Idioms:
- At all costs
If you are determined to obtain or achieve something at all costs, you want it regardless of the expense, effort or sacrifice involved.
“The journalist was determined at all costs to get a report from the war zone.”
- Avowed intent
When someone makes a public declaration of their objective or goal, this is their avowed intent.
“The avowed intent of the new Government is to reduce unemployment.”
- Beard the lion in his den
If you visit someone important in the place where they work, because you are determined to challenge him/her or obtain something, you beard the lion in his den.
- Have a bee in one’s bonnet
A person who has a bee in their bonnet has an idea which constantly occupies their thoughts.
“She’s got a bee in her bonnet about moving to New Delhi.”
- Beyond one’s wildest dreams
If something is beyond your wildest dreams, it is better than you imagined or hoped for.
“The research team received a grant from the government that was beyond their wildest dreams.”
- Blood, sweat and tears
A project or action which involves blood, sweat and tears requires a lot of effort and hard work.
“His success wasn’t due to luck; it was blood, sweat and tears all the way.”
- Have something on the brain
If you have something on the brain, you think or talk about it constantly.
“Stop talking about golf. You’ve got golf on the brain!”
- Buckle down
If you buckle down, you apply yourself with determination to hard work and give it your full attention.
“If you want to pass your exams, you’ll have to buckle down and do some serious work.”
- Dig in your heels
If you dig in your heels, you refuse to do something, especially if someone is trying to convince you to do so.
“My grandfather dug in his heels and refused to move to an apartment.”
- An eager beaver
The term eager beaver refers to a person who is hard- working and enthusiastic, sometimes considered overzealous.
“The new accountant works all the time – first to arrive and last to leave – a real eager beaver!”
- Explore all avenues
If you explore all avenues, you try out every possibility in order to obtain a result or find a solution.
“We can’t say it’s impossible until we’ve explored all avenues.”
- Fight tooth and nail
If you fight tooth and nail for something, you fight with all your energy.
“The Transport Minister fought tooth and nail to have to have the proposed road safety law accepted.”
- Fly by the seat of your pants
If you fly by the seat of your pants, you do something without knowledge or experience, using only your instinct and hoping that you will succeed.
“Without any formal training, he decided to fly by the seat of his pants and try his luck in New Delhi.”
- Go the extra mile
If you go the extra mile, you do more than what is expected of you.
“You can count on Rahul; he’s always willing to go the extra mile.”
- Go to great lengths
When trying to achieve something, if you go to great lengths, you do everything that is possible in order to succeed.
“The two parties went to great lengths to reach an agreement.”