You don’t have to be an expert mechanic to use these driving idioms, but understanding them will help you strengthen your overall English. This list covers some of the most popular road, driving, and car idioms with simple definitions and examples.
Try to use them naturally to help expand your vocabulary.
Driving idioms
Backseat driver
When you say the driving-related expression backseat driver whilst in a car, you’re usually describing a passenger who is giving unwanted advice. We can also use it in everyday settings when someone is happy to give their thoughts, directions, and opinions but not take any responsibility.
“Stop telling me which way to go! You’re such a backseat driver.”
“During the meeting Mike was a bit of a backseat driver. Telling us the best way to do things but not wanting to actually take responsibility!”
When you’re on a journey somewhere, these travel idioms may also be helpful.
Drive home
The idiom drive home means to emphasize or to highlight something as important. This is something you might do when you want to accentuate a point and make your intent very clear.
“The message we want to drive home to the store is to promote the old stock first.”
You can drive home a point, an argument, a message, an idea, some advice, etc.
In the driving seat
When you take charge of, dominate, or control a situation you are said to be in the driving seat. Just like how the driver of a car is in control of every aspect of the journey.
“When my manager went on holiday I was in the driving seat!”
The driving force
When talking about cause and effect, we might describe the reason for something happening as the driving force. This may be a person, a motivation, or even the circumstances surrounding the situation.
“The sunny weather yesterday was the driving force for such good ice-cream sales.”
“Gabriella has been a driving force for change in the company’s parental leave policy.”
Driving blind
When you don’t have enough information or perhaps you can’t see what is ahead of you in life, you may use the idiom driving blind.
“Honestly, university has been a big change. It was like driving blind every day but now it’s much better.”
Drive up the wall / around the bend / crazy
The fun English idioms drive someone crazy, drive someone up the wall and drive someone (a)round the bend all have a similar meaning – they express annoyance, irritation or upset with someone or something, although they usually have a more fun and affectionate tone than a serious sense of exasperation.
“My children wouldn’t listen to me today. They were driving me crazy!”
“I don’t like the new receptionist at work. She drives me up the wall!”
“I just can’t figure out how to use my new phone. It’s driving me around the bend!”
Sometimes we do use ‘drive crazy’ to refer to insanity or mental instability, too.
For other idioms on this theme try these anger idioms.
Drive up or drive down the price
Similar to the driving idioms above, to drive up or drive down the price refers to movement. In this case, it’s a change or movement in price.
“I think the new school nearby will drive up the house prices.”
Driving and road idioms
Let’s continue with some important road idioms about driving, life choices, relationships, and more.
Hit the road
This road idiom is something you do at the beginning of a journey or trip. To hit the road is simply to leave or depart.
“I think we’d better hit the road – it’s getting late.”
This expression can be used when setting out on a long trip or simply when heading home from somewhere. It’s a good one to use as an adventure idiom if you are going somewhere exciting.
Amber gambler
Here you have a driving idiom mostly used in the UK. The traffic light system in the UK shows a single amber light before it turns red, meaning the traffic must stop. You would call someone an amber gambler if they go through amber just as it is turning red.
“That was a bit close, you amber gambler!”
It can also be used to refer to someone who likes to take a chance in life. Find some more interesting color idioms here.
Asleep at the wheel
In its literal meaning this would be extremely dangerous, but used as a driving idiom it refers to someone not paying attention or not being alert. If you are asleep at the wheel you’re not fully aware of what is happening around you.
“That was not the right decision to make; what was he thinking? He must have been asleep at the wheel.”
You may also hear this phrase said as asleep behind the wheel, napping at the wheel, dozing at the wheel, etc. They all mean the same thing.
Down the road
You could use the expression down the road to simply refer to an item farther along the road or street you are standing in. When used in reference to time, it means an unfixed period in the future.
“The shop is farther down the road.”
“No one could have guessed what was in store for her down the road.”
If you find yourself needing other idioms like this, take a look at our future idioms page.
Middle of the road
The adjective phrase middle-of-the-road describes something that is normal, ordinary, average, or nothing special.
“Well, I wasn’t impressed by that movie. It was a bit middle-of-the-road.”
This is different from being in the middle of the road in its literal sense. You can read more about in the middle vs in the center if it seems confusing!
On the road to recovery
If somebody has had an accident or illness but is now showing good signs of recovering, we can say they are on the road to recovery. It means they are not completely better yet, but it looks like they will fully recover eventually.
“Sheila’s dad is on the road to recovery after falling off a ladder and fracturing his hip.”
Here are some more idioms you can use to talk about health and illness.
This is actually quite a versatile road idiom as there are many other words you can add to the end of it. You could be on the road to success, ruin, despair, failure, happiness, stardom, and more.
Whichever word you choose, it means you are on a particular course that will lead to that outcome.
“I thought he was on the road to ruin, but he managed to turn his life around.”
“Keep practicing every day and you’ll be on the road to success.”
Go down that road
You’ll often hear this expression used in a negative sentence, as a warning not to do something. To go down that road means to pursue a particular course of action; usually something with significant consequences.
“I know that crypto seems like an easy win, but trust me, you don’t want to go down that road.”
“Let’s explore alternative solutions before we go down the road of implementing a complete overhaul of the project.”
You can see in the second example above that we may also say go down the road of… and then specify the thing in question.
My way or the highway
Driving idioms may be heard in day-to-day conversation, but this one you’ll find in song form too. Next time you hear my way or the highway you’ll understand that although it sounds like you have two choices, you don’t really. The only option is to agree and do as I say (my way) or to ‘go away’ (the highway).
“I’m not going to argue with you. It’s either my way or the highway.”
Remember, in American English a highway is a major, busy road that usually connects cities. In British English this is called a motorway, but you’ll still hear this saying used in British English. To hear it in song form, listen to “My Way” by Limp Bizkit.
Discover some more differences between American vs British English words here.
Put the brakes on
Not all driving idioms are to do with speed. In fact, to put the brakes on is to slow down, decline, reduce, stop, or impede someone’s or something’s progress.
“The new regulations cased us to put the brakes on our plans for business expansion.”
Put the pedal to the metal
This driving idiom is the complete opposite of the one above. This time, to put the pedal to the metal is to accelerate and go faster – whether driving a car or working on something totally different.
“Oh no! We are going to be so late! Please put the pedal to the metal!”
“We all need to put the pedal to the metal to get this room set up in time for the wedding.”
To help make more sense of this phrase, think of the pedal as the gas/accelerator pedal and the metal as the car. So to move faster you have to press the pedal closer to the car.
Another phrase with the same meaning is put your foot down – but this can also be a decision idiom with a different meaning. Quite confusing!
For the road
Something taken for the road is for consumption while driving.
“Do you want to take any snacks for the road? It’s a long journey.”
This road expression can also refer to something, typically an alcoholic drink, consumed right before leaving.
“Can I get you anything else? One for the road, perhaps?”
We have a separate page with some more drinking idioms – and of course, drinking and driving should be kept separate!
Shift gears
When you need to quickly change the topic or what is happening, you could say it’s time to shift gears.
“Right, now we’ve discussed the monthly profit, let’s shift gears and confirm the plans for the office New Year party.”
U-turn
The drive idiom U-turn, just like the shape of the letter U and the motoring maneuver, means a total change of direction. This could be a reverse in driving direction or a complete change in policy or opinion.
“The government’s new strategy was an abrupt U-turn on their stance last week.”
“We can do a U-turn a little farther along the road.”
See also: What’s the difference between farther and further?
Third wheel / spare wheel
This motoring expression relates to an uneven number of people. If you are the third wheel or spare wheel there is normally no need for you. You may feel a little left out and sometimes awkward.
“I thought it was just supposed to be the two of us. Why did you bring your boyfriend? Now I feel like a third wheel!”
You now have plenty of new driving idioms to use when you need to highlight a point. Comment below and let us know when you use them. Or perhaps, share any you have heard but didn’t quite understand.
