What is Ride? What is Drive? Differences between Ride and Drive in English

Idioms, phrasal verbs, and collocations associated with Ride

Meaning

Example

Be riding for a fall

be acting in a reckless way that is likely to end in trouble or disaster

If you keep ignoring your responsibilities, you'll be riding for a fall sooner or later. 

Be riding high

to be very successful

The team was riding high on this match. 

Let something ride

take no immediate action over something

Despite the criticism, he decided to let the issue ride and focus on more pressing matters. 

Ride (on) a wave of something

to get an advantage from it

The politician rode a wave of popularity to victory in the election. 

Ride herd on someone/ something

to be responsible for controlling a group of people and their actions

The teacher had to ride herd on the irregular students to maintain order in the classroom. 

Ride on something/ someone

to need something to make a result happen

The future of the company now rides on the new managing director. 

Ride out

come safely through a dangerous or difficult situation

Many companies did not manage to ride out the recession. 

Ride up

(of a garment) gradually work or move upward out of its proper position

Your skirt has ridden up at the back. 

Amusement ride

mechanical devices or structures that move people to create fun and enjoyment

It was the first amusement ride in the world to top. 

Balloon ride

The balloon ride is dependent on weather and must be landed during high winds. 

Boat ride

Plans are being put in place to continue the boat ride. 

Synonym for Ride

Meaning

Example

Move

/muːv/

go in a specified direction or manner; change position

I thought I could hear someone moving about downstairs. 

Travel

/ˈtrævæl/

to make a journey, usually over a long distance

They love to travel to exotic destinations during their summer vacations. 

Journey

/ˈdʒɜːrni/

to travel somewhere

As we journeyed south, the landscape became drier and rockier. 

Transport

/ˈtrænspɔːrt/

take or carry (people or goods) from one place to another by means of a vehicle, aircraft, or ship

The pipeline was constructed to transport oil across Alaska to ports on the coast. 

Idioms, phrasal verbs with Drive

Meaning

Example

Be in the driving seat

in control of or dominating a situation

After years of hard work and dedication, Sarah was finally in the driving seat of her own business, making all the important decisions. 

Drive your message/ point home

to state something in a very forceful and effective way

The speaker really drove his message home, repeating his main point several times. 

Drive someone to drink

to make someone extremely worried or unhappy

You guys will drive me to drink! 

Drive a coach and horses through something

to completely destroy a rule, an argument or a plan

The judgment appeared to drive a coach and horses through the Hague agreement. 

Drive a hard bargain

be uncompromising in making a deal

I was able to drive a hard bargain and get a higher salary and an extra week of vacation because I had a lot more experience than the other candidates. 

Drive a wedge between someone

to cause disagreement or anger between (people who had been friendly before)

It doesn't make sense to let things that happened in the past drive a wedge between us now.

Be driving at something

to intend or mean

I don't see what you're driving at.

Drive off

to leave in a car

Jennie got in the car and drove off. 

Left-hand drive 

I prefer a car with left-hand drive.

Four-wheel drive

My father only drives a four-wheel drive vehicle. vehicle. 

Synonym for Drive

Meaning

Example

Take

remove (someone or something) from a particular place

Please take this umbrella with you, it might rain later. 

Go with

to take someone somewhere

Would you like to go with me to the concert tonight?

Come with

I'm going to the bookstore. Would you like to come with? 

Accompany

go somewhere with (someone) as a companion or escort.

The manager accompanied the new employees on their first day to show them around. 

Give someone a lift

to take someone somewhere

Can you give me a lift to the train station tomorrow morning? 

Give someone a ride

I'll give you a ride home after work if you need it. 

Differences between Ride and Drive

Ride

Drive

Meaning

• For two-wheeled vehicles or horses: the person controlling the vehicle
• For vehicles with more than four wheels: the person sitting in the moving vehicle (passenger), not the person controlling the vehicle.

For vehicles with more than four wheels: the person controlling the vehicle.

Example

Anna enjoyed the ride on the roller coaster at the amusement park. 

Peter drives to work every day in his car. 

1 - Ride

2 - Drives

3 - Ride

4 - Drives

5 - Ride

6 - Drove

7 - Ride

8 - Drove

9 - Ride

10 - Drives