in a row before class.
Other Way to Say: Get ready / Prepare well
40. Get it down to a science
Meaning: Do something very well with skill
Sample Sentences: She got writing down to a science. / We got our dance moves down to a science.
Other Way to Say: Do it well / Perfect it
41. Make headway
Meaning: Move forward or progress
Sample Sentences: We made headway on our group project. / He made headway with his chores.
Other Way to Say: Move forward / Get going
42. Put the finishing touches
Meaning: Add the last details to complete something
Sample Sentences: We put the finishing touches on our poster. / She added the final sentence as a finishing touch.
Other Way to Say: Add the last part / Complete it
43. Take care of business
Meaning: Do what needs to be done
Sample Sentences: He took care of business by finishing the task. / We took care of business before lunch.
Other Way to Say: Get it done / Finish up
44. Crack the code
Meaning: Figure something out
Sample Sentences: We cracked the code on how to solve the puzzle. / She cracked the code on how to fix her toy.
Other Way to Say: Solve it / Figure it out
45. Be on fire
Meaning: Do really well at something
Sample Sentences: He was on fire during the game. / She was on fire with her spelling words.
Other Way to Say: Doing great / Super focused
46. Take it to the next level
Meaning: Improve or go beyond the basic
Sample Sentences: She took her drawing to the next level. / We took our project to the next level by adding a video.
Other Way to Say: Improve it / Make it better
47. Make it stick
Meaning: Make something last or work for good
Sample Sentences: He made the change stick by practicing daily. / We made the new rule stick in our class.
Other Way to Say: Keep it going / Make it work
48. Bring your A-game
Meaning: Do your best work
Sample Sentences: She brought her A-game to the spelling contest. / They brought their A-game to the talent show.
Other Way to Say: Do your best / Be excellent
49. Put your best foot forward
Meaning: Try to make a good start
Sample Sentences: He put his best foot forward during the interview. / I put my best foot forward in the science fair.
Other Way to Say: Try hard / Start strong
50. Make the most of it
Meaning: Use your chance well
Sample Sentences: I made the most of my free time by reading. / She made the most of her turn to speak.
Other Way to Say: Use it well / Take the chance
51. Be up to the task
Meaning: Be able to do what’s needed
Sample Sentences: He was up to the task and cleaned the whole room. / She was up to the task in leading the group.
Other Way to Say: Can do it / Ready for it
52. Do yourself proud
Meaning: Do something well and feel good about it
Sample Sentences: She did herself proud with her poem. / I did myself proud by helping out.
Other Way to Say: Be proud / Did great
53. Keep your eye on the prize
Meaning: Stay focused on your goal
Sample Sentences: We kept our eye on the prize and won. / He kept his eye on the prize during practice.
Other Way to Say: Stay focused / Remember the goal
54. Play to your strengths
Meaning: Use what you’re best at
Sample Sentences: She played to her strengths by writing the report. / He played to his strengths in the math contest.
Other Way to Say: Use your skills / Do what you’re good at
55. Check all the boxes
Meaning: Do everything needed
Sample Sentences: We checked all the boxes for our project. / She checked all the boxes on the list.
Other Way to Say: Complete everything / Do every part
Multiple Choice Quiz: Idioms for Accomplish
1. What does “nail it” mean?
A. To hurt your finger
B. To do something very well
C. To build something with wood
2. If someone “gets the job done,” what have they done?
A. Left the work early
B. Made a mess
C. Finished their task successfully
3. What does it mean to “go the extra mile”?
A. Run farther in gym class
B. Do more than what’s expected
C. Walk to school instead of taking the bus
4. “Hit a home run” means:
A. Score in baseball only
B. Break a window with a ball
C. Do something very well
5. If you “check it off the list,” what have you done?
A. Lost your list
B. Finished a task
C. Made a new list
6. “Pull it off” means:
A. Take off your jacket
B. Ruin the plan
C. Succeed at something hard
7. “Bring it home” means:
A. Win or finish successfully
B. Go to your house
C. Take a snack home from school
8. What does “wrap it up” mean?
A. Finish something
B. Cover your lunch
C. Wrap a gift
9. If someone “rises to the occasion,” what are they doing?
A. Standing up
B. Doing their best when needed
C. Getting taller
10. “Get ahead” means:
A. Go in front of the line
B. Borrow something
C. Make progress or succeed
11. What does it mean to “hit your stride”?
A. Trip while walking
B. Find your best pace or rhythm
C. Walk with long steps
12. “Leave a legacy” means:
A. Forget something important
B. Be remembered for doing something good
C. Move to a new place
Answer Key
- B – “Nail it” means you did something very well.
- C – “Get the job done” means finishing a task successfully.
- B – “Go the extra mile” means doing more than expected.
- C – “Hit a home run” means doing something very well.
- B – “Check it off the list” means finishing a task.
- C – “Pull it off” means succeeding at something hard.
- A – “Bring it home” means finishing or winning.
- A – “Wrap it up” means to finish something.
- B – “Rise to the occasion” means doing your best when needed.
- C – “Get ahead” means making progress.
- B – “Hit your stride” means finding your best pace or way.
- B – “Leave a legacy” means being remembered for something good.
Scoring Guide
12 Correct Answers: Love Idiom Master! You know your idioms and how to use them. Great job!
8–11 Correct Answers: Well on your way to understanding love idioms. Keep learning you’re doing great.
4–7 Correct Answers: Room for improvement, but you’re getting there! Review the idioms and try again.
0–3 Correct Answers: Let’s explore idioms together. Keep practicing and you’ll learn them in no time!
Conclusion
Learning idioms for “accomplish” helps you understand how people talk about success in fun and simple ways. These phrases are common in everyday speech, stories, and even TV shows. Knowing what they mean can help you follow conversations and express yourself better.
The more you practice using these idioms, the easier it becomes to recognize them. Keep listening, reading, and trying them out in your own writing. Little by little, you’ll get more confident using them in the right way.
