13 Popular English Phrases of Encouragement [Updated]

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Have you ever wanted to say something encouraging to a friend going through tough times, a coworker who needs confidence or someone who just needs to hear some kind words?

Today, we'll go over 13 phrases that native English speakers use to encourage each other.

English phrases for boosting confidence

Anyone can do great things if they just have confidence. Here are some things you can say to help someone believe in themselves.

You can do it

"You can do it" means "I believe you can succeed."

I've always wanted to learn Japanese, but it just seems so difficult.

Come on, you can do it! Just sign up for a course and try learning the basics.

You can use "you can do it" by itself or in a sentence like "I know you can do it" or "I'm sure you can do it."

Believe in yourself

"Believe in yourself" means "trust yourself" and "believe that you can do it."

I want to be a doctor or a nurse, but I'm scared I'll accidentally hurt someone.

Just believe in yourself! You're the most careful person I know, so if anyone can do it, it's you!

There are many sayings that use this phrase: e.g. "Believe in yourself and anything is possible" and "Success starts with believing in yourself."

You got this

"You got this" or "You've got this" means "I have full confidence in you" and "I know you'll succeed."

I'm really nervous about this presentation I need to give at work tomorrow.

Hey, you got this! You've rehearsed the presentation so many times you could probably do it in your sleep!

You can think of "you got this" like "You (have) got this under control."

English phrases for helping people to be less stressed

People sometimes put a lot of pressure on themselves. They may think, "I need to get 100% on this test!" or "I need to get this job!" Here are some things you can say to make them feel less stressed.

Just do your best

"Just do your best" means "Don't worry too much about what happens. Just focus on doing your best."

I'm worried about my English test tomorrow.

Just do your best! That's all that matters.

"Just do your best" reminds people to:

Avoid thinking about what they can't control (the results).
Focus on what they can control (trying their best).

It happens to the best of us

This phrase means "Everyone makes mistakes" or "Even if you're super smart, talented, or experienced, mistakes will still happen."

You can say this phrase to help people feel better about themselves after some sort of mistake or failure.

I'm pretty sure I failed my interview.

It happens to the best of us. Just think of it as practice for your next interview.

This phrase sounds nice and positive, because "best of us" means "the best of all people." So when you use it, it's like you are saying that someone is "one of the best people."

Don’t be so hard on yourself

Sometimes, a person's worst critic is themself. They will think about all of the things they've done wrong and ignore the positive things.

If you notice someone you know doing this, you can encourage them to change their way of thinking with this phrase. It means "Don't judge yourself too harshly."

I could've scored much better on my test if I studied more.

Don't be so hard on yourself. You'll do better next time.

Cheer up

This phrase is a short and simple way to offer encouragement to someone who is feeling unhappy. We usually follow it with a phrase about something positive in the future.

I'll have to leave my friends when I go to my new school in the fall.

Cheer up. I'm sure you'll make some great new friends at school. And you can always stay in touch with the friends you have now.

English phrases for getting people to try something

Sometimes, people want to do something but are afraid to take the first step. You can say some encouraging things to give them the push they need.

Give it a try

When you "give (something) a try," you give yourself the chance to try something new: e.g. "I wasn't sure if I would like hiking, but I gave it a try."

When we want to encourage someone to try something new or difficult, we can tell them "give it a try!"

Do you think I should apply for a job at Google?

Give it a try! What do you have to lose?

If someone has tried something many times and has not succeeded, you can use the phrase "Give it one last try." This will encourage them to try it again, one final time.

It’s worth a shot

"It's worth a shot" means "It may or may not work, but it's still worth trying." If someone asks you whether they should try something, replying with this phrase is like saying "Why not?"

Should I enter the pizza eating contest? There are some interesting prizes.

It's worth a shot. If you win, you get prizes. And if you don't, you still get to eat a lot of pizza!

In sports, when you try to get something, like a basketball or football, into a goal, that's called "taking a shot." Since you take a shot when you are trying to score, "shot" is also used to mean "try."

By the way, this is just one way to use "worth." Read this article to learn more: "Worth": Very Valuable English Vocabulary

English phrases for getting people to keep doing something

Keep it up

"Keep it up" means to "keep doing something": e.g. "My neighbors throw very loud parties. If they keep it up, I will report them to the police."

As a phrase of encouragement, "keep it up" means "You're doing (something) well. Keep doing it like that."

How am I doing, coach?

You're doing great. Keep it up!

You will also hear people say "Keep up the good work," which has the same meaning.

Don’t give up

Sometimes, things get tough and people want to give up on a dream or a goal. You can say "Don't give up" to encourage them to keep going.

I'm thinking about dropping out of my PhD program.

But didn't you always want to be a scientist? Don't give up now!

Hang in there

"Hang in there" is similar to "keep trying" and "don't give up." It is usually used to encourage someone who is doing or going through something difficult.

I really hope I recover from this surgery soon.

I'm afraid you may need a few months. Hang in there!

This phrase came from a famous photograph in the 1970s. In the photo, a kitten hangs onto a bamboo stick with its front legs and some text at the bottom says, "Hang in there, baby."

You’re on the right track

If someone hasn't reached their goal yet, but you think they will soon, you can use this phrase to motivate them to keep going. It means, "If you continue what you are doing now, you will succeed." Try combining this phrase with some others from this list.

I still haven't figured out how to solve this problem.

You're on the right track. Don't give up!

You can do it!

Everyone feels discouraged sometimes, but hearing positive words could be just what we need to keep moving forward.

If you need a little encouragement as you study English, keep trying because you can do it, too! We have thousands of excellent tutors ready to help you on your journey and keep you motivated along the way. Book a lesson today!