Idioms are vibrant, expressive phrases that add flair and personality to our language, often carrying meanings far beyond the literal words. They’re like little linguistic souvenirs, capturing cultural nuances and making conversations more engaging. For travelers, idioms related to journeys, exploration, and adventure are especially valuable, as they vividly describe the ups and downs of hitting the road. Whether you’re a globetrotter or planning your first trip, these phrases can help you articulate the excitement, challenges, and joys of travel. They also offer a fun way to connect with locals and fellow adventurers by weaving colorful expressions into your stories. In this blog post, we’ll unpack 60 travel-themed idioms, complete with their meanings, example sentences, and alternative ways to say them. Plus, we’ve included a practical exercise to help you practice these idioms and make them part of your travel vocabulary. So, pack your curiosity and let’s embark on this linguistic journey!
Idioms for Travelling
1. Hit the road
Meaning: To begin a journey or trip.
In a Sentence: After packing the car with snacks and camping gear, we decided it was time to hit the road for our cross-country adventure.
Other Ways to Say: Set off, Start the journey
2. Off the beaten path
Meaning: To explore places that are less popular or less traveled.
In a Sentence: Instead of visiting crowded tourist spots, we ventured off the beaten path to discover a quaint village nestled in the mountains.
Other Ways to Say: Out of the way, Unexplored
3. Catch the travel bug
Meaning: To develop a strong desire to travel frequently.
In a Sentence: Ever since her backpacking trip through Europe, she caught the travel bug and hasn’t stopped planning her next adventure.
Other Ways to Say: Get wanderlust, Crave adventure
4. Pack light
Meaning: To travel with minimal luggage or possessions.
In a Sentence: To make the hike easier, our guide advised us to pack light and only bring essentials for the two-day trek.
Other Ways to Say: Travel lean, Carry less
5. Burn rubber
Meaning: To drive or leave quickly, often with enthusiasm.
In a Sentence: Excited for the road trip, we burned rubber out of the driveway, eager to reach the coast by sunset.
Other Ways to Say: Speed off, Peel out
6. Get your feet wet
Meaning: To try something new, often as a first step.
In a Sentence: I was nervous about solo travel, but booking a weekend trip to a nearby city helped me get my feet wet.
Other Ways to Say: Dip your toes in, Start small
7. Blaze a trail
Meaning: To pioneer or explore a new path or destination.
In a Sentence: She blazed a trail by backpacking through remote regions of Patagonia, inspiring others to follow her route.
Other Ways to Say: Forge a path, Lead the way
8. Smooth sailing
Meaning: An easy, trouble-free journey or experience.
In a Sentence: After a bumpy flight, the rest of our tropical vacation was smooth sailing with perfect weather and friendly locals.
Other Ways to Say: Easy going, No hiccups
9. On a shoestring
Meaning: To travel with very little money.
In a Sentence: As broke college students, we traveled Europe on a shoestring, staying in hostels and cooking our own meals.
Other Ways to Say: On a budget, Cheaply
10. Take the scenic route
Meaning: To choose a longer but more picturesque path.
In a Sentence: Instead of the highway, we took the scenic route through winding countryside roads, marveling at the rolling hills.
Other Ways to Say: Take the long way, Enjoy the view
11. Jump ship
Meaning: To abandon a plan or group during a trip.
In a Sentence: Halfway through the guided tour, we jumped ship to explore the vibrant street market on our own.
Other Ways to Say: Bail out, Go rogue
12. In the same boat
Meaning: To be in a similar situation as others.
In a Sentence: When our flight got delayed, we were all in the same boat, waiting anxiously at the airport terminal.
Other Ways to Say: In the same situation, Alike
13. Miss the boat
Meaning: To miss an opportunity during travel.
In a Sentence: I missed the boat by not booking the guided safari early, and now it’s fully sold out.
Other Ways to Say: Lose the chance, Be too late
14. Fly by the seat of your pants
Meaning: To travel without a detailed plan, improvising as you go.
In a Sentence: We didn’t have a set itinerary, so we flew by the seat of our pants, deciding each day where to go next.
Other Ways to Say: Wing it, Go with the flow
15. Get away from it all
Meaning: To escape daily life and relax somewhere new.
In a Sentence: After a stressful year, we booked a cabin in the woods to get away from it all and recharge.
Other Ways to Say: Escape the grind, Unwind
16. Make tracks
Meaning: To leave quickly for a destination.
In a Sentence: The storm was approaching, so we made tracks to reach the campsite before the rain started.
Other Ways to Say: Hurry off, Get moving
17. Bite the bullet
Meaning: To face a difficult or unpleasant travel situation.
In a Sentence: The long overnight bus ride wasn’t ideal, but I bit the bullet to save money on flights.
Other Ways to Say: Face it, Tough it out
18. Break the journey
Meaning: To stop during a long trip to rest.
In a Sentence: On our drive from coast to coast, we broke the journey with a night in a charming small town.
Other Ways to Say: Take a break, Pause the trip
19. Travel light
Meaning: To carry minimal belongings while traveling.
In a Sentence: To move easily between cities, she learned to travel light, fitting everything into a single backpack.
Other Ways to Say: Pack light, Keep it simple
20. Hit a snag
Meaning: To encounter an unexpected problem during travel.
In a Sentence: Our road trip hit a snag when the car broke down in the middle of the desert.
Other Ways to Say: Run into trouble, Face a hitch
21. Go the extra mile
Meaning: To make an extra effort during travel.
In a Sentence: Our tour guide went the extra mile, arranging a special dinner to celebrate our group’s last night.
Other Ways to Say: Do more, Exceed expectations
22. On the road
Meaning: To be actively traveling or journeying.
In a Sentence: We’ve been on the road for weeks, exploring national parks and sleeping under the stars.
Other Ways to Say: Traveling, On the move
23. Burn bridges
Meaning: To ruin connections with people or places during travel.
In a Sentence: He burned bridges with the hostel staff by being rude, making it awkward to return.
Other Ways to Say: Cut ties, Damage relations
24. Get the lay of the land
Meaning: To familiarize oneself with a new place.
In a Sentence: On our first day in Tokyo, we wandered around to get the lay of the land before planning our itinerary.
Other Ways to Say: Scope it out, Learn the area
25. Run out of steam
Meaning: To lose energy or enthusiasm during a trip.
In a Sentence: After hiking all morning, we ran out of steam and decided to relax by the lake.
Other Ways to Say: Get tired, Lose momentum
26. Make a pit stop
Meaning: To take a short break during a journey.
In a Sentence: On our drive to the beach, we made a pit stop at a roadside diner for burgers.
Other Ways to Say: Quick break, Stop briefly
27. Take a detour
Meaning: To deviate from the planned route.
In a Sentence: We took a detour to visit a hidden waterfall we’d heard about from a local.
Other Ways to Say: Go off course, Side trip
28. Call it a day
Meaning: To decide to stop traveling or exploring for the day.
In a Sentence: After visiting three museums, we were exhausted and called it a day at a cozy café.
Other Ways to Say: Wrap it up, Rest for now
29. Get a second wind
Meaning: To regain energy after feeling tired.
In a Sentence: After a quick nap, I got a second wind and was ready to explore the night market.
Other Ways to Say: Recharge, Bounce back
30. Keep your eyes peeled
Meaning: To stay alert and watchful while traveling.
In a Sentence: Our guide told us to keep our eyes peeled for rare birds during the jungle trek.
Other Ways to Say: Stay sharp, Watch closely
31. Cross that bridge when you come to it
Meaning: To deal with a problem only when it arises.
In a Sentence: I wasn’t sure how we’d get to the remote village, but we decided to cross that bridge when we came to it.
Other Ways to Say: Deal with it later, Handle it when needed
32. On a wing and a prayer
Meaning: To travel with minimal preparation, hoping for success.
In a Sentence: With no reservations, we arrived at the festival on a wing and a prayer, hoping to find a place to stay.
Other Ways to Say: By luck, Barely prepared
33. Go off the rails
Meaning: To lose control or deviate wildly from plans.
In a Sentence: Our carefully planned itinerary went off the rails when we got lost in the winding streets of Venice.
Other Ways to Say: Fall apart, Go haywire
34. In the driver’s seat
Meaning: To be in control of the travel plans.
In a Sentence: Since I knew the area best, I was in the driver’s seat for planning our hiking route.
Other Ways to Say: In charge, Calling the shots
35. Live out of a suitcase
Meaning: To travel for an extended period with minimal possessions.
In a Sentence: For six months, she lived out of a suitcase, moving between cities and embracing a nomadic lifestyle.
Other Ways to Say: Travel minimally, Be on the go
36. Put the pedal to the metal
Meaning: To speed up or move quickly.
In a Sentence: To catch the last ferry, we put the pedal to the metal and raced to the dock.
Other Ways to Say: Hurry up, Floor it
37. Out of your comfort zone
Meaning: To experience something unfamiliar or challenging while traveling.
In a Sentence: Trying street food in Bangkok was out of my comfort zone, but it was delicious and unforgettable.
Other Ways to Say: Beyond your norm, Unfamiliar territory
38. Get the show on the road
Meaning: To start a journey or activity.
In a Sentence: After double-checking our gear, we got the show on the road and began our mountain expedition.
Other Ways to Say: Kick things off, Get moving
39. Have your head in the clouds
Meaning: To be daydreaming or unrealistic about travel plans.
In a Sentence: He had his head in the clouds, imagining a luxurious trip without checking his budget.
Other Ways to Say: Be unrealistic, Dream big
40. Set sail
Meaning: To begin a journey, especially by sea.
In a Sentence: With the wind in our favor, we set sail from the harbor, excited for our island-hopping adventure.
Other Ways to Say: Start the voyage, Launch the trip
41. Lose your bearings
Meaning: To become disoriented or lost.
In a Sentence: Wandering the narrow alleys of the old town, we lost our bearings and had to ask for directions.
Other Ways to Say: Get lost, Be confused
42. A stone’s throw
Meaning: A very short distance.
In a Sentence: Our hotel was a stone’s throw from the beach, making it easy to enjoy sunrise walks.
Other Ways to Say: Very close, Nearby
43. Roll with the punches
Meaning: To adapt to difficulties during travel.
In a Sentence: When our train was canceled, we rolled with the punches and found a scenic bus route instead.
Other Ways to Say: Go with the flow, Adapt
44. Bark up the wrong tree
Meaning: To make a mistake about a travel situation.
In a Sentence: If you think that tiny café serves quick meals, you’re barking up the wrong tree—it’s a slow dining experience.
Other Ways to Say: Be mistaken, Get it wrong
45. Jump on the bandwagon
Meaning: To join a popular travel trend.
In a Sentence: Everyone was visiting Iceland, so we jumped on the bandwagon and booked a trip to see the Northern Lights.
Other Ways to Say: Follow the crowd, Join the trend
46. Spill the beans
Meaning: To reveal travel plans or secrets.
In a Sentence: Don’t spill the beans about our surprise trip to Paris—it’s supposed to be a gift!
Other Ways to Say: Let it slip, Reveal the plan
47. Under the weather
Meaning: To feel unwell during a trip.
In a Sentence: After a long flight, I felt under the weather and needed a day to rest in the hotel.
Other Ways to Say: Feel sick, Not well
48. Let the cat out of the bag
Meaning: To accidentally reveal travel plans.
In a Sentence: I let the cat out of the bag when I mentioned our secret beach getaway to a friend.
Other Ways to Say: Spill the beans, Give it away
49. Cost an arm and a leg
Meaning: To be very expensive.
In a Sentence: The luxury cruise cost an arm and a leg, but the views and service were worth every penny.
Other Ways to Say: Super pricey, A fortune
50. On cloud nine
Meaning: To be extremely happy during a trip.
In a Sentence: After reaching the summit and seeing the sunrise, we were on cloud nine for the rest of the hike.
Other Ways to Say: Over the moon, Ecstatic
51. Two peas in a pod
Meaning: Two travelers who are very similar or close.
In a Sentence: My sister and I are two peas in a pod, always choosing the same destinations and activities.
Other Ways to Say: Like twins, Perfect match
52. Take a rain check
Meaning: To postpone a travel activity or invitation.
In a Sentence: I was too tired to join the evening tour, so I took a rain check and planned to go the next day.
Other Ways to Say: Postpone, Reschedule
53. Throw in the towel
Meaning: To give up on a travel plan.
In a Sentence: After hours of trying to fix the tent, we threw in the towel and booked a nearby hotel.
Other Ways to Say: Quit, Surrender
54. Don’t cry over spilled milk
Meaning: To not dwell on travel mishaps that can’t be changed.
In a Sentence: We missed the train, but there’s no use crying over spilled milk—let’s catch the next one.
Other Ways to Say: Move on, Let it go
55. Add fuel to the fire
Meaning: To worsen a travel-related problem.
In a Sentence: Complaining about the delayed flight only added fuel to the fire, upsetting everyone around us.
Other Ways to Say: Make it worse, Escalate
56. Keep an eye on
Meaning: To watch something carefully while traveling.
In a Sentence: I asked my friend to keep an eye on our luggage while I bought train tickets.
Other Ways to Say: Watch over, Monitor
57. Kill two birds with one stone
Meaning: To accomplish two travel goals with one action.
In a Sentence: By visiting the museum near the market, we killed two birds with one stone, enjoying both culture and shopping.
Other Ways to Say: Do two things at once, Be efficient
58. A penny for your thoughts
Meaning: To ask what someone is thinking about during a trip.
In a Sentence: You’ve been quiet since we left the village—a penny for your thoughts?
Other Ways to Say: What’s on your mind? Share your thoughts
59. Hit the nail on the head
Meaning: To describe a travel situation perfectly.
In a Sentence: You hit the nail on the head when you said this beach is the perfect spot for relaxation.
Other Ways to Say: Got it right, Spot on
60. Make a mountain out of a molehill
Meaning: To exaggerate a minor travel issue.
In a Sentence: Forgetting the guidebook isn’t a big deal—don’t make a mountain out of a molehill.
Other Ways to Say: Overreact, Blow it out of proportion
Practical Exercise
Fill in the blanks:
- Excited for our adventure, we decided to _______ the road early in the morning.
- Instead of crowded resorts, we ventured _______ the beaten path to find a secluded beach.
- After her first trip abroad, she caught the _______ bug and started planning her next journey.
- To avoid extra fees, our guide told us to _______ light for the backpacking trip.
- When the itinerary fell apart, we decided to _______ by the seat of our pants and explore freely.
- The luxury hotel _______ an arm and a leg, but the experience was unforgettable.
- Seeing the Grand Canyon for the first time left us _______ cloud nine.
- We _______ two birds with one stone by visiting the castle and the nearby village in one day.
- Forgetting our map wasn’t worth _______ over spilled milk, so we asked locals for directions.
- Our tour guide _______ the extra mile by sharing hidden gems not listed in the itinerary.
- After hours of hiking, we _______ out of steam and set up camp for the night.
- To stay safe, we kept our _______ peeled for signs of wildlife in the forest.
Answers:
hit, off, travel, pack, fly, cost, on, killed, crying, went, ran, eyes
Conclusion
Travel idioms are like a passport to richer, more expressive communication, adding color and depth to your stories about journeys near and far. They capture the spirit of adventure, the challenges of the road, and the joy of discovery, making them perfect for travelers of all kinds. By incorporating these 60 idioms into your conversations, you’ll not only sound more fluent but also connect more deeply with others who share your love for exploration. Practice them in real-life scenarios—whether chatting with fellow travelers, writing a travel journal, or sharing stories at home. With time, these phrases will become second nature, enriching your language and your wanderlust. So, keep exploring, keep learning, and let these idioms guide you on your next great adventure!