Idioms are lively, figurative expressions that ignite conversations with energy and vivid imagery, particularly when describing the act of starting something new, whether it’s a project, a journey, or a bold venture. These phrases capture the essence of initiation—its excitement, courage, or potential—using imaginative language that makes discussions about beginnings more engaging, relatable, and often charged with anticipation or determination.
In this dynamic listicle, we’ll explore 43 idioms related to starting something, decoding their meanings and illustrating their use with examples. Whether you’re looking to spark enthusiasm in your dialogue, describe a fresh endeavor, or capture the thrill of a new beginning, this guide will launch into the world of start-related idioms like a rocket blasting off. Let’s kick things off and dive into the adventure of new beginnings!
What is an Idiom for Starting Something?
Idioms for starting something are figurative phrases that describe the act of beginning a task, project, or journey, using vibrant language to convey the energy, initiative, or risk involved in taking the first step. These expressions make conversations about new ventures more vivid, relatable, and often carry a sense of momentum, courage, or opportunity. Below, we’ll unpack each idiom, its meaning, and how it can be seamlessly integrated into everyday conversations.
Idioms for Starting Something
1. Hit the Ground Running
Meaning: To start a task or project quickly and effectively, with immediate progress.
In a Sentence: She hit the ground running on her new job, her swift mastery of the role and proactive ideas impressing her team from the very first day, setting a strong foundation for success.
2. Kick Things Off
Meaning: To initiate or start an event, project, or process.
In a Sentence: The team kicked things off with an inspiring brainstorming session, their enthusiastic exchange of ideas sparking a creative surge that launched the campaign with unstoppable momentum.
3. Get the Ball Rolling
Meaning: To start a process or activity, often to encourage further progress.
In a Sentence: He got the ball rolling on the charity drive, his passionate speech rallying volunteers to join the cause, transforming a simple idea into a community-wide movement overnight.
4. Break the Ice
Meaning: To start a conversation or activity to make people feel more comfortable.
In a Sentence: Her lighthearted joke broke the ice at the tense meeting, her warm humor paving the way for open dialogue that launched a productive collaboration among the new team members.
5. Set the Stage
Meaning: To prepare or create conditions for something to begin.
In a Sentence: The CEO set the stage for innovation, her visionary keynote outlining bold goals that inspired the company to embark on a transformative journey toward cutting-edge solutions.
6. Take the Plunge
Meaning: To commit to starting something risky or bold, often with uncertainty.
In a Sentence: After years of dreaming, he took the plunge and started his own business, his courageous leap into entrepreneurship sparking a venture that would soon thrive beyond his expectations.
7. Jump-Start
Meaning: To give a quick or energetic start to something, often to revive or accelerate it.
In a Sentence: The new marketing campaign jump-started the brand’s growth, its vibrant ads and clever slogans igniting consumer interest and driving sales to new heights within weeks.
8. Lay the Groundwork
Meaning: To establish the foundation or initial steps for a project or plan.
In a Sentence: She laid the groundwork for the community garden, her meticulous planning and tireless outreach securing the land and volunteers needed to launch the project with confidence.
9. Start from Scratch
Meaning: To begin something from the very beginning, without prior resources or progress.
In a Sentence: With no template to follow, they started from scratch on the app design, their innovative approach crafting a unique product that stood out in a crowded market by launch day.
10. Get Off the Ground
Meaning: To successfully begin or launch a project or endeavor.
In a Sentence: The startup struggled initially, but with fresh funding, it finally got off the ground, its bold vision attracting investors and customers eager to support its promising debut.
11. Fire Up
Meaning: To start something with enthusiasm or energy, often a machine or process.
In a Sentence: The team fired up the new production line, their excitement palpable as the machines roared to life, marking the start of a highly anticipated manufacturing expansion.
12. Plant the Seeds
Meaning: To take initial steps that will lead to future growth or success.
In a Sentence: She planted the seeds for her novel during a quiet retreat, her early notes and character sketches blossoming into a gripping story that captivated readers upon its release.
13. Sow the Seeds
Meaning: To initiate actions that will yield results in the future.
In a Sentence: He sowed the seeds for reform by organizing community forums, his early efforts sparking a grassroots movement that would reshape local policies over the coming years.
14. Spark a Fire
Meaning: To ignite enthusiasm or momentum to start something.
In a Sentence: Her passionate speech sparked a fire in the team, their newfound drive propelling them to launch the initiative with a fervor that inspired everyone involved.
15. Get Underway
Meaning: To begin or start moving forward, often with a sense of progress.
In a Sentence: The festival got underway with a vibrant parade, its colorful floats and lively music setting the tone for a weekend of celebrations that drew thousands to the town.
16. Break New Ground
Meaning: To start something innovative or pioneering.
In a Sentence: The scientist broke new ground with her research, her groundbreaking experiments launching a new field of study that promised to revolutionize medical treatments.
17. Open the Door
Meaning: To create an opportunity or start a process that allows further progress.
In a Sentence: Her mentorship opened the door for young artists, her guidance launching their careers by connecting them with galleries and opportunities they’d never dreamed of accessing.
18. Set in Motion
Meaning: To start a process or series of events.
In a Sentence: The mayor set in motion a city-wide recycling program, her bold policy igniting a wave of environmental awareness that transformed how residents approached sustainability.
19. Take the First Step
Meaning: To begin a journey or task by making an initial effort.
In a Sentence: He took the first step toward his fitness goals by joining a gym, his commitment to daily workouts launching a personal transformation that boosted his health and confidence.
20. Turn Over a New Leaf
Meaning: To start fresh or make a positive change in behavior or approach.
In a Sentence: Determined to improve, she turned over a new leaf in her studies, her renewed focus and disciplined habits launching a semester of academic success and personal growth.
21. Light the Fuse
Meaning: To initiate something explosive or impactful, often with dramatic results.
In a Sentence: The viral video lit the fuse for the product’s success, its clever message sparking a frenzy of orders that launched the small company into the national spotlight.
22. Get the Show on the Road
Meaning: To start an activity or event, often with urgency or enthusiasm.
In a Sentence: After months of planning, they got the show on the road with a spectacular opening ceremony, their vibrant event launching a festival that would captivate the city for days.
23. Launch into Action
Meaning: To begin something energetically and immediately.
In a Sentence: The emergency team launched into action when the alarm sounded, their swift coordination kicking off a rescue operation that saved lives in the nick of time.
24. Start the Ballgame
Meaning: To begin an activity or process, often with a competitive or significant tone.
In a Sentence: The signed contract started the ballgame, its finalization launching a partnership that would reshape the industry with innovative collaborations over the coming years.
25. Blaze a Trail
Meaning: To start something new and lead the way for others to follow.
In a Sentence: She blazed a trail in the tech industry, her startup’s bold innovations launching a wave of female-led companies that redefined the sector’s future.
26. Kick into Gear
Meaning: To start operating or functioning effectively, often after a delay.
In a Sentence: The project kicked into gear after the new manager arrived, her decisive leadership launching a flurry of activity that propelled the team toward their ambitious goals.
27. Get a Head Start
Meaning: To begin earlier than others, gaining an advantage.
In a Sentence: He got a head start on the competition by researching early, his thorough preparation launching his campaign with a strategic edge that secured early support.
28. Strike While the Iron is Hot
Meaning: To start or act quickly when the opportunity is ripe.
In a Sentence: She struck while the iron was hot and pitched her idea, her timely proposal launching a partnership that capitalized on the market’s sudden demand for her product.
29. Open a New Chapter
Meaning: To begin a new phase or stage in life or work.
In a Sentence: Moving to a new city opened a new chapter for her, the fresh start launching a journey of self-discovery filled with new friendships and unexpected opportunities.
30. Break the Mold
Meaning: To start something in a way that defies convention or tradition.
In a Sentence: Their unconventional campaign broke the mold, its bold and quirky approach launching a brand that stood out in a sea of predictable advertisements.
31. Start with a Clean Slate
Meaning: To begin anew, free from past mistakes or burdens.
In a Sentence: After resolving the conflict, they started with a clean slate, their renewed collaboration launching a project that thrived on mutual trust and shared vision.
32. Cut the Ribbon
Meaning: To officially start or open something, often with a ceremony.
In a Sentence: The mayor cut the ribbon to launch the new library, her proud gesture marking the start of a community hub that would enrich lives for generations to come.
33. Roll Up Your Sleeves
Meaning: To prepare to start working hard on something.
In a Sentence: She rolled up her sleeves and dove into the renovation, her hands-on effort launching a transformation that turned the old house into a stunning family home.
34. Take Off Like a Rocket
Meaning: To start rapidly and successfully, with great momentum.
In a Sentence: The new app took off like a rocket, its clever design and viral marketing launching it to millions of downloads within days of its eagerly awaited release.
35. Start the Engine
Meaning: To initiate a process or activity, often with a mechanical connotation.
In a Sentence: The director started the engine of production, her clear vision and decisive actions launching a film project that would captivate audiences around the world.
36. Lay the First Stone
Meaning: To begin a significant project, often with symbolic importance.
In a Sentence: The community laid the first stone for the new school, their collective effort launching a construction project that would provide education for future generations.
37. Get Your Feet Wet
Meaning: To start something cautiously or gain initial experience.
In a Sentence: She got her feet wet in photography with a beginner’s class, her early experiments launching a passion that soon blossomed into a thriving freelance career.
38. Pull the Trigger
Meaning: To commit to starting something decisive or irreversible.
In a Sentence: After months of hesitation, he pulled the trigger on the investment, his bold decision launching a venture that would yield significant returns in the years ahead.
39. Spring into Action
Meaning: To start doing something quickly and energetically.
In a Sentence: When the opportunity arose, the team sprang into action, their rapid response launching a relief effort that delivered aid to the disaster-stricken area within hours.
40. Start on the Right Foot
Meaning: To begin something in a positive or successful way.
In a Sentence: She started on the right foot with her new boss, her thoughtful introduction and proactive attitude launching a professional relationship built on mutual respect.
41. Ignite a Spark
Meaning: To start something by inspiring enthusiasm or interest.
In a Sentence: His passionate lecture ignited a spark in the students, their newfound curiosity launching a wave of research projects that explored uncharted scientific frontiers.
42. Turn the Key
Meaning: To initiate or start something, often with a sense of unlocking potential.
In a Sentence: The grant turned the key for the nonprofit, its funding launching a series of programs that empowered underserved communities with education and resources.
43. Take the Bull by the Horns
Meaning: To start dealing with a challenge directly and boldly.
In a Sentence: Faced with a failing project, she took the bull by the horns, her decisive leadership launching a turnaround that saved the initiative and earned her team’s admiration.
Quizzes About The Idioms in The Article
Quiz 1: Hit the Ground Running
What does the idiom “Hit the ground running” mean?
a) To start slowly
b) To start quickly and effectively
c) To avoid starting
d) To finish early
Quiz 2: Get the Ball Rolling
What is the meaning of “Get the ball rolling”?
a) To stop a process
b) To start a process or activity
c) To complicate a task
d) To delay progress
Quiz 3: Take the Plunge
When someone says, “Take the plunge,” what are they describing?
a) Avoiding risk
b) Committing to a bold start
c) Ending a project
d) Hesitating to act
Quiz 4: Break New Ground
What does the idiom “Break new ground” suggest?
a) Starting something routine
b) Starting something innovative
c) Following tradition
d) Stopping progress
Quiz 5: Lay the Groundwork
What situation is described by the idiom “Lay the groundwork”?
a) Completing a project
b) Establishing a foundation for a plan
c) Avoiding preparation
d) Ignoring details
Quiz 6: Get Off the Ground
If something “gets off the ground,” what does it mean?
a) It fails to start
b) It successfully begins
c) It stalls midway
d) It ends abruptly
Quiz 7: Plant the Seeds
What does the expression “Plant the seeds” imply?
a) To cause immediate results
b) To take steps for future success
c) To avoid planning
d) To finish a task
Quiz 8: Start from Scratch
When is it appropriate to say, “Start from scratch”?
a) When continuing an existing plan
b) When beginning without prior resources
c) When finishing a project
d) When relying on others
Quiz 9: Spark a Fire
What is the meaning of “Spark a fire”?
a) To cause a delay
b) To ignite enthusiasm to start something
c) To stop an activity
d) To create confusion
Quiz 10: Take the First Step
When someone “takes the first step,” what are they doing?
a) Finishing a task
b) Making an initial effort to begin
c) Avoiding action
d) Waiting for others
Answers:
- b
- b
- b
- b
- b
- b
- b
- b
- b
- b
Conclusion
Idioms for starting something are like the first sparks of a fire, igniting conversations with vivid imagery that captures the excitement, courage, and potential of new beginnings. Whether you’re describing a bold leap, a careful first step, or the launch of a groundbreaking venture, these 43 idioms offer a dynamic toolkit of expressions to infuse your dialogue with energy and inspiration. Sprinkle them into your conversations to add a touch of momentum, and let them launch your words like a project taking off with unstoppable force.