road

be the end of the line/road

to be the end of a situation or process. After losing his title in last night's fight, the former heavyweight champion knows that this is the end of the road. When she found out that Jim had been seeing another woman, it was the end of the line for their marriage. (often + for)

See also: end, line

down the road

1. if an event is a particular period of time down the road, it will not happen until that period has passed. This is a wonderful invention, but a marketable product is several years down the road yet.

2. if you say that something will happen down the road, you mean it will happen in the future. We may at some point buy a house but that's down the road.

See also: down

go down that road

to decide to do something in a particular way. We're thinking of automating our finances, but if we do go down that road we'll need specialist advice.

See also: down, that

hit the road

to start a journey. It's getting late - I'd better hit the road.

See also: hit

Let's get the/this show on the road. (informal)

something that you say in order to tell people you want to start an activity or a journey. We've got less than 2 hours to get this room ready for the party so let's get this show on the road.

See also: let's, show, this

middle-of-the-road

1. not extreme politically. Neither party is exactly radical - they're both fairly middle-of-the-road.

2. entertainment that is middle-of-the-road is ordinary and acceptable to most people but it is not exciting or special in any way. Most of the music they play is pretty middle-of-the-road.

one for the road

if you have one for the road, you have a drink, usually an alcoholic drink, before you start a journey. Come on, there's just time for one for the road.

reach the end of the line/road

be the end of the line/road - to be the end of a situation or process. I think our friendship has reached the end of the road - you've lied to me once too often.

See also: end, line, reach

a road hog (old-fashioned)

a bad driver who does not allow other drivers to pass them on the road. Come on, let me past, road hog!

See also: hog

your road to Damascus (British & Australian, formal)

a very important experience which changes your whole life. It was this chance meeting in a bar in Portland that he would later describe as his road to Damascus.

See also: Damascus

The road to hell is paved with good intentions.

something that you say which means people often intend to do good things but much of the time, they do not make the effort to do those things. 'I kept meaning to visit her but I didn't get round to it.' 'The road to hell is paved with good intentions.'

See also: good, hell, pave

road-to-Damascus (British & Australian, formal)

your road to Damascus - a very important experience which changes your whole life. I used to be a slob, but then I underwent a sort of road-to-Damascus conversion to fitness. (always before noun)

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down the road

in the future. I was asked to gather statistical data that could be useful down the road.

Usage notes: often a time in the future is mentioned: This is a great invention, but a marketable product is several years down the road.

See also: down

the end of the road

an end in itself

See also: end

go down that road

to do a particular thing. We're thinking of investing in real estate, but before we go down that road we need some professional advice.

Usage notes: also used in the forms go down the road or go down a road: Some of these parents were in trouble with the law, and I see their kids going down the road, too.

Etymology: based on the meaning of road (= a way of doing or achieving something)

See also: down, that

hit the road

to begin traveling. I'd love to stay longer, but it's really time to hit the road.

See also: hit

on the road

traveling to different places. The band spends three months a year on the road. Busy professionals prefer e-mail because they can work at home, at the office, or on the road.

Usage notes: often used to describe traveling entertainers or sales representatives

on the road to something

starting to achieve something. The doctors say she's on the road to recovery. Executives believe the company is on the road to improved sales.