Whether you’re road tripping across the United States or flying to your favorite metropolitan destination, knowing useful travel lingo is sure to make your journey all the more enjoyable! Below you will discover helpful idioms and vocabulary that may arise when navigating transportation, planning your itinerary, and communicating with your fellow travelers. Bon voyage!
This idiomatic phrase refers to beginning a planned activity, journey, etc. before it becomes too late in the day.
This expression refers to setting out on a an adventure, such as a road trip.
Rush hour traffic usually occurs twice each weekday – once in the morning, once in the afternoon – when the most number of people are traveling to and from work.
This idiomatic expression refers to when one travels by road or public transportation at earlier or later times than usual in order to avoid rush hour traffic.
This term refers to a passenger in a car who offers their unwanted opinions and advice to the driver, sometimes to the extent of telling the driver what to do.
This idiom refers to someone or something that is not popular or mainstream, or that is in an unusual or isolated location.
This idiomatic phrase refers to reserving or buying tickets in advance.
This term refers to the handheld items (such as a backpack, small suitcase, or purse) that airlines allow you to take onto the flight with you.
This term refers to the time between two segments of a journey, such as the waiting time between two flights or two train rides.
Someone might fly standby after missing their flight or arriving to the airport early, causing them to have no flight reservation. These passengers wait for a possible seat to open up on the next available flight.
This term refers to the sleep adjustment process that takes place after someone takes a long flight over several time zones.
This term refers to locations where taxis that are in high-demand wait in a line for customers.
This action refers to signaling to a taxi or a cab that one would like a ride.
This idiomatic phrase refers to someone who travels to multiple destinations in a row for brief periods of time, and whose belongings all fit in a suitcase.
This phrase refers to traveling with few belongings and without many bags or much luggage.
This term refers to a place that appeals to visitors because of its inherent cultural, natural, historical, aesthetic, or leisure-based value.
This term has a negative connotation and refers to attractions that were designed as commercial areas in order to encourage tourists to spend money on overpriced tickets, food, and souvenirs.
This term refers to a thief who steals small belongings from pockets and purses.
“To foot the bill” refers to paying the bill, often for something expensive. “To split the bill” refers to dividing up the check at a restaurant so each person pays for their own meal.
To be on a shoestring budget refers to having very little or not enough money.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Anna Deen is a student at Washington University in St. Louis studying English Literature, American Culture Studies, and Communication Design. In her free time, she enjoys hiking in the mountains, going to art museums, and eating ice cream.