25 Idioms for Starting Something (With Examples) help you talk about starting something new in a natural way. A new project, job, habit, relationship, hobby, or journey can feel exciting, uncertain, or scary. Using idioms can add color, excitement, and meaning to everyday communication, talking, and writing.
These fun phrases help English learners learn how to express beginnings and new opportunities with greater confidence, enthusiasm, and hope. Some describe the first step, a fresh beginning, or how to begin, start, get going, or get started. Practicing these helpful expressions can make your speech more natural, engaging, and relatable.
You can dive into these expressions when stepping into unknown waters or exploring a new path. Instead of always saying “start,” choose a phrase with a special meaning that can bring your words to life and help you connect with others.
1. Get the Ball Rolling
Meaning: To begin an activity, project, or process and encourage it to continue.
In a Sentence:
Let’s get the ball rolling by discussing our ideas for the new project.
Other Ways to Say:
Start the process, begin the work, get things moving, take the first step.
2. Take the First Step
Meaning: To begin doing something, especially when it requires courage or effort.
In a Sentence:
You may feel nervous, but you have to take the first step toward your goal.
Other Ways to Say:
Begin, make a start, get started, make the first move.
3. Start from Scratch
Meaning: To begin something from the very beginning without using previous work or preparation.
In a Sentence:
After losing the old files, we had to start from scratch.
Other Ways to Say:
Begin from the beginning, start fresh, rebuild, begin anew.
4. Get Off the Ground
Meaning: To successfully begin a project, plan, business, or activity.
In a Sentence:
It took several months to get the business off the ground.
Other Ways to Say:
Launch, begin successfully, get started, establish.
5. Kick Things Off
Meaning: To officially begin an event, activity, meeting, or project.
In a Sentence:
The manager will kick things off with a short introduction.
Other Ways to Say:
Begin, open, launch, start the event.
6. Break New Ground
Meaning: To do something innovative or explore an area that has not been explored before.
In a Sentence:
The researchers hope to break new ground with their latest discovery.
Other Ways to Say:
Try something new, innovate, pioneer, explore new possibilities.
7. Turn Over a New Leaf
Meaning: To make a fresh start and change your behavior or direction.
In a Sentence:
After years of procrastination, he decided to turn over a new leaf.
Other Ways to Say:
Make a fresh start, change direction, start again, begin differently.
8. Make a Fresh Start
Meaning: To begin again with a clean or renewed approach.
In a Sentence:
Moving to a new city gave her a chance to make a fresh start.
Other Ways to Say:
Start anew, begin again, turn over a new leaf, restart.
9. Set the Wheels in Motion
Meaning: To start a process that will cause something to happen.
In a Sentence:
Signing the agreement set the wheels in motion for the construction project.
Other Ways to Say:
Start the process, initiate action, begin proceedings, put things into action.
10. Open the Door to Something
Meaning: To create a new opportunity or possibility.
In a Sentence:
Learning another language can open the door to new career opportunities.
Other Ways to Say:
Create an opportunity, make it possible, provide access, lead to something new.
11. Lay the Foundations
Meaning: To establish the basic conditions needed for future success.
In a Sentence:
The training program laid the foundations for a successful career.
Other Ways to Say:
Build a base, establish the groundwork, prepare, create a foundation.
12. Get the Show on the Road
Meaning: To begin an activity or project after preparation.
In a Sentence:
We have everything ready, so let’s get the show on the road.
Other Ways to Say:
Get started, begin, launch, put the plan into action.
13. Make the First Move
Meaning: To be the first person to take action.
In a Sentence:
Someone needs to make the first move and suggest a solution.
Other Ways to Say:
Take the initiative, act first, take action, begin.
14. Take the Plunge
Meaning: To make a bold decision to start something despite uncertainty or fear.
In a Sentence:
After years of planning, she finally took the plunge and opened her own business.
Other Ways to Say:
Take a chance, make a bold start, take a risk, go for it.
15. Dip Your Toes In
Meaning: To try something carefully before becoming fully involved.
In a Sentence:
I decided to dip my toes in by taking a beginner’s course first.
Other Ways to Say:
Try something out, experiment, start cautiously, test the waters.
16. Test the Waters
Meaning: To try something on a small scale before making a larger commitment.
In a Sentence:
The company decided to test the waters by selling the product in one city.
Other Ways to Say:
Try it first, experiment, explore, make a trial attempt.
17. Hit the Ground Running
Meaning: To start something energetically and make immediate progress.
In a Sentence:
Our new employee hit the ground running on her first day.
Other Ways to Say:
Start strongly, begin energetically, make quick progress, get moving quickly.
18. Start the Ball Rolling
Meaning: To begin an activity or process so that others can continue it.
In a Sentence:
I’ll start the ball rolling by sending everyone the meeting details.
Other Ways to Say:
Get things started, initiate, begin the process, take the first action.
19. Embark On
Meaning: To begin an important journey, project, activity, or new stage of life.
In a Sentence:
She is ready to embark on a new career.
Other Ways to Say:
Begin, undertake, start a journey, set out on.
20. Set Out
Meaning: To begin a journey, task, or attempt to achieve a goal.
In a Sentence:
They set out to create a better solution for the community.
Other Ways to Say:
Begin, start a journey, undertake, move forward.
21. Get a Head Start
Meaning: To begin earlier than others or before the expected time.
In a Sentence:
I woke up early to get a head start on my assignments.
Other Ways to Say:
Start early, begin ahead of time, gain an early advantage, begin in advance.
22. Lay the Groundwork
Meaning: To prepare the basic conditions needed for something to happen later.
In a Sentence:
The first meeting helped lay the groundwork for future cooperation.
Other Ways to Say:
Prepare the way, build a foundation, make preparations, establish a base.
23. Begin a New Chapter
Meaning: To start a new period or stage in life.
In a Sentence:
Graduating from university felt like beginning a new chapter in my life.
Other Ways to Say:
Start a new phase, make a fresh start, enter a new stage, move forward.
24. From the Ground Up
Meaning: To build or develop something starting with the most basic elements.
In a Sentence:
They built the company from the ground up with a small team.
Other Ways to Say:
From scratch, from the beginning, step by step, starting at the base.
25. Put Something in Motion
Meaning: To start a process or cause a series of events to begin.
In a Sentence:
Her decision put the plan in motion immediately.
Other Ways to Say:
Start something, initiate action, activate a process, set things moving.
Exercise: Practice These Idioms
Choose the best idiom to complete each sentence.
1. After months of preparation, the team was finally ready to ______.
A. turn over a new leaf
B. get the show on the road
C. test the waters
D. start from scratch
2. She decided to ______ and apply for her dream job.
A. take the plunge
B. lay the foundations
C. dip her toes in
D. set out
3. The company wants to ______ before investing millions in the product.
A. hit the ground running
B. test the waters
C. break new ground
D. get a head start
4. Moving abroad helped him ______ after a difficult period.
A. make a fresh start
B. set the wheels in motion
C. get the ball rolling
D. make the first move
5. We should ______ by introducing ourselves.
A. start from scratch
B. get the ball rolling
C. take the plunge
D. break new ground
6. Her early research helped ______ for the larger project.
A. lay the groundwork
B. kick things off
C. get a head start
D. take the first step
7. The new manager ______ and improved the department immediately.
A. turned over a new leaf
B. hit the ground running
C. started from scratch
D. dipped her toes in
8. He wants to ______ by taking a short course before changing careers.
A. dip his toes in
B. break new ground
C. put the plan in motion
D. embark on
9. The agreement will ______ for future cooperation.
A. open the door to opportunities
B. start from scratch
C. take the plunge
D. get a head start
10. After the company closed, they had to ______.
A. get off the ground
B. start from scratch
C. make the first move
D. set out
11. Graduating from college felt like ______.
A. getting the show on the road
B. beginning a new chapter
C. testing the waters
D. setting the wheels in motion
12. The scientist hopes to ______ with this innovative research.
A. break new ground
B. get a head start
C. turn over a new leaf
D. start the ball rolling
13. We arrived early to ______ on the day’s work.
A. take the plunge
B. get a head start
C. open the door
D. start from scratch
14. The announcement ______ for a major change.
A. put the plan in motion
B. dipped its toes in
C. turned over a new leaf
D. got a head start
15. After making several mistakes, he decided to ______.
A. hit the ground running
B. turn over a new leaf
C. break new ground
D. set the wheels in motion
Answers
- B — Get the show on the road
- A — Take the plunge
- B — Test the waters
- A — Make a fresh start
- B — Get the ball rolling
- A — Lay the groundwork
- B — Hit the ground running
- A — Dip his toes in
- A — Open the door to opportunities
- B — Start from scratch
- B — Begin a new chapter
- A — Break new ground
- B — Get a head start
- A — Put the plan in motion
- B — Turn over a new leaf
FAQs:
1. What are idioms for starting something?
Idioms for starting something are expressions that describe a beginning, first step, or fresh start in a colorful and natural way.
2. Why should I learn idioms for starting something?
Learning these idioms can make your speech and writing more natural, engaging, and interesting. They can also help English learners communicate with greater confidence.
3. Where can I use idioms for starting something?
You can use them in everyday conversations, writing, school, work, and when talking about a new project, job, habit, or journey.
4. Are idioms difficult to understand?
Some idioms may seem confusing because their words have a special meaning together. Learning their simple meanings and examples makes them easier to understand and use.
5. How can I remember these idioms?
Practice one or two idioms at a time. Try using them in your own sentences and connect them with real situations involving a new beginning or first step.
Conclusion:
Learning 25 Idioms for Starting Something can give you more natural and interesting ways to talk about beginnings and new opportunities. Instead of repeatedly using the word “start,” these expressions can add color and meaning to your everyday communication.
With regular practice, you can use these idioms more confidently in conversations and writing. Whether you are beginning a new project, learning a skill, starting a journey, or taking your first step, the right expression can help bring your words to life.
