English Idioms and Expressions 

Idioms: Ambition and Determination-1,
from: 'at all costs'   to:  'explore all avenues'

• 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 go to visit someone important in the place where they work, in order to challenge him/her or obtain something, you beard the lion in his den.
    "If he continues to refuse my calls, I'll have to beard the lion in his den."
    
    
• (have a) bee in your bonnet
  • Someone 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 York."
    
    
• beyond your 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 abut it all constantly.
    "He never stops talking about golf. He has golf on the brain!"
    
    
• (a) bridge too far
  • A bridge too far is an action, goal or aim which is too ambitious and can potentially lead to difficulty or failure.
    "Alex is clever, but in my opinion taking the higher exam would be a bridge too far for him.”
    
    
• 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."
    
    
• chasing shadows
  • Someone who is chasing shadows is pursuing something impossible, elusive or unattainable.
    "Hugo spends his time chasing shadows instead of concentrating on achievable goals.
    
    
• 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."
    
    
• eager beaver
  • The term eager beaver refers to a person who is hardworking and enthusiastic, sometimes considered overzealous.
    "The new accountant works all the time - first to arrive and last to leave. He's 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."