60 Idioms for Keep Going

Idioms are fun phrases where the words together mean something totally different from what they say one by one. People use them to make talking and writing more colorful, exciting, and full of life. Today, you are going to learn a bunch of helpful idioms that all have to do with keeping going and never giving up.

In this lesson, we’ll look at idioms for keep going that mean staying strong, pushing forward, and persevering through hard times. Let’s get started and explore some of these helpful expressions.

Idioms for Keep Going

1. Hang in there

Meaning: A encouraging way to tell someone to stay strong and keep going during tough times.

For Example: When the math homework got very difficult, mom told him to hang in there. / Hang in there because your hard work will pay off soon.

Other Ways to Say: Stay strong / Keep trying

2. Keep your chin up

Meaning: To remain cheerful, hopeful, and keep going despite facing a challenge.

For Example: Even though our team lost the game, the coach told us to keep our chins up. / Keep your chin up when things get tough at school.

Other Ways to Say: Stay hopeful / Remain brave

3. Push through

Meaning: To continue working hard and keep going until you finish a difficult task.

For Example: She felt tired during the long race, but she decided to push through to the end. / Push through your chores so we can go play outside.

Other Ways to Say: Keep going / Persevere

4. Bite the bullet

Meaning: To bravely face a hard situation and keep going without complaining.

For Example: He didn’t want to clean the messy garage, but he had to bite the bullet and finish. / We had to bite the bullet and study all evening for the exam.

Other Ways to Say: Face hardship / Endure bravely

5. Ride it out

Meaning: To stay calm and keep going until a difficult situation or problem passes.

For Example: When the heavy rainstorm started, we just had to stay inside and ride it out. / The project had a rough week, but we decided to ride it out.

Other Ways to Say: Endure / Weather the storm

6. Stay the course

Meaning: To keep going on your chosen path without changing your mind or quitting.

For Example: Learning to play piano is tough, but if you stay the course, you will improve. / The team decided to stay the course with their game strategy.

Other Ways to Say: Keep going / Remain steady

7. Stick to your guns

Meaning: To refuse to give up or change your mind when things get hard.

For Example: Even when others doubted his science project idea, he decided to stick to his guns. / Stick to your guns and finish your homework before playing.

Other Ways to Say: Hold your ground / Remain firm

8. Weather the storm

Meaning: To survive a difficult period of trouble and keep going successfully.

For Example: Our small business managed to weather the storm during slow months. / Good friends help you weather the storm when you feel sad.

Other Ways to Say: Survive hardship / Overcome trouble

9. Keep your nose to the grindstone

Meaning: To work very hard without stopping and keep going steadily.

For Example: He put his nose to the grindstone and finished his science report early. / Keep your nose to the grindstone if you want to pass your exams.

Other Ways to Say: Work hard / Stay focused

10. Pull your socks up

Meaning: To improve your effort and start working harder to keep going.

For Example: The teacher told him to pull his socks up if he wanted better grades. / We need to pull our socks up to win the next match.

Other Ways to Say: Try harder / Improve effort

11. Put your shoulder to the wheel

Meaning: To start working hard with determination and keep going.

For Example: If we all put our shoulder to the wheel, we can clean this yard in an hour. / Put your shoulder to the wheel and finish your artwork.

Other Ways to Say: Work hard / Apply effort

12. Soldier on

Meaning: To keep going bravely through a difficult or tiring situation.

For Example: Despite having a minor cold, she decided to soldier on at school. / When the puzzle got tricky, he chose to soldier on.

Other Ways to Say: Keep going / Persevere

13. Put one foot in front of the other

Meaning: To take things step by step and keep going slowly but surely.

For Example: The mountain trail was steep, so we just put one foot in front of the other. / When studying feels overwhelming, just put one foot in front of the other.

Other Ways to Say: Take steps / Proceed slowly

14. Keep moving forward

Meaning: To never look back and keep progressing on your life journey.

For Example: Leave past mistakes behind you and focus on keeping moving forward. / The project hit a snag, but we kept moving forward.

Other Ways to Say: Progress / Advance

15. Hit the ground running

Meaning: To start a project with high energy and keep going at top speed.

For Example: After summer break, the students hit the ground running on day one. / She prepared her supplies so she could hit the ground running with her art.

Other Ways to Say: Start fast / Begin energetically

16. Keep your eyes on the prize

Meaning: To stay focused on your ultimate goal and keep going.

For Example: Winning the trophy means you must keep your eyes on the prize during practice. / Keep your eyes on the prize while studying for finals.

Other Ways to Say: Stay focused / Watch the goal

17. Grind it out

Meaning: To work through a long, tiring task slowly and keep going.

For Example: The basketball team had to grind it out in the final quarter to win. / He had twenty math problems left, so he decided to grind it out.

Other Ways to Say: Work hard / Persist

18. Keep pushing

Meaning: To apply continuous effort and never stop trying to improve.

For Example: When your legs feel tired during running practice, you just have to keep pushing. / Keep pushing until your science experiment works.

Other Ways to Say: Keep going / Persevere

19. Never say die

Meaning: An expression meaning you should never give up hope.

For Example: Even when our team was losing by ten points, we had a never say die attitude. / A true inventor has a never say die spirit.

Other Ways to Say: Never give up / Stay hopeful

20. Keep at it

Meaning: To continue practicing or working on something without quitting.

For Example: Playing the guitar is hard at first, but if you keep at it, you will get better. / Keep at it and your drawing will look amazing.

Other Ways to Say: Keep going / Practice more

21. Press on

Meaning: To continue forward with your journey despite facing obstacles.

For Example: The hikers were tired, but they decided to press on toward the summit. / Press on with your homework before watching television.

Other Ways to Say: Continue / Keep going

22. Carry on

Meaning: To keep doing what you were doing without letting interruptions stop you.

For Example: The teacher paused for the announcement and then told the class to carry on. / Despite the minor noise outside, the students carried on reading.

Other Ways to Say: Continue / Keep going

23. Keep your head down

Meaning: To focus entirely on your work and keep going quietly.

For Example: During exam week, students kept their heads down and studied hard. / Keep your head down and finish your chores.

Other Ways to Say: Work quietly / Stay focused

24. Keep up the good work Meaning: Praise telling someone to continue doing an excellent job.

Meaning: Praise telling someone to continue doing an excellent job.

For Example: Your spelling test score was fantastic, so keep up the good work! / The teacher smiled and told him to keep up the good work.

Other Ways to Say: Continue excelling / Great job

25. Keep going strong Meaning: Continuing an activity with great energy and zero signs of quitting.

Meaning: Continuing an activity with great energy and zero signs of quitting.

For Example: Even after three hours of practice, the band was keeping going strong. / Grandma’s garden is keeping going strong into autumn.

Other Ways to Say: Stay strong / Continue well

26. Stay the course with grit Meaning: Continuing a tough journey using inner strength and courage.

Meaning: Continuing a tough journey using inner strength and courage.

For Example: Building the robot took weeks, but they decided to stay the course with grit. / Stay the course with grit when learning to code.

Other Ways to Say: Be resilient / Keep going

27. Ride out the storm Meaning: Surviving a difficult phase of trouble and keeping going.

Meaning: Surviving a difficult phase of trouble and keeping going.

For Example: We had to ride out the storm of tough homework before enjoying the weekend. / Good friends help you ride out the storm of sadness.

Other Ways to Say: Weather the storm / Endure

28. Stay firm Meaning: Maintaining your determination and refusing to quit.

Meaning: Maintaining your determination and refusing to quit.

For Example: Stay firm in your decision to practice piano every single day. / The team had to stay firm during the final minutes of the match.

Other Ways to Say: Remain strong / Be resolute

29. Keep the faith Meaning: Remaining hopeful and positive during hard times.

Meaning: Remaining hopeful and positive during hard times.

For Example: Keep the faith even when your art project doesn’t turn out right the first time. / Stay positive and keep the faith while looking for your lost dog.

Other Ways to Say: Stay hopeful / Remain optimistic

30. Hang tough Meaning: To remain strong, brave, and persistent during challenges.

Meaning: To remain strong, brave, and persistent during challenges.

For Example: The coach told the players to hang tough against the visiting team. / Hang tough when learning difficult new math formulas.

Other Ways to Say: Stay strong / Be tough

31. Keep the ball rolling Meaning: Maintaining momentum on a project so it doesn’t stop.

Meaning: Maintaining momentum on a project so it doesn’t stop.

For Example: Let’s paint the background next to keep the ball rolling on our mural. / Asking questions helps keep the ball rolling during class discussions.

Other Ways to Say: Maintain momentum / Keep going

32. Keep up the momentum Meaning: Sustaining the speed and energy of a successful task.

Meaning: Sustaining the speed and energy of a successful task.

For Example: Winning the first game meant we had to keep up the momentum. / Keep up the momentum with your daily reading goals.

Other Ways to Say: Maintain speed / Keep going

33. Keep steam up Meaning: Maintaining high energy and effort on a project.

Meaning: Maintaining high energy and effort on a project.

For Example: We need to keep steam up to finish cleaning the garage before lunch. / The cyclists tried to keep steam up going up the hill.

Other Ways to Say: Maintain energy / Keep going

34. Hold fast Meaning: Grip tightly onto your goals and refuse to let go.

Meaning: Grip tightly onto your goals and refuse to let go.

For Example: Hold fast to your dream of becoming a writer and practice daily. / The sailors had to hold fast during the windy weather.

Other Ways to Say: Grip tight / Remain steady

35. Stand firm Meaning: Refusing to change your mind or give up when pressured.

Meaning: Refusing to change your mind or give up when pressured.

For Example: Stand firm against peer pressure and make good choices. / The builder had to stand firm on using sturdy materials.

Other Ways to Say: Hold ground / Remain steady

36. Keep your shoulder to wheel Meaning: Working with steady determination without stopping.

Meaning: Working with steady determination without stopping.

For Example: Keep your shoulder to wheel until every box is unpacked. / If we keep our shoulder to wheel, we finish early.

Other Ways to Say: Work hard / Persist

37. Persevere Meaning: Continuing in a course of action despite difficulty.

Meaning: Continuing in a course of action despite difficulty.

For Example: Students must persevere when learning challenging new scientific concepts. / If you persevere, you will master the bicycle.

Other Ways to Say: Keep going / Endure

38. Keep marching Meaning: Moving forward steadily like a line of travelers.

Meaning: Moving forward steadily like a line of travelers.

For Example: The hike was long, but we told each other to keep marching. / Keep marching through your worksheets and homework will be done.

Other Ways to Say: Keep going / Advance steadily

39. Keep plugging away Meaning: Working steadily and patiently at a boring or hard task.

Meaning: Working steadily and patiently at a boring or hard task.

For Example: Memorizing spelling words is tough, but just keep plugging away. / He didn’t understand the code yet, but he kept plugging away.

Other Ways to Say: Work steadily / Persist

40. Keep your paddle in the water Meaning: Continuing to put effort into a project.

Meaning: Continuing to put effort into a project.

For Example: Even when the project slowed down, she kept her paddle in the water. / Keep your paddle in the water and finish the assignment.

Other Ways to Say: Keep trying / Participate actively

41. Keep the fires burning Meaning: Maintaining enthusiasm and energy for a project.

Meaning: Maintaining enthusiasm and energy for a project.

For Example: The club members worked hard to keep the fires burning for their charity drive. / Share new ideas to keep the fires burning in art class.

Other Ways to Say: Maintain enthusiasm / Keep motivated

42. Keep walking Meaning: Continuing your physical or mental journey forward.

Meaning: Continuing your physical or mental journey forward.

For Example: When you feel tired on the hiking trail, just keep walking. / Don’t stop to worry about mistakes; just keep walking forward.

Other Ways to Say: Keep going / Proceed

43. Keep pushing forward Meaning: Applying continuous effort to advance past hurdles.

Meaning: Applying continuous effort to advance past hurdles.

For Example: The team faced early setbacks, but they decided to keep pushing forward. / Keep pushing forward with your music lessons.

Other Ways to Say: Advance / Keep going

44. Keep trying Meaning: Making repeated attempts until you succeed.

Meaning: Making repeated attempts until you succeed.

For Example: Missing the basketball hoop means you just need to keep trying. / Keep trying and you will solve the puzzle.

Other Ways to Say: Practice / Do not quit

45. Keep going no matter what Meaning: Refusing to quit regardless of how hard things get.

Meaning: Refusing to quit regardless of how hard things get.

For Example: The marathon runners promised to keep going no matter what. / Keep going no matter what when chasing your big dreams.

Other Ways to Say: Never quit / Persist always

46. Stay in the race Meaning: Continuing to participate and try instead of dropping out.

Meaning: Continuing to participate and try instead of dropping out.

For Example: Even with a slow start, he managed to stay in the race. / Keep studying so you can stay in the competition.

Other Ways to Say: Keep competing / Stay involved

47. Ride it out to the end Meaning: Staying with a difficult task until it is completely finished.

Meaning: Staying with a difficult task until it is completely finished.

For Example: The movie got scary, but we decided to ride it out to the end. / Finish your chores and ride it out to the end.

Other Ways to Say: Complete the task / Finish strong

48. Finish strong Meaning: Performing with maximum effort at the very end of a task.

Meaning: Performing with maximum effort at the very end of a task.

For Example: The runners sprinted past the grandstand to finish strong. / Study your notes tonight so you can finish strong on the exam.

Other Ways to Say: End well / Complete with power

49. Keep chipping away Meaning: Making slow, steady progress by working in small parts.

Meaning: Making slow, steady progress by working in small parts.

For Example: Writing a novel takes time, so you just have to keep chipping away. / Keep chipping away at the math worksheet problem by problem.

Other Ways to Say: Progress slowly / Work steadily

50. Keep your shoulder to the grindstone Meaning: Combining two phrases to mean working with intense focus.

Meaning: Combining two phrases to mean working with intense focus.

For Example: Put your head down and keep your shoulder to the grindstone. / Keeping your shoulder to the grindstone gets homework done fast.

Other Ways to Say: Work hard / Stay focused

51. Keep the momentum going Meaning: Maintaining active energy so progress does not slow down.

Meaning: Maintaining active energy so progress does not slow down.

For Example: After solving problem one, let’s keep the momentum going. / Winning the science fair made us want to keep the momentum going.

Other Ways to Say: Maintain energy / Keep going

52. Hold the line Meaning: Maintaining your position and refusing to lose ground.

Meaning: Maintaining your position and refusing to lose ground.

For Example: The soccer defense tried hard to hold the line against attackers. / Hold the line on your study schedule this week.

Other Ways to Say: Maintain position / Stay steady

53. Stay strong Meaning: Keeping your emotional and mental courage during trials.

Meaning: Keeping your emotional and mental courage during trials.

For Example: Stay strong when facing difficult reading assignments. / Friends reminded her to stay strong during the move.

Other Ways to Say: Be brave / Remain resilient

54. Keep your chin up high Meaning: Remaining extra hopeful and proud during challenges.

Meaning: Remaining extra hopeful and proud during challenges.

For Example: Keep your chin up high even if the art contest didn’t pick your painting. / Keep your chin up high on the first day of school.

Other Ways to Say: Stay proud / Remain hopeful

55. Keep the engine running Meaning: Keeping your energy and project active.

Meaning: Keeping your energy and project active.

For Example: Snack breaks help keep the engine running during long study sessions. / Keep the engine running on your creative story ideas.

Other Ways to Say: Stay active / Maintain energy

56. Keep the fires stoked Meaning: Keeping enthusiasm alive and burning brightly.

Meaning: Keeping enthusiasm alive and burning brightly.

For Example: Reading inspiring books helps keep the fires stoked for writing. / Share new games to keep the fires stoked in club meetings.

Other Ways to Say: Maintain passion / Keep inspired

57. Keep the wheels turning Meaning: Making sure a project keeps operating without delays.

Meaning: Making sure a project keeps operating without delays.

For Example: Sharing ideas helps keep the wheels turning on group projects. / Daily practice helps keep the wheels turning on piano skills.

Other Ways to Say: Keep operating / Maintain progress

58. Keep striving Meaning: Continuing to make great efforts to reach goals.

Meaning: Continuing to make great efforts to reach goals.

For Example: Don’t stop practicing your instruments; keep striving for excellence. / Keep striving and your science project will win a prize.

Other Ways to Say: Aim high / Keep trying

59. Keep advancing Meaning: Moving forward step by step toward success.

Meaning: Moving forward step by step toward success.

For Example: By reading every night, she kept advancing in her reading group. / Keep advancing through your math chapters.

Other Ways to Say: Progress / Move forward

60. Never give up Meaning: The ultimate rule of refusing to quit your goals.

Meaning: The ultimate rule of refusing to quit your goals.

For Example: When learning to ride a bicycle, remember to never give up. / Never give up when working on hard homework.

Other Ways to Say: Stay strong / Keep going

Exercise to Practice

1. When the math homework got very difficult, mom told him to hang in ________.
2. Even though our team lost the game, the coach told us to keep our chins ________.
3. She felt tired during the long race, but she decided to push ________ to the end.
4. He didn’t want to clean the messy garage, but he had to bite the ________ and finish.
5. When the heavy rainstorm started, we just had to stay inside and ________ it out.
6. Learning to play piano is tough, but if you stay the ________, you will improve.
7. Even when others doubted his science project idea, he decided to stick to his ________.
8. Our small business managed to weather the ________ during slow months.
9. He put his nose to the ________ and finished his science report early.
10. The teacher told him to pull his ________ up if he wanted better grades.
11. If we all put our shoulder to the ________, we can clean this yard in an hour.
12. Despite having a minor cold, she decided to soldier ________ at school.
13. The mountain trail was steep, so we just put one foot in front of the ________.
14. Leave past mistakes behind you and focus on keeping moving ________.
15. After summer break, the students hit the ground ________ on day one.

Answer Key

1. there
2. up
3. through
4. bullet
5. ride
6. course
7. guns
8. storm
9. grindstone
10. socks
11. wheel
12. on
13. other
14. forward
15. running

Conclusion

Learning idioms for keep going helps you understand stories, character perseverance, and everyday motivation much better. When you know what these colorful phrases mean, you can use them to encourage yourself and others during tough tasks.

Try using a few of these expressions the next time you face a difficult challenge or homework assignment. Practicing patience and determination is a great way to achieve your goals and make your communication sound awesome.