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English idioms relating to
SUCCESS - FAILURE
 
 Hold all the aces    A person who holds all the aces is in a very strong position because
  they have more advantages than anyone else.
  "Given the high unemployment figures in some countries, employers
  hold all the aces."
 Back to square one   To say that someone is back to square one, means that they have not
  succeeded in what they were trying to do, and so they have to start again.
  "When the plans were refused, it was back to square one for the architect."
 In the bag   If you think something is in the bag, you are almost certain it will be achieved.
  "An hour before the polling stations closed, victory seemed in the bag for the
  Conservative candidate."
 Bring the house down   If you bring the house down, you give a very successful performance.
  "If he sings like that on Saturday, he'll bring the house down."
 Have had one's chips   To say that someone has had their chips means that they have completely
  failed in what they set out to achieve.
  "After the second set, it looked as though Agassi had had his chips."
 Come up in the world   A person who has come up in the world is richer than before and
  has a higher social status.
  "My old school friend has bought an apartment overlooking Central Park. 
  She has certainly come up in the world!"
 Come/turn up trumps   To say that someone has come up trumps means that they have achieved
  unexpectedly good results.
  "Against all expectations, our team came up trumps in the cup final."
 Cook somebody's goose   To cook somebody's goose means to spoil that person's chance of
  success.
  "When the burglar saw the police car arriving, he realized his goose was
   cooked."
 On course (for something)   If someone is on course for something, they are likely to achieve it.
  "Our team is on course for a victory in the national championship."
 The cream of the crop   This expression is used to refer to the best people or things in a particular
  group.
  "As usual, the cream of the crop of this year's graduates
   were offered the best jobs."
 On the crest of a wave   If you are on the crest of a wave, you are very successful in what you are
  doing.
  "Our company is going from success to success. 
  We're on the crest of a wave right now."
 Dead loss   Someone or something described as a dead loss is absolutely useless
  or a complete failure.
  "When it comes to gardening, my brother is a dead loss."
 Every dog has its day   This expression means that  everyone can be successful at something
  at some time in their life.
  "I didn't win this time, but I'll be lucky one day.  Every dog has its day!"
 Fall at the first hurdle   If you fall at the first hurdle, you fail to overcome the first difficulty
  encountered.
  "Scott fell at the first hurdle.  He didn't study enough and failed his first
  exam."
 Fall from grace   To say that someone has fallen from grace means that they have done
  something wrong, immoral or unacceptable, and as a result have lost their
  good reputation.
  "The Finance Minister fell from grace as a result of a sex scandal."
 A feather in one's cap    To describe someone's achievement as a feather in their cap means
  that it is something they can be proud of.
  "The overwhelming victory of the team was a feather in the cap for the
  new manager."
 Fight a losing battle   If someone is fighting a losing battle, they are trying to do something
  even when there is little chance of succeeding.
  "The headmaster is fighting a losing battle trying to ban mobile phones
  at school."
 A flash in the pan   If you refer to somebody's success as a flash in the pan, your mean
  that it is not likely to be repeated
  "The manager hoped that the team's unexpected success was not a
  flash in the pan."
 It will never fly   To say that something will never fly means that it will not be successful.
  "He's got incredible ideas, but none that will ever fly!"
 Flying colours   To achieve something with flying colours means to do it very
  successfully.
  "My daughter passed the entrance exam with flying colours.
   I'm so proud of her!"
 A foot in the door   If you say that someone has a foot in the door, you mean that they
  have a small but successful start in something and will possibly do well
  in the future.
  "With today's unemployment, it's difficult to get a foot in the door in any
  profession."
 Front runner   In a contest, race or election, the front runner is the person who seems
  most likely to succeed or win.
 "Who are the front runners in the coming elections?"
 Get the better of you   If someone or something gets the better of you, they defeat you
  "She went on a diet but it didn't last long - her love of chocolate got the
  better of her!"
 Go to the dogs   To say that a company, organization or country is going to the dogs
  means that it is becoming less successful or efficient than before.
  "Some think the company will go to the dogs if it is nationalized."
 Go great guns   If someone or something is going great guns, they are doing
  very well.
  "Fred's night club is going great guns.  It's becoming hard to get in!.
 Hand it to someone   If you hand it to someone, you admit, perhaps unwillingly, that they
  deserve credit or praise for their achievements.
  "You've got to hand it to Julie.  She may be a snob, but her presentations
  are always excellent."
 By hook or by crook   If you say that you will do something by hook or by crook, you  mean
  that you will succeed in doing it in whatever way is necessary, whether
  it is honest or not.
  "I'll get my revenge, by hook or by crook!"
 Jump on the bandwagon   If a person or organization jumps on the bandwagon, they decide to do
  something when it is already successful or fashionable.
  "When organic food became popular, certain stores were quick to jump
  on the bandwagon and promote it.
 Lead to a dead end   If a plan or a project leads to a dead end, it develops no further because
  it has no future.
  "In  spite of the scientists' efforts, the research lead to a dead end."
 Let something slip through your fingers    If you let something slip through your fingers, for example a good
  opportunity, you fail to obtain or keep it.
  "He should have accepted the job when it was offered. 
  He let the opportunity slip through his fingers."
 At a low ebb   A person or organization at a low ebb is not as strong or successful as
  usual.
  "The recent political crisis has left  the country at a low ebb."
 Make ends meet   If you find it difficult to make ends meet, you find it difficult to pay for
  your everyday needs because you have very little money.
  "Anne's salary is so low she finds it hard to make ends meet."
 Make headway   If you make headway, you make progress in what you are trying to
  achieve.
  "Investigators have made little headway in their search for the causes
  of the catastrophe."
 Miss the boat   If you miss the boat, you fail to take advantage of an opportunity because
  you don't act quickly enough.
  "I managed to get my order through before the end of the special offer -
  but I nearly missed the boat!"  
 Move up in the world   A person who moves up in the world becomes more important in
  society or more successful in their career.
  "Rachel Jones has moved up in the world since we were kids."
 Nothing succeeds like success!   This expression means that success often leads to further successes.
  "The success of my first book encouraged me to continue writing. 
   Nothing succeeds like success!" 
 Ahead of the pack   If a person or organization is ahead of the pack, they are better or more
  successful than their rivals.
  "Our products will have to be more innovative if we are to stay ahead of
  the pack."
 Pack something in   If you pack something in, you abandon it or give it up.
  "She found city life so stressful, she decided to pack it in and move to
  the country."
 From rags to riches   If you go from rags to riches, you start off being very poor
  and become very rich and successful
  "By renovating old houses in the right places, he went from rags to riches."
 Rise to the occasion   If you rise to the occasion, you manage to do something successfully in
  difficult circumstances.
  "When her boss broke his leg, Julie had to represent the company at
  the congress, and she rose to the occasion extremely well."
 Sail through something   If you sail through something, for example a test or an exam,
  you succeed in doing it without difficulty.
  "The English test was no problem for Tom.  He sailed through it!"
 Sink or swim    If somebody has to sink or swim, they have to do something alone,
  and their success or failure depends entirely on their own efforts.
  "The sink or swim attitude in the company can be very difficult for
  young recruits."
 The sky is the limit    To say "the sky's the limit" means that there is no limit to the
   possibility of success or progress for someone or something.
  "How successful do you think the project will be?  Who knows...
   the sky's the limit!"
 Steal the show   A person who steals the show gets more attention or praise than
  the other participants.
  "The Japanese competitor stole the show at the Olympic Games."
 Take one's hat off to somebody   You say this to express admiration for something someone has done.
  "I take my hat off to the chef.  The meal was wonderful."
 Throw a spanner (or wrench) in the works   This expression means to prevent the success of a plan or event, by
  causing problems.   
  "The two companies wanted to sign the agreement before anything
   happened to throw a spanner in the works."
 Throw in the towel   If you throw in the towel, you admit that you cannot succeed in doing
  something or that you are defeated.
  "After unsuccessfully competing in several championships, she decided
  to throw in the towel and go back to college."
 Top dog   To say that a person, group or country is top dog means that
  they are better or more powerful than others.
  "She's top dog in cosmetics today."
 Turn the tables   If you turn the tables on a person or organization, you reverse the situation
  so as to be in a position of superiority.
  "The success of our new product has turned the tables on our competitors."
 Weather the storm   If you weather the storm, you succeed in surviving a difficult period or
  situation.
  "Given the current recession, the company is weathering the storm
  better than some others."
 Win-win    The term win-win refers to a situation or proposition where both or
  all parties benefit from the outcome.
  "There were smiles all round when the contract was signed - it was a
   win-win situation."
 Wither on the vine   If something withers on the vine, it comes to an end or dies because
  people do nothing to support or encourage it.
  "Let's hope that the recent efforts towards peace will not wither on the vine."

 
 

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