50 Idioms for Starting Something With Meanings & Sentences
Idioms for Starting Something
1. Get the ball rolling
Meaning: To start something, especially an activity or process.
In a Sentence: We need to get the ball rolling on our science project before the deadline. / Let’s get the ball rolling on organizing the school fair.
Other Ways to Say: Start the process, Begin the task
2. Jump in with both feet
Meaning: To begin something with enthusiasm and energy.
In a Sentence: She jumped in with both feet when she joined the school drama club. / After hearing about the soccer team, he decided to jump in with both feet.
Other Ways to Say: Dive in, Go all in
3. Hit the ground running
Meaning: To begin a task or activity energetically and effectively.
In a Sentence: The new manager hit the ground running on her first day. / They hit the ground running when the project was approved.
Other Ways to Say: Start strong, Get going fast
4. Take the plunge
Meaning: To make a decision to start something new, often something difficult or unfamiliar.
In a Sentence: He finally took the plunge and started his own business. / After much thought, she took the plunge into freelance writing.
Other Ways to Say: Go for it, Dive in
5. Break the ice
Meaning: To start a conversation or activity in a social setting.
In a Sentence: The team played a game to break the ice before the meeting. / She told a joke to break the ice at the party.
Other Ways to Say: Open up, Start talking
6. Kick things off
Meaning: To begin an event, activity, or process.
In a Sentence: They kicked things off with an opening speech. / The concert kicked off with a popular song.
Other Ways to Say: Begin, Launch
7. Start from scratch
Meaning: To begin something without any prior preparation or foundation.
In a Sentence: After the computer crash, I had to start the report from scratch. / They built their business from scratch.
Other Ways to Say: Begin anew, Begin at zero
8. Make a fresh start
Meaning: To begin something again with a clean slate.
In a Sentence: After moving to a new city, she made a fresh start. / He saw college as a chance to make a fresh start.
Other Ways to Say: Start over, Begin again
9. Light a fire under someone
Meaning: To motivate someone to begin working or acting quickly.
In a Sentence: The approaching deadline lit a fire under the team. / His speech really lit a fire under the students.
Other Ways to Say: Motivate, Push into action
10. Turn over a new leaf
Meaning: To start anew, often by changing behavior for the better.
In a Sentence: He turned over a new leaf after the new year. / She turned over a new leaf after switching schools.
Other Ways to Say: Change for the better, Begin fresh
11. Get cracking
Meaning: To start doing something quickly.
In a Sentence: We’d better get cracking on that homework. / Get cracking or we’ll miss the train!
Other Ways to Say: Hurry up, Get started now
12. Come out swinging
Meaning: To start something with great energy and assertiveness.
In a Sentence: The candidate came out swinging during the debate. / She came out swinging in her new job.
Other Ways to Say: Start aggressively, Be bold
13. Open the floodgates
Meaning: To begin a process that leads to many other things happening.
In a Sentence: The new policy opened the floodgates to applications. / Once she spoke up, it opened the floodgates for others.
Other Ways to Say: Start a rush, Initiate a wave
14. Get off on the right foot
Meaning: To start something well or successfully.
In a Sentence: We got off on the right foot with our new neighbors. / Try to get off on the right foot at your new job.
Other Ways to Say: Start smoothly, Begin well
15. Begin the journey
Meaning: To start an experience or life change.
In a Sentence: Graduation marks the beginning of your journey. / She began the journey of becoming a writer.
Other Ways to Say: Embark on a path, Start your way
16. Crack open
Meaning: To open or start something, especially a book or project.
In a Sentence: Time to crack open the textbook. / He cracked open his laptop and began coding.
Other Ways to Say: Open up, Start reading
17. Take the first step
Meaning: To initiate action or begin something new.
In a Sentence: Taking the first step is always the hardest. / She took the first step toward recovery.
Other Ways to Say: Begin, Make a start
18. Get underway
Meaning: To begin moving or progressing.
In a Sentence: The event got underway after a short delay. / The construction project is finally underway.
Other Ways to Say: In motion, Started
19. Turn the key
Meaning: To initiate or unlock something new.
In a Sentence: He turned the key and launched his startup. / Turning the key on that opportunity changed her life.
Other Ways to Say: Begin a process, Unlock potential
20. Fire the starting gun
Meaning: To signal the start of something.
In a Sentence: The announcement fired the starting gun for the campaign. / The bell rang and fired the starting gun for class.
Other Ways to Say: Initiate, Begin officially
21. Begin a new chapter
Meaning: To start a new phase in life.
In a Sentence: Moving abroad marked a new chapter in his life. / After the breakup, she began a new chapter.
Other Ways to Say: Start over, Open a new page
22. Set the wheels in motion
Meaning: To begin a process or series of events.
In a Sentence: Accepting the offer set the wheels in motion for a big move. / They set the wheels in motion for the merger.
Other Ways to Say: Begin a process, Get things moving
23. Step into the spotlight
Meaning: To start being noticed or taking a leading role.
In a Sentence: She stepped into the spotlight with her first solo. / He stepped into the spotlight during the presentation.
Other Ways to Say: Take center stage, Begin to shine
24. Take off
Meaning: To begin quickly or become successful fast.
In a Sentence: Her blog took off after a viral post. / The idea took off among teens.
Other Ways to Say: Launch, Become popular
25. Launch into
Meaning: To begin something with energy and focus.
In a Sentence: He launched into his speech with confidence. / She launched into the project right away.
Other Ways to Say: Dive into, Begin forcefully
26. Fire the starting gun
Meaning: To officially begin a project or event.
In a Sentence: The teacher fired the starting gun for the class competition. / Let’s fire the starting gun on this campaign today.
Other Ways to Say: Begin officially, Start off
27. Hit the ground running
Meaning: To begin a task or project with immediate energy and effectiveness.
In a Sentence: When she started her new job, she hit the ground running. / The new student hit the ground running on the school newspaper.
Other Ways to Say: Start energetically, Begin actively
28. Open the door to
Meaning: To create an opportunity or beginning for something.
In a Sentence: Learning coding opened the door to a tech career for him. / Her apology opened the door to healing.
Other Ways to Say: Create opportunity, Initiate a path
29. Start from scratch
Meaning: To begin something from the very beginning.
In a Sentence: They had to start from scratch after losing their data. / I’m starting this drawing from scratch.
Other Ways to Say: Begin anew, Start fresh
30. Blaze a trail
Meaning: To begin something in a new, creative, or pioneering way.
In a Sentence: She blazed a trail in student activism. / The young inventor blazed a trail with his ideas.
Other Ways to Say: Lead the way, Be a pioneer
31. Kick off
Meaning: To begin or start an event, activity, or process.
In a Sentence: The concert will kick off at 7 PM. / Let’s kick off this meeting with some good news.
Other Ways to Say: Begin, Launch
32. Turn the key
Meaning: To initiate or begin something.
In a Sentence: Signing the lease turned the key to their new life. / He turned the key on his career when he got hired.
Other Ways to Say: Unlock opportunity, Start a journey
33. Break into
Meaning: To begin a new activity, career, or field.
In a Sentence: She broke into the fashion industry at a young age. / He’s trying to break into the music scene.
Other Ways to Say: Enter, Get involved
34. Plant the seed
Meaning: To start something that will grow or develop later.
In a Sentence: His advice planted the seed for my business idea. / We planted the seed of curiosity in the kids’ minds.
Other Ways to Say: Initiate an idea, Lay the foundation
35. Spark something
Meaning: To begin or cause something to happen.
In a Sentence: His comment sparked a lively debate. / Her speech sparked inspiration in everyone.
Other Ways to Say: Trigger, Ignite
36. Blow the whistle
Meaning: To signal the start of something, often officially.
In a Sentence: The referee blew the whistle, and the game began. / She blew the whistle on the countdown to launch.
Other Ways to Say: Signal start, Announce beginning
37. Set the wheels in motion
Meaning: To begin a process or series of actions.
In a Sentence: Calling the architect set the wheels in motion for their house project. / We’ve set the wheels in motion for change.
Other Ways to Say: Start a process, Begin operations
38. Light the fuse
Meaning: To begin something that may have powerful or explosive results.
In a Sentence: The protest lit the fuse of social change. / The policy change lit the fuse for a debate.
Other Ways to Say: Ignite action, Start a movement
39. Start the clock
Meaning: To begin a timed process or event.
In a Sentence: Once the exam begins, the teacher starts the clock. / Let’s start the clock on the competition now.
Other Ways to Say: Begin timing, Initiate countdown
40. Step into the ring
Meaning: To begin involvement, especially in a challenge or competition.
In a Sentence: She stepped into the ring to run for class president. / The team stepped into the ring for the debate.
Other Ways to Say: Enter the challenge, Join the fight
41. Get into gear
Meaning: To start working or functioning effectively.
In a Sentence: After vacation, it’s hard to get into gear. / We got into gear to finish the project quickly.
Other Ways to Say: Start moving, Get going
42. Crack open
Meaning: To begin using or exploring something.
In a Sentence: Let’s crack open the book and start reading. / They cracked open a new business venture.
Other Ways to Say: Open, Begin exploration
43. Begin the journey
Meaning: To start a new phase, path, or experience.
In a Sentence: Graduation marked the beginning of his journey. / They began the journey of parenthood.
Other Ways to Say: Embark, Set off
44. Light a fire under
Meaning: To motivate someone to start something quickly.
In a Sentence: Her teacher lit a fire under her to study. / That speech lit a fire under the whole team.
Other Ways to Say: Motivate, Push to begin
45. Pull the trigger
Meaning: To make a final decision to begin something.
In a Sentence: He pulled the trigger and launched the website. / We pulled the trigger on the new project.
Other Ways to Say: Take action, Start officially
46. Turn the page
Meaning: To start a new phase or chapter in life.
In a Sentence: After moving, she turned the page to a new beginning. / It’s time to turn the page and move on.
Other Ways to Say: Begin anew, Start fresh
47. Wake up and smell the coffee
Meaning: To realize something and start taking action.
In a Sentence: You need to wake up and smell the coffee—exams are near! / She finally woke up and smelled the coffee about her job.
Other Ways to Say: Face reality, Start acting
48. Set sail
Meaning: To begin a journey or new experience.
In a Sentence: We set sail on our college adventure. / The company set sail into new markets.
Other Ways to Say: Begin voyage, Embark
49. Start the engine
Meaning: To begin a process or action.
In a Sentence: He started the engine on his new idea. / Let’s start the engine on this campaign.
Other Ways to Say: Power up, Get started
50. Take the leap
Meaning: To make a bold or risky start.
In a Sentence: She took the leap and started her own business. / He took the leap into public speaking.
Other Ways to Say: Take a chance, Dive in
