To make headway
Meaning
To make progress or move forward, often against resistance or obstacles.
Origin
The phrase "to make headway" sails directly from the maritime world. In the era of sailing ships, "head" referred to the bow of the vessel, and "way" denoted its movement through the water. A ship that was "making headway" was successfully pushing forward, often against challenging winds or currents, rather than being stalled or driven backward. This literal description of a ship's hard-won progress against resistance, ensuring its bow continued to point and move towards its destination, became a powerful metaphor for any difficult advancement. By the late 18th century, it had navigated from the docks and deck into everyday language to describe any progress made against obstacles.
Examples
- The team struggled with the complex project, but they were finally starting to make headway on the coding.
- Despite the strong winds, the small boat continued to make headway towards the harbor.