moving mountains
Accomplishing the unthinkable
Moving mountains describes achieving something extraordinarily difficult or seemingly impossible through determined effort.
The phrase evokes the biblical notion that faith can literally displace mountains, but in everyday use it simply means overcoming massive obstacles or accomplishing feats that appear beyond reach.
She moved mountains to get her son into that school.
If someone says they would move mountains for you, they mean they would do anything to help.
- excavationAct of unearthing
- earth moverHeavy terrain-shaping machinery
- heavy liftingArduous physical or mental exertion
- perseveranceSustained resolve despite obstacles
- parableInstructive allegorical narrative
miracle · resilience · against all odds · determination · never give up · transformation · fortitude · scripture · courage · leap of faith · mythos · allegory · hope · empowerment · self-belief · mind over matter · resolve · tenacity
- figurative actionsburning bridges, biting tongue, burying hatchet, cutting ties, jumping ship
- impossibilitiessquare circle, squared circle, perpetual motion, dividing by zero, logical paradox
- metaphors for overachievementgoing the extra mile, raising the bar, going above and beyond, overdelivering, overperforming
- overexertionoverwork, burnout, overtraining, straining, overdrive
moving mountainsrearranging deck chairs
Useless gestures amid catastrophe
tweaking · small potatoes · baby steps · fine-tuning · going through the motions
moving mountainsspinning one's wheels
treading water · running in place · tilting at windmills · futile effort · striking out
moving mountainsgiving up
Choosing to stop trying
throwing in the towel · hitting a wall · capitulating · crying uncle
moving, mountains, mountain, moves, movers, movement, movements, movable, immovable