on the rails
1
6.8
- idiom
:
en marcha
- They know that public trust is collapsing, but they want the gravy train to stay on the rails for a few more years yet.
- keep everything on the rails
- things back on the rails
His life is very on the rails, seems to have it all together.
- His life is very on the rails, seems to have it all together.
- And they, they really kept keep me on the rails because those last few years, you know what I mean?
- Dan said all right, so guys, we'll see you on Friday where we're going to be on the rails.
Examples
-
I was trying to keep it on the rails, but it go, but it goes and people are going, yeah, but how is it that these things even exist?
-
Next we are back and we are on the rails officially.
-
His life is very on the rails, seems to have it all together.
-
Oh my God, when we come back, we're getting back on the rails and we're actually going to focus on something.
-
And they, they really kept keep me on the rails because those last few years, you know what I mean?
-
But the argument that following the most obvious way, picking the obvious solution to the problem and staying "on the rails"
Blog text (22) -
Years later, Salomea could more easily hear the train rolling on the rails than she could feel and remember what had departed with it forever, taking her with it, or if not her, part of her world, real back then, pulsating with life, within reach, within sight and tenderness.
Fiction book (2000) -
Led by Republican Senator Richard Shelby, who was fighting to keep the pork train called Constellation on the rails, forced the CCDEV funding levels to change.
Blog text (12) -
After a few setbacks, the team finally got the project on the rails and made significant progress.
-
After addressing their issues, the company is now on the rails and operating efficiently again.
Synonyms
4
4.8
Started well and now making good progress
Antonyms
How Well
- Informal
1
5.2
22
2.7
1
6.8
1
3.9
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning is metaphorically derived from the literal image of a vehicle running on rails (stable, guided, proceeding smoothly), so a learner who knows 'on' and 'rails' can plausibly infer a sense of being 'on course' or 'functioning properly'. However, the extension from physical rails to the abstract idea of a project or process is a metaphorical shift that is not entirely predictable without exposure, making the expression only partially transparent.
Etymology
The expression on the rails comes from trains: when a train is on the rails it moves smoothly along its track. So when a plan or project is on the rails, it means it is 'back on course' and working well.