Idiom
On a roll
If you are on a roll, you are having a run of success, with one good result following another.
How people use it
People say it when someone keeps winning, succeeding or getting things done: I finished three chapters today; I'm on a roll. It works for sports teams, students, cooks, salespeople and anyone with a lucky or productive streak. It is informal and upbeat. Common patterns are be on a roll and be on a real roll. It has nothing to do with bread rolls, though bakers love the pun. When the streak ends, people may say they lost their momentum.
Also said: on a real roll.
Examples
- Our team is on a roll, with six wins in a row.
- Priya was on a roll during the quiz and answered every history question right.
- Don't stop me now; I'm on a roll with this garden and almost done weeding.
Where it comes from
The phrase probably comes from gambling with dice, where a player on a good roll keeps throwing winning numbers. It may also draw on the image of something rolling along and gaining speed. It became common in American English in the second half of the 1900s.
Check yourself
1. A friend says, "The team is on a roll." What does she mean?
Answer: They keep winning. On a roll means having a streak of success.
2. Which sentence uses the idiom correctly?
Answer: After three sales before noon, Omar felt he was on a roll.. On a roll describes a run of good results, like several sales in a row.
Similar idioms
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