Expressions with “Way”

Have you ever lost your way in a new place or learned something the hard way? If you don’t understand these expressions, here are some everyday expressions with “way” I’m sure you’ll find extremely useful.

KNOW YOUR WAY AROUND

If you know your way around a place or organization, system, etc., then you are familiar with it.

• He seems to know his way around the IT industry.
• You don’t have to go with me. I know my way around.

BY THE WAY

This expression usually goes at the end of a sentence and can help you to introduce a new topic indirectly.

• By the way, Joanna called this afternoon and asked about you.

It can also go at the end of a sentence.

• If you stay in that hotel, you’ll be near us, by the way.

ON YOUR WAY

The expression “on your way” means going from one place to another.

• I’m on my way to the library.
• I’ll drop by to your place on my way to work.

IN EVERY WAY

In every way is an expression meaning in all ways.

• Online communication today is much better in every way.
• The two twins were equal in every way.

LOSE YOUR WAY

If you lose your way, then you become or get lost.

• I’m afraid I’ve lost my way on the island. Do you have a map?
• You can’t lose your way on the road if you have a satnav.

THE OTHER WAY AROUND

The other way around means the opposite situation or position.

• We are translating from Arabic to English and the other way around.
• People think that it rains more in England than in Germany, but it is the other way around.

LEARN SOMETHING THE HARD WAY

If you learn something the hard way, then nobody taught you but you have to learn it by yourself.

• Nobody taught Stephen how to code. He learned it the hard way.
• If you don’t listen, you’ll have to learn it the hard way.

A LITTLE GOES A LONG WAY

A spoken expression used to say that a little effort can have great effects.

• If you want to get in good shape, a little bit of exercise here and there can go a long way.
• You will often hear that “a little kindness goes a long way”.

THERE IS MORE THAN ONE WAY TO SKIN A CAT

This is a funny way to say that there are more ways to achieve something.

• Our negotiations may have failed, but there is more than one way to skin a cat.
• We must think of a different approach to this problem. There must be more than one way to skin a cat.

GO BACK A LONG WAY

If two or more people go back a long way, then they have known each other for a long time.

• I’ve known Tom since high school. We go back a long way.
• I’ve been working with her for 15 years. We go back a long way.

ALL THE WAY

The expression all the ways means fully, entirely.

• Carol cried all the way home when they put her dog to sleep.
• I support our candidate all the way.

MEET SOMEONE HALFWAY

If you meet someone halfway, then you compromise with them.

• The company is ready to lower the price if we meet halfway on this.
• They will accept our suggestions if we’re ready to meet them halfway.

HAVE COME A LONG WAY

If something has come a long way it has improved a lot.

• Mobile phones industry has come a long way in the past few decades.
• Well, you became a manager. You’ve come a long way since your graduation.

HAVE A WAY WITH SOMEBODY/SOMETHING

If you have a way with somebody or something then you know how to deal with it.

• Sean has a way with children.
• Our dog always listens to him, He has a way with pets.

HAVE A WAY WITH WORDS

This expression refers to a person’s ability to persuade other people to do things their way.

• This car seller has just sold that old, broken car to that man. He has a way with words.
• Tom made a great speech. He has a way with words.

OUT OF THE WAY

When something is out of the way, it is far away.

• We went to a campsite which is out of the way but in beautiful natural surroundings.
• You shouldn’t go to out of the way places if you don’t want to get lost.

IN A BIG WAY

If you do something in a big way, then you do it to a large degree.

• Jane was fond of reading in a big way.
• My mentor helped me with my project in a big way. I’ll never forget it.

IN A SMALL WAY

The opposite of “in a big way” is ” in a small way”, meaning – to a small extent.

• I began to prepare for my English exam in a small way.
• We celebrated Samantha’s birthday in a small way, just the two of us.

HAVE IT YOUR WAY

Use this expression to tell someone that you agree to do things the way they want. We usually say it angrily.

• Sam tried to convince her that she’s wrong but then just said: “Alright, have it your way. I don’t care.”
• You can have things your way now but what will you do when it turns against you?

IT CUTS BOTH WAYS

If something cuts both ways, then it has both good and bad sides.

• Your proposal cuts both ways because although I’ll work closer to home, I doubt my salary will cover my expenses.

WAY TO GO!

This expression is used to tell someone that they’ve done something well.

• The pizza you’ve made is excellent. Way to go, Ellen!

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