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Idioms for Success and Setbacks
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October 20, 2026
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Common idioms describe progress, setbacks, and unexpected outcomes. The examples follow one speaker and Maya as they work to open a cafe. Many expressions use images of movement, obstacles, or competition to describe their project.
Voca cards
1.
get the ball rolling
poner las cosas en marcha, dar el primer paso
I called Maya to get the ball rolling on our plan for a cafe.
Llamé a Maya para poner en marcha nuestro proyecto de abrir una cafetería.
Informal; usually refers to the first practical action that starts a larger process.
2.
on the right track
ir por buen camino
I knew we were on the right track when customers ordered more cakes.
Supe que íbamos por buen camino cuando los clientes empezaron a pedir más pasteles.
Suggests that an approach is promising, not that success is already certain.
3.
hit the mark
dar en el clavo, acertar
I knew our cake would hit the mark when Maya asked for another slice.
Cuando Maya pidió otra rebanada, supe que habíamos dado en el clavo con nuestro pastel.
4.
hit a snag
encontrarse con un obstáculo, tener un contratiempo
Maya and I hit a snag when the bank refused our loan.
Maya y yo nos encontramos con un obstáculo cuando el banco nos negó el préstamo.
Usually presents a problem as an obstacle to solve, rather than a complete failure.
5.
come up short
quedarse corto
Without a loan, we'll come up short of the money we need for rent.
Sin un préstamo, nos vamos a quedar cortos de dinero para pagar el alquiler.
Use 'come up short of' before a target or required amount. The gap is often small.
6.
lose ground
perder terreno
I worry we'll lose ground to nearby cafes if our opening gets delayed again.
Me preocupa que perdamos terreno frente a las cafeterías cercanas si se vuelve a retrasar la apertur
Use 'lose ground to' to name the competitor gaining an advantage.
7.
back to square one
volver a empezar de cero
I was back to square one when the owner rented our space to someone else.
Tuve que volver a empezar de cero cuando el dueño le alquiló a otra persona el local que pensábamos
Suggests that earlier progress has been lost, not that a small correction is needed.
8.
a blessing in disguise
un mal que resulta ser un bien
Losing our space was a blessing in disguise because Maya found a cheaper place.
Perder el local terminó siendo algo bueno, porque Maya encontró otro más barato.
Usually used after enough time has passed to recognize an unexpected benefit.
9.
get a foot in the door
abrirse una puerta, lograr una primera oportunidad
I offered free samples to get a foot in the door with nearby offices.
Ofrecí muestras gratis para abrirnos una puerta en las oficinas cercanas.
Refers to an initial opportunity, not a secure position or lasting success.
10.
an uphill battle
una lucha cuesta arriba
I knew getting our cafe approved would be an uphill battle after the first rejection.
Después del primer rechazo, supe que conseguir la autorización para abrir nuestra cafetería sería un
11.
up against a wall
estar contra la pared, estar entre la espada y la pared
With rent due and no loan, Maya and I were up against a wall.
Con el alquiler a punto de vencer y sin un préstamo, Maya y yo estábamos contra la pared.
Emphasizes pressure and a lack of good options, rather than difficulty alone.
12.
back to the drawing board
volver a replantearlo todo, volver a empezar de cero
I went back to the drawing board after the city rejected our kitchen plans.
Tuve que volver a replantearlo todo después de que el municipio rechazó los planos de nuestra cocina
Usually means the plan needs changing, not that all earlier work is useless.
13.
a long shot
algo poco probable, una posibilidad remota
I knew winning a business grant was a long shot, but Maya wanted to apply.
Sabía que era poco probable que nos dieran un subsidio para el negocio, pero Maya quería presentar l
Often used when acknowledging poor chances while still considering an attempt worthwhile.
14.
pull out all the stops
hacer todo lo posible, no escatimar esfuerzos
We decided to pull out all the stops, hiring a designer despite our tight budget.
Decidimos hacer todo lo posible y contratar a un diseñador, a pesar de nuestro presupuesto ajustado.
A strong, slightly dramatic expression for using every available resource, not merely working hard.
15.
leave no stone unturned
no dejar piedra sin mover, agotar todas las opciones
I promised to leave no stone unturned, calling every bank about loans for our cafe.
Prometí no dejar piedra sin mover y llamé a todos los bancos para preguntar por préstamos para nuest
Especially common when promising a thorough search or investigation.
16.
go the extra mile
hacer un esfuerzo extra, dar más de lo esperado
Maya offered to go the extra mile by delivering free samples after her regular shift.
Maya se ofreció a hacer un esfuerzo extra y repartir muestras gratis después de su turno habitual.
Usually praises voluntary effort beyond what is required or expected.
17.
turn the corner
empezar a salir adelante, empezar a mejorar
I felt our business turn the corner when office workers started placing daily coffee orders.
Sentí que nuestro negocio empezaba a salir adelante cuando la gente de las oficinas comenzó a hacern
Marks the start of improvement after a difficult period; problems may still remain.
18.
go down to the wire
quedar para el último momento
Our grant application may go down to the wire because Maya still needs one document.
Puede que el envío de nuestra solicitud de subsidio quede para el último momento, porque a Maya toda
Emphasizes last-minute uncertainty, not simply a task taking a long time.
19.
pull it off
lograrlo, conseguirlo
Maya said we could pull it off, and we submitted our application before midnight.
Maya dijo que podíamos lograrlo, y enviamos la solicitud antes de medianoche.
20.
beat the odds
triunfar contra todo pronóstico
I never expected our tiny cafe to beat the odds and win that grant.
Nunca imaginé que nuestra pequeña cafetería triunfaría contra todo pronóstico y conseguiría ese subs
Suggests that success was unlikely, not necessarily that someone defeated a competitor.
21.
come out on top
salir ganando, quedar en primer lugar
Competing against ten bigger cafes, I never thought we'd come out on top.
Con otras diez cafeterías más grandes en la competencia, nunca pensé que quedaríamos en primer lugar
Emphasizes the final result of a competition or struggle, rather than an early advantage.
22.
bear fruit
dar frutos
After months of free samples, I finally saw our efforts bear fruit in steady sales.
Después de meses de ofrecer muestras gratis, por fin vi que nuestros esfuerzos daban frutos: las ven
Often used with 'efforts', 'plans', or 'work'; the results usually take time.
23.
land on one's feet
caer de pie, salir bien parado
I lost my office job, but opening the cafe helped me land on my feet.
Perdí mi trabajo de oficina, pero abrir la cafetería me ayudó a caer de pie.
Often suggests luck or adaptability after a setback, rather than careful long-term planning.