Idiomatic Expressions With Way

Here is a list of idioms and expressions built around the word ‘way’. Each idiom is followed by its meaning and example sentences.

All the way

When people say that they had to go all the way somewhere, they are trying to emphasize that it was a long way.

• I had to go all the way back to get my visa and passport.

Be/get/keep out of the way

Stay away from the area where somebody is so that you do not disturb them.

• Dad used to insist that we should get out of his way while he was working.

Be in a bad way

To be in a bad way is to be very ill or upset.

• She has been in a bad way since the accident.

Be on the/its way

When something is on its way, it is about to arrive or happen.

• Sandra already has three babies and now a fourth one is on its way.
• It looks like another recession is on the way.

Be on your way

When you are on your way you have started your journey to a particular place.

• I was on my way to work when I heard the news.

By a long way

by a large amount

• This has been our most successful campaign by a long way.

By the way

Often used to introduce a remark not connected with the subject of conversation

• By the way, I am free this evening.

Come someone’s way

When something comes your way, it happens to you.

Don’t miss chances that come your way.

Either way

Used for saying that there are two possibilities, but in both cases the result will be the same.

• Jane may not be able to come, but either way we are not going to cancel the trip. (= Whether Jane comes or not, we are not going to cancel the trip.)

Get into the way of doing something

We have got into the way of spending our summer vacation in Switzerland.

Give way

If something gives way, it breaks or falls down because there is too much pressure on it.

• The rope gave way under pressure.

Give way to

We must not give way to his demands.

Go a way towards something

To go a way towards something is to make progress in achieving something.

• This act will go a long way towards eliminating corruption.

Go out of your way to do something

To go out of your way to do something is to make an extra effort to do something even though it is not very easy to do.

• She went out of her way to make me feel comfortable.

Have a way with

When you have a way with something, you are capable of dealing with it very well.

• She has a way with words.

On the way / along the way

While going somewhere

• The car broke down on the way to work.
• We stopped at the supermarket along the way.

One way or another

When you say that something will happen one way or another, you are confident that it will happen even though you don’t know how.

• One way or another, I’m going to go to the US.