making headway
Gaining ground steadily
Making headway means achieving progress or advancing toward a goal, especially when the task is difficult or slow-going.
The expression comes from nautical terminology, where headway refers to a ship's forward motion through water.
We're finally making headway on the budget negotiations.
If you're not making headway, you're stuck or stalled despite effort.
Forward movement or promotion
- strideExtended single footstep
- momentumProduct of mass, velocity
- gainsIncreases in value
- groundSolid surface underfoot
inroads · forward motion · traction · breakthrough · development · growth · improvement · advance
Notable event marking progress
- quantum leapSudden dramatic advancement
- turning pointDecisive moment of change
- watershedDrainage area boundary
- game-changerSomething transforming everything
paradigm shift · leap forward · pivotal moment · critical juncture · inflection point
Respectful forward inclination
- sternStrict or ship's aft
- knotsSecured loops in rope
- currentDirected flow of charge
- tideOcean's cyclical swell
wind · sail · oars · rowing · vessel · wake · drift · course
Something blocking the way
- barrierObstruction preventing passage
- resistanceCapacity to withstand force
- setbackReverse in progress
- challengeTest of ability
hurdle · impediment · difficulty · struggle · adversity · gridlock · stalemate · logjam
advancement
Forward movement or promotion
ground · inroads · forward motion · traction · breakthrough · development · growth · improvement · advance · progression
milestone
Notable event marking progress
- quantum leapSudden dramatic advancement
- turning pointDecisive moment of change
- watershedDrainage area boundary
game-changer · paradigm shift · leap forward · pivotal moment · critical juncture · inflection point
bow
Respectful forward inclination
tide · wind · sail · oars · rowing · vessel · wake · drift · course · bearing
obstacle
Something blocking the way
- barrierObstruction preventing passage
- resistanceCapacity to withstand force
- setbackReverse in progress
challenge · hurdle · impediment · difficulty · struggle · adversity · gridlock · stalemate · logjam · bottleneck
- progressprogress, in progress, promotion, raise, ongoing
- momentumbuilding momentum, gain traction, gaining traction, gaining steam, gather steam
making headwaylosing ground
falling behind · backsliding · regressing · slipping back · retreating
making headwaystuck
Unable to move
stalled · at a standstill · going nowhere · treading water · spinning one's wheels
make, makes, maker, makers, making, remake, remaking, unmade, head