Perseverance - Lack of Effort

Master English idioms that relate to lacking effort, like "run out of steam" and "take a back seat".

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to [fall|drop] by the wayside [phrase]

to fail to keep on doing something

Ex: I was supposed to walk in with my classmates, but I started to feel dizzy and dropped by the way.

to [give] {sth} a miss [phrase]

to decide against doing something

Ex: Sophia thought about running away with all the money but she gave it a miss.

to [give] up the ghost [phrase]

to put an stop to an activity one knows has very little or no chance of achieving success

Ex: All I 'd cherished from early childhood had been denied me , so I simply gave up the ghost .

to [lift|raise] a finger [phrase]

to make a minimal effort to do something, particularly in order to help someone

Ex: I have so many chores to do , and my sister wo n't lift a finger to help me .

to [pull] {one's} socks up [phrase]

to try one's best to improve something that is not good or satisfactory enough

Ex: He 's going to have to pull his socks up if he wants to stay in the team .

to [run] out of steam [phrase]

to lose one's enthusiasm or motivation, making one incapable of finishing a job or task

Ex:

to [take] a back seat [phrase]

to stop participating actively, often because success seems unlikely or because one chooses to withdraw

Ex: The old political party took a back seat as newer movements gained popularity .

on a (silver|) platter [phrase]

achieved or delivered to one easily or without making any effort

Ex:

to throw {one's} hand in [phrase]

to give up doing something or stop being a part of something, particularly due to seeing no way of success

to [fiddle] while Rome [burn] [phrase]

to neglect important issues and handle less important ones instead

Ex: They want to play their fiddles while Rome burns , but we ’ve got a chance to be successful in spite of them .