steɪ ðə kɔːrs
Travel
neutral
intermediate
- Literally:
- Maintaining the ship's direction
What does "stay the course" mean?
- To continue with a plan despite difficulties
- To persist without changing direction
Examples
- We need to stay the course despite the setbacks.
- The coach told the team to stay the course.
- It's hard to stay the course when results are slow.
Origin
From sailing—keeping the ship on its planned route. Political usage popularized in the 1980s.
How to use it
Often used in politics and leadership. Can sound stubborn if overused.
Similar expressions
persist
persevere
keep going
hold steady
Opposites
change direction
give up
abandon plan
Related idioms
- hit the road
To leave or depart on a journey
- in the same boat
In the same difficult situation as someone else
- miss the boat
To miss an opportunity
- go the extra mile
to make more effort than is expected or required
- a long way to go
much more work or progress is needed before completion
- that ship has sailed
The opportunity has passed
Use it in a practice answer
Try "stay the course" in a CELPIP-style Speaking or Writing task. The AI feedback tells you whether your word choice worked.