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Influence & Involvement - Having an Effect

Discover how English idioms like "take a toll on" and "strike a note" relate to having an effect in English.

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English idioms related to Influence & Involvement
to [leave] a (sour|bad) taste in {one's} [mouth]

to leave a lasting negative effect on someone

Ex: The way they handled the complaint left a bad taste in my mouth. 
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to [take] {sth} on the chin

to experience a lot of problems, setbacks, damages, etc., as a result of something

Ex: Small shops took the recession on the chin. 
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to [take] a toll on {sb/sth}

to have a severe negative effect on someone or something, in a way that lasts for a long time

Ex: Years of stress took a toll on her health. 
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to [do] good
to do good
[phrase]

to perform actions or engage in behavior that is beneficial, helpful, or morally upright, often with the intention of making a positive impact on others or the world

Ex: She wants to use her money to do good in the community. 
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to [turn] {one's} head

to have an influence on how someone behaves, particularly by making them seem too important or proud

Ex: All the praise turned his head. 
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to [have] a part (to play|) in {sth}

to be an important factor in something

Ex: Luck had a part to play in their success. 
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to [cut] both ways

(of a process or action) to have two opposite effects, particularly a good and a bad one

Ex: The new policy cuts both ways: it saves money but slows down service. 
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(bad|rotten) apple
bad apple
[phrase]

a person who causes trouble for others in a group and has a bad influence on them

Ex: One bad apple can cause problems for the whole team. 
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vicious (circle|cycle)

a situation where one problem brings about another and that only worsens the original problem

Ex: Debt and stress created a vicious circle for the family. 
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to [have] a horse in (the|this|that) race

to have any personal gains in a particular situation

Ex: I don't have a horse in this race, so I'll stay out of the argument. 
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to [course] through {one's} (veins|blood)

to feel or experience something intensely, particularly an emotion or sensation

Ex: Fear coursed through her veins when she heard the footsteps behind her. 
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to [leave] {one's} mark

to have a powerful and lasting effect on someone or something

Ex: Her kindness left its mark on everyone who met her. 
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to [go|be] hand in hand

(of two things) to be closely connected to one another, particularly in a way that one of them causes the occurrence of another

Ex: In a loving relationship, trust and emotional support are hand in hand, creating a strong bond between partners. 
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ripple effect

an action or series of things that cause several other events to happen one after another

Ex: The factory closure had a ripple effect on the whole town. 
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to [strike] a note

to behave in a way that expresses a particular attitude or feeling

Ex: The mayor struck a hopeful note in her speech. 
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to [make] inroads (into|on) {sth}

to have a significant impact or influence on something

Ex: Online shopping has made serious inroads into traditional retail. 
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to [cut] (no|little|much) ice with {sb}

to fail to have an influence or effect, particularly in changing someone's opinion about something opinion or decision

Ex: His excuses cut no ice with the manager. 
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exception that proves the rule

rare or unusual cases that confirm the validity or effectiveness of a commonly accepted general principle or practice

Ex: Most people here drive to work, so Anna cycling every day is the exception that proves the rule. 
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a stroke of {sth}

a brief or sudden instance or occurrence of something particular, whether positive or negative

Ex: In a stroke of luck, she found her missing ring under the sofa. 
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to [do] a job on {sb/sth}

to harm or negatively affect someone or something

Ex: The storm did a real job on the roof. 
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to [break] the spell

to end the influence or control that someone or something has over another person

Ex: Seeing the truth finally broke the spell he had over her. 
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to [make] history

to do something important that will be remembered for a long time

Ex: She made history as the first woman to lead the company. 
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one bad apple [spoils] the barrel

used to say that one bad person can negatively affect an entire group

Ex: The manager warned that one bad apple spoils the barrel. 
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to [hit] home
to hit home
[phrase]

to affect someone deeply because it feels true, personal, familiar, or meaningful

Ex: Her words hit home for many parents. 
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to [speak] volumes

to show or express a lot without needing many words

Ex: Her silence spoke volumes. 
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to [bring] out the best in {sb}

to cause someone to show their strongest or most positive qualities

Ex: Mrs. Smith must bring out the best in her students—they all get good grades in her class and are very engaged with the subject matter. 
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