5 everyday English phrases that come from travel

Did you know some of the most common English phrases come from travel? Even if you're not packing your bags, you'll hear expressions about journeys, roads, and flights in everyday conversation. Here are five of them and how to use them naturally.

Hit the road

"Hit the road" means to leave, whether you're starting a long trip or just heading home after an evening out.

• We hit the road early to avoid the traffic.
• It's getting late. We should hit the road.
• Thanks for dinner! We'd better hit the road before it starts snowing.

Off the beaten path

A place that's "off the beaten path" isn't on the usual tourist route. It's quieter and less well-known, which is exactly why some travelers love it. In British English, you'll also hear "off the beaten track."

• We love finding little villages off the beaten path.
• Our guide took us to a waterfall that's way off the beaten track.
• If you want to avoid the crowds, look for places off the beaten path.

Catch a flight

We often say "catch" a flight, a train, or a bus instead of "take" it. It's especially common when you're in a hurry or talking about the time.

• I can't stay long. I've got a flight to catch.
• She caught an early flight to Paris for the weekend.
• We only just caught our flight after getting stuck in traffic.

The opposite is "miss": "If we don't leave now, we'll miss our flight."

Take a red-eye

A "red-eye" is a flight that leaves late at night and arrives early in the morning. It got its name from the tired, red eyes passengers have when they get off. You'll hear it most in American English.

• I took the red-eye to New York and went straight to a meeting.
• She didn't want to lose a whole day traveling, so she booked a red-eye.

At a crossroads

If you're "at a crossroads," you have to make an important decision that will shape what happens next, like a traveler choosing which road to take.

• I feel like I'm at a crossroads in my career.
• After ten years abroad, he was at a crossroads. Should he settle down or keep moving?
• The company is at a crossroads. It has to decide whether to grow or stay small.

Next time you talk about travel, or about life's unexpected detours, try using these phrases. Keep exploring, and you'll pick up even more along the way.

Follow our Daily Dose of Denglisch Docs for more phrases to level up your English.