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UKmake headway
/mˌeɪk hˈɛdweɪ/
/mˌeɪk hˈɛdweɪ/to make headway
[PHRASE]
![to [make] headway definition and meaning](https://cdn.langeek.co/photo/40687/original/ "to [make] headway definition and meaning")
What is the origin of the idiom "make headway" and when to use it?
The phrase "make headway" comes from the language of ships and sailing. In this context, "headway" means the forward motion of a ship through the water. When a ship is making headway, it is moving forward, making progress towards its destination. The phrase has since been adopted more broadly to describe progress or forward movement in any endeavor. It implies that progress is slow but steady, and that persistence and determination are required to achieve the desired outcome.
Examples
1. We've been making headway on the project for a while now, and we're starting to see some real progress.
2. Tesla and some local Chinese brands are also making headway in China, according to a report from Piper Sendler.
3. The company shut down its e-commerce operations in China this summer after it failed to make headway in the market.
4. Researchers are making headway, though, to get around some of these limitations.
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