Tag Archives: Out of the woods

Surviving in the Wilderness: Basic English vs. Idioms

Get ready to dive into an exciting survival story where we explore two ways to tell the same tale—Basic English vs. Idioms! Follow Jake as he finds himself in the middle of nowhere, trying to keep his cool and ride out the night. Will he luck out and make it out of the woods? Or will things go south? Watch and see how we break down the language in this thrilling adventure!

Out of the woods

Meaning: This idiom means to be out of danger or difficulty, though not necessarily back to normal. It implies that the most challenging or risky part of a situation is over.

Usage in Example Sentences:

  1. “After weeks of treatment, the doctors say he’s finally out of the woods and on the road to recovery.”
  2. “Our sales have improved this quarter, but we’re not out of the woods yet; we still need to reach our annual targets.”
  3. “The storm has passed, but we’re not out of the woods; there could still be flooding in low-lying areas.”

Origin: The origin of the idiom “out of the woods” is thought to come from the literal experience of being in a dense forest or wilderness. Being “in the woods” would imply being surrounded by potential dangers and uncertainties, such as getting lost or encountering wild animals. Emerging “out of the woods” would then signify reaching a safer, clearer, and more navigable area, thus escaping the perils associated with the forest. This phrase has been used metaphorically since at least the 18th century to describe overcoming the most challenging part of a difficult situation.

Out of the woods