Meaning & use
staying the course
Last updated
“staying the course” is a form of “stay the course”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.
Meanings
phraseidiomfigurative
Continuing with a plan or effort until it is finished, even when it becomes hard or unpopular.
Grammar: It is an intransitive idiom with fixed words: we are staying the course.
Patterns
- stay the course on something
- stay the course despite something
The coach is staying the course with the same lineup despite two losses.
Investors are staying the course, even though prices have dropped.
Staying the course through the winter training was the hardest part.
phraseidiomfigurative
Refusing to change a policy or strategy when others urge a different approach.
Grammar: Often used about leaders and organizations, sometimes with praise and sometimes with criticism.
Patterns
- stay the course in something
The mayor insists on staying the course despite protests about the new tax.
Critics said the company was staying the course when it should have changed direction.
Staying the course with the old system saved money in the short run.
Word forms
| base form | stay the course |
|---|---|
| third person singular | stays the course |
| past tense | stayed the course |
Common combinations
- vow to stay the course
- The president vowed to stay the course on spending cuts.
- urge someone to stay the course
- Her friends urged her to stay the course.
- stay the course through hardship
- They stayed the course through hardship and finished the school.
- stay the course on a policy
- The bank decided to stay the course on its interest rate.
- determined to stay the course
- The runners were determined to stay the course in the heat.
Synonyms and how they differ
- persevere
- It is a formal single word that stresses effort in the face of difficulty.
- hang in there
- It is informal and encouraging, often said to a friend who is struggling.
- stick with it
- It is casual and fits personal habits like diets or hobbies better than public policy.
- see it through
- It stresses completing a task and needs an object or context.
Opposites
Word family
- course noun
- the path of a race or plan
- stay verb
- to remain
- stay on course phrase
- to keep going in the planned direction
- stayer noun
- a person or horse that keeps going to the end of a long race
Commonly confused: staying the course or stay on course?
staying the course vs stay on course
'Stay on course' means keep going in the right direction, whereas 'stay the course' means refuse to quit until the end.
Practice
Despite falling poll numbers, the senator said she would keep ___ on her health plan.
Choose one answer.
'Staying the course' is the fixed idiom without a preposition; adding 'on', 'at' or 'in' breaks it.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “staying the course”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.