Sometimes we all need to begin something new. It might be a school project, a sports season, or even just cleaning our rooms. Starting can feel exciting, a little scary, or both at the same time. People don’t always say “start” in the same way. Instead, they use expressions called idioms. These are fun and creative ways to describe when something begins.
Idioms make everyday talking more colorful and clear. When someone says “kick things off” or “hit the ground running,” they mean they are beginning something with energy. These phrases help others understand how we feel when we begin a task. In this article, we’ll learn 30 idioms people use when starting something new. Let’s take a look at how these expressions can make your words more fun and easier to understand.
Idioms for Starting Something
1. Kick things off
Meaning: To begin something.
Samples: Let’s kick things off with a fun game. / The coach kicked things off with a quick speech.
To Put it Another Way: We started right away. / She began the event with energy.
2. Hit the ground running
Meaning: To begin something with energy and speed.
Samples: On the first day of school, she hit the ground running. / The team hit the ground running in practice.
To Put it Another Way: He got a fast start. / She began without wasting time.
3. Get the ball rolling
Meaning: To start an activity or project.
Samples: Let’s get the ball rolling on our science project. / He got the ball rolling by choosing a topic.
To Put it Another Way: We started the task. / She took the first step.
4. Start from scratch
Meaning: To begin again with nothing.
Samples: We had to start from scratch after losing our work. / He started from scratch on the model after it broke.
To Put it Another Way: We began all over again. / She had to build it again from the beginning.
5. Jump right in
Meaning: To start doing something quickly.
Samples: She jumped right in to help clean up. / He jumped right in with the class discussion.
To Put it Another Way: He didn’t wait to begin. / She started without delay.
6. Make a fresh start
Meaning: To begin again in a new way.
Samples: Moving to a new school was a chance to make a fresh start. / After the mistake, he wanted a fresh start.
To Put it Another Way: She tried again. / It was a new beginning.
7. Light the spark
Meaning: To begin excitement or interest.
Samples: The first song lit the spark for the dance party. / The story lit the spark for his love of reading.
To Put it Another Way: It made something new begin. / It started a new feeling.
8. Break the ice
Meaning: To start talking in a new or awkward situation.
Samples: We played a game to break the ice on the first day. / Her joke helped break the ice.
To Put it Another Way: It helped people feel comfortable. / It started a conversation.
9. Turn the page
Meaning: To move on and start something new.
Samples: She turned the page after finishing her last project. / He turned the page and started a new chapter.
To Put it Another Way: They moved forward. / It was time to start fresh.
10. Take the first step
Meaning: To begin a process or journey.
Samples: Signing up was the first step in learning guitar. / She took the first step by joining the team.
To Put it Another Way: It was the beginning. / He got started.
11. Open the door
Meaning: To begin a chance or opportunity.
Samples: Joining the club opened the door to new friends. / Learning to code opened the door to tech fun.
To Put it Another Way: It gave a chance to start something. / It led to a new path.
12. Get underway
Meaning: To begin or start moving forward.
Samples: The parade got underway right after noon. / Our plan got underway after the meeting.
To Put it Another Way: It started going. / We began moving forward.
13. Launch into
Meaning: To begin something quickly or with energy.
Samples: He launched into the story with excitement. / She launched into her speech without notes.
To Put it Another Way: She started fast. / He began with lots of energy.
14. Turn on the switch
Meaning: To begin doing something suddenly.
Samples: When the music started, he turned on the switch and danced. / She turned on the switch and began working hard.
To Put it Another Way: He started in a snap. / She got serious quickly.
15. Get off the ground
Meaning: To successfully begin something.
Samples: Our school project finally got off the ground today. / The plan got off the ground with help from the teacher.
To Put it Another Way: We began and it worked. / It finally started happening.
16. Take off
Meaning: To begin and do well quickly.
Samples: Her new idea took off right away. / The game took off after the first goal.
To Put it Another Way: It started quickly and did great. / It began and grew fast.
17. Start the ball rolling
Meaning: To begin an activity and get others involved.
Samples: She started the ball rolling by asking the first question. / He started the ball rolling on the group project.
To Put it Another Way: She helped things begin. / He got everyone involved.
18. Set the wheels in motion
Meaning: To begin a process or plan.
Samples: Calling the coach set the wheels in motion for tryouts. / That talk set the wheels in motion for our plan.
To Put it Another Way: The start was made. / Things began to happen.
19. Begin a new chapter
Meaning: To start a new part of life.
Samples: Going to middle school is like beginning a new chapter. / He began a new chapter by moving to a new city.
To Put it Another Way: It’s a new beginning. / A big change is starting.
20. Break new ground
Meaning: To start doing something new or different.
Samples: She broke new ground with her science idea. / He broke new ground by trying a new sport.
To Put it Another Way: She started something no one had done. / He began something different.
21. Fire the starting gun
Meaning: To officially begin something.
Samples: The teacher fired the starting gun on the project today. / The race started when they fired the starting gun.
To Put it Another Way: That was the signal to start. / It marked the beginning.
22. Dip your toes in
Meaning: To try something new slowly.
Samples: She dipped her toes into acting with a small role. / He dipped his toes in by joining one club.
To Put it Another Way: He started gently. / She tried it out at the beginning.
23. Begin the journey
Meaning: To start something that will take time or effort.
Samples: She began the journey to become a great reader. / He began the journey of learning guitar.
To Put it Another Way: He started working toward a goal. / She started something big.
24. Strike the first note
Meaning: To begin something, often creative.
Samples: He struck the first note of his new song. / The music club struck the first note today.
To Put it Another Way: They began their music. / The song had started.
25. Start off on the right foot
Meaning: To begin something in a good way.
Samples: She started off on the right foot by being kind to new classmates. / The game started off on the right foot with a strong play.
To Put it Another Way: They had a good beginning. / Everything started well.
26. Lay the foundation
Meaning: To begin something by building the base.
Samples: The first meeting laid the foundation for our play. / Studying math laid the foundation for her science project.
To Put it Another Way: We made a good start. / This helped us begin well.
27. Break into
Meaning: To start doing something new, especially as a beginner.
Samples: He broke into art class this year. / She broke into singing with a school solo.
To Put it Another Way: She began trying it. / He started something unfamiliar.
28. Ring in
Meaning: To begin something new, especially a new time.
Samples: We rang in the new year with fireworks. / The team rang in the season with a party.
To Put it Another Way: It started in a fun way. / We celebrated the beginning.
29. Take the leap
Meaning: To bravely start something new.
Samples: She took the leap and joined the spelling bee. / He took the leap and spoke in front of the class.
To Put it Another Way: He started even though he was nervous. / She began with courage.
30. Pull the trigger
Meaning: To decide to begin something.
Samples: They pulled the trigger and started the fundraiser. / She pulled the trigger on trying out for soccer.
To Put it Another Way: She made the decision to begin. / They finally started.
Find the Topics: Idioms for Starting Something
Activity: “Starting New at School”
Monday was the first day at Parkside Elementary for Jayden. He had just moved from another town. He was nervous but ready to make a fresh start. As he walked into the classroom, his teacher smiled and said, “Let’s break the ice with a fun game!” That helped Jayden feel better.
Later, in art class, he decided to jump right in and try painting for the first time. It was messy but fun. In science, the teacher said, “Let’s get the ball rolling with a quick quiz.” Jayden smiled and gave it his best.
During recess, he met a group playing tag. One boy said, “Come on, don’t be shy. Just take the leap!” Jayden joined and ran as fast as he could. It felt good to move and laugh. After lunch, his class began their reading challenge. The teacher told them to turn the page and write a new story. Jayden had so many ideas and couldn’t wait to start.
By the end of the day, he felt like things were really beginning to get off the ground. On the bus ride home, he thought, “I really did kick things off in a great way.”
Your Task:
Can you find and list all 8 idioms about starting something in this story?
Answer Key
- Make a fresh start
- Break the ice
- Jump right in
- Get the ball rolling
- Take the leap
- Turn the page
- Get off the ground
- Kick things off
Conclusion
Starting something new can feel scary or exciting. People use idioms to talk about these first steps in fun and clear ways. Whether you’re beginning a school year, joining a new club, or trying a new hobby, these expressions can help explain how it feels.
By learning idioms like “take the leap” or “get the ball rolling,” you can talk about starting in a more interesting way. Try using some of these phrases next time you begin something. It might make your story easier for others to picture and enjoy.
