sunday travelling meaning

Another Look at Mr. Elliot’s “Habits”: What’s So Bad about “Sunday-travelling”?

By Kathryn Davis

Kathryn Davis (email: kedavis@udallas.edu ) is an Assistant Professor of English at the University of Dallas. She has spoken at JASNA AGMs in Fort Worth, Montreal, and Louisville, and she was the first place winner in the graduate division of JASNA’s 2013 AGM essay contest. Her writing on Austen has been published in Persuasions .

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Volume 36, No. 1 — Winter 2015

Religion, Spirituality ›   Travel ›  

This is a sad story about Mrs. Powlett. I should not have suspected her of such a thing.—She staid the Sacrament I remember, the last time that you & I did. 1

j ane Austen did not write what is sometimes derisively called “Christian literature.”  For this reason, Austen’s Christianity and the role of religion in her novels have often been matters for debate.  Peter Knox-Shaw proposes that she “ranks among the least proselytizing of Christian novelists,” an assertion which seems to some to hold true even in her last complete novel (9).  Laura Mooneyham White has argued that Persuasion ’s narrator is witty, sarcastic, playful, sophisticated, and, at times, downright malicious (155-56).  On the other hand, Anne Elliot’s unspoken concern about Mr. Elliot’s “bad habits” ( P 174), particularly that of Sunday-travelling, has moved other critics to accuse Austen’s heroine—and Austen herself—of priggishness, prudery, and extreme religious conservatism.  Marilyn Butler is so troubled by this moment in Persuasion and others like it throughout Austen’s body of work—moments which, in her view, reveal the author’s “preconceived and inflexible” morality—that she is compelled to ask, “are we right to call her a great novelist at all?” (289).  Butler’s serious criticism of Anne’s assessment of her cousin’s moral choices requires us to think very carefully about the question, what is so bad about Sunday-travelling?  If we fail to do so, we miss out on perhaps the biggest insight into our nature as human persons the novel has to offer.  I argue that through this moment in Persuasion Austen calls her readers to strive for the authentic liberty that comes through adherence to the fourth commandment, all the while avoiding saccharine religiosity.  The closer we get to Austen’s world, the more we will be able to understand why Sabbath rest made—and makes—sense.

Austen indirectly introduces the matter of Sabbath rest in volume 2, chapter 5.  After even Lady Russell has warmly approved of Mr. Elliot as a potential suitor once his period of mourning has ceased, Anne still senses that her cousin’s character is not reliable: 

She distrusted the past, if not the present.  The names which occasionally dropt of former associates, the allusions to former practices and pursuits, suggested suspicions not favourable of what he had been.  She saw that there had been bad habits; that Sunday-travelling had been a common thing; that there had been a period of his life (and probably not a short one) when he had been, at least, careless on all serious matters; and, though he might now think very differently, who could answer for the true sentiments of a clever, cautious man, grown old enough to appreciate a fair character?  How could it ever be ascertained that his mind was truly cleansed?  ( P 174)

One might wonder why, of all eligible bad habits, Austen homes in on “Sunday-travelling.”  At first, this seems anticlimactic, perhaps even nitpicky.  What about gaming?  Visiting houses of ill-repute?  Burglary?  Perjury under oath?  Having some of those old “associates” knocked off?  “Sunday-travelling” seems like rust on the scales of human iniquity.  So much so, in fact, that Anne has been mocked by critics for her almost puritanical harshness of judgment.  

Gloria Sybil Gross calls Anne “the prim and prudent heroine who is always right” and suggests, “her character represents the over-the-hill schoolmarm whose lips are permanently pursed.  From being finicky about the untidy life style at Uppercross, squeamish at the rough familiarity of the Crofts or the Harvilles’ close quarters, tsk-tsking Mr. Elliot’s Sunday travel, she takes a dim view of indecorum” (167).  And when Butler claims that Mr. Elliot “provokes from Anne herself some moralistic reflections which include a piece of prudery as disconcerting as anything uttered by Fanny Price,” she certainly has this moment in mind (280, 284).  These critics conceive of Anne as almost a saint, and through her they perceive a flaw in Persuasion :  Austen, undermining her memorable complaint, “pictures of perfection as you know make me sick & wicked,” has contradicted her own artistic integrity by inventing a heroine who, she admitted, “is almost too good for me” (23-25 March 1817). 

Gross and Butler suggest that Anne as a character represents Austen’s breach of good novelistic decorum because, in disapproving of Sunday-travelling, she insists upon a higher code of moral conduct than is humanly possible or even necessary.  The implied assumption is, it would seem, that Mr. Elliot should have the right to travel on Sunday if he wishes to do so.  Anne holds Mr. Elliot to an unreasonable standard, leveling against him the charge of having violated a social custom long since out of practice among people of real understanding. 

These are assumptions that Austen does not share.  At other points in the novel Austen is quick to undermine Anne if her impressions are deemed unsound:  take, for instance, Mrs. Smith’s doubting reply to Anne’s idealized description of the glories of a sick room ( P 169).  In the case of Mr. Elliot, though the narrative is colored by Anne’s thoughts, there is no indication that the narrator disapproves of Anne’s judgment of Mr. Elliot’s habits.  We can be sure that Austen shared Anne’s opinion on this matter if we attend to the narrator’s diction within context.  When she speaks of Anne’s concern about Mr. Elliot’s carelessness on all “serious matters,” we are meant to recall that the word “serious” usually has specifically religious connotations in Austen’s lexicon (Tave 112; White 59-60).  In his frequent habit of “Sunday-travelling,” Mr. Elliot has been negligent of his primary duty, and this is a grave problem. 

Austen does not view the Sabbath as something beyond which human beings will eventually progress through enlightenment.  The fourth commandment given to Moses and inscribed on the tablets is a pronouncement from on high, but it also calls to our humanity, reminding us of our limitations and our need for rest as created beings.  In this sense, it is a law which makes known to us our immutable nature. 

The Sabbath in history and scripture 

The matter of Sabbath rest in English history is fraught with controversy.  John Moorman discusses the contentious origins of Sabbatarianism, a special Puritan doctrine that “sought to prohibit all kinds of sport and merry making,” including “morris-dancing, the maypole and rush-bearing” on Sunday (224).  According to Kenneth L. Parker, Puritans were accused by their political enemies of insisting upon rigid practices of piety and abstinence on the Lord’s Day in order to wrestle authority away from the established church.  During the English Civil War, each side caricatured the other in terms of its interpretation of the fourth commandment.  Anglican Churchmen were accused by Puritans of replacing the truth of the scriptures with the teachings of man, and Puritans were accused of fanaticism (Parker 2, 5-7).

Sabbatarianism was again made “both fashionable and popular” by eighteenth-century Evangelicals, who hoped to reform the Anglican Church from within through their example of piety and charity (Moorman 308).  Austen herself praised the Evangelicals in a letter to her niece Fanny, and this letter, coupled with other evidence, such as Anne’s complaint about Mr. Elliot’s habit of Sunday-travelling, has led some scholars to argue (or complain) that Austen was herself an Evangelical. 2   Yet Parker shows that so-called Puritan or Evangelical Sabbatarianism is a misnomer since “it is impossible to isolate . . . sabbatarianism from its medieval origins” (5-7).  Christians in England were keeping holy the Sabbath (or were being urged to do so from the pulpit) long before the Henrician Reformation.  And as for Austen as a so-called prudish Evangelical “Saint” (Butler 283-84), Anne’s disapprobation just as likely reveals her commitment to the basic teachings of the Anglican Church as they are articulated in the Book of Common Prayer , the Catechism, and the lectures of prominent churchmen such as the Archbishop of Canterbury, Thomas Secker. 3  

Irene Collins notes that Austen was familiar with Secker’s Lectures on the Catechism , which included a lecture arranged in question-and-answer format for each of the Ten Commandments (183-84).  By the time she wrote Persuasion , Austen, whose father and two brothers were Anglican priests, certainly did not need Secker to teach her about the importance of Sabbath rest.  But we could benefit from hearing Secker’s authoritative account of why, for Georgian Anglicans like Anne and Mr. Elliot, keeping holy the Sabbath was such an important matter. 

The basic teaching of Secker’s Lecture on the fourth commandment is that the leisure afforded by the Sabbath helps man to understand and enact his duty toward God and his “fellow-creatures” more fully (150).  Secker proposes that leisure is especially important for “the generality,” who “have scarcely any other seasons” for “instruction in their duty” (150).  He argues that “if this most valuable time be either taken from them, or thrown away by them, they must become ignorant and vicious” (150).  Those who have other “seasons” for such instruction, thanks to having a greater abundance of leisure time during the regular week, are bound to look out for this “generality.”  Speaking in the first person plural, he asserts that “the safest general rule to go by” is to “omit whatever may be sinful, and is needless; and neither to require, nor suffer those who belong to us, to do on this day what we apprehend is unlawful to do ourselves” (149).  Again Secker asserts, “we are . . . to guard ourselves and our servants and children” from “spending this day ill” (152).  Leisure time should be spent in prayer, thanksgiving, examination of conscience, confession of former sinfulness to God, and making good resolutions for the future (150).  The consequence of not devoting leisure time to remembering the goodness of God as maker, governor, and deliverer is misery “in this world and the next” (150). 4  

Secker’s lecture on the fourth commandment puts Anne’s concern about Mr. Elliot’s habit of Sunday-travelling in perspective.  Had Mr. Elliot been at practically any church in Bath, Kellynch, Lyme, London, Steventon, Chawton, Southampton, or Winchester at any time after the seventeenth century, he would very likely have seen the Decalogue painted on the walls (Collins 182; Moorman 219).  Furthermore, had he attended church on any day upon which Holy Communion was being celebrated (anywhere from four times a year to once a month) from the institution of the 1662 Book of Common Prayer onward, he would have been invited by the liturgy itself to meditate upon the fourth commandment to keep holy the Sabbath: 

Collect:  ALMIGHTY God, unto whom all hearts be open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hid; Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of thy Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love thee, and worthily magnify thy holy Name; through Christ our Lord.  Amen.  Then shall the Priest, turning to the people, rehearse distinctly all the TEN COMMANDMENTS; and the people still kneeling shall, after every Commandment, ask God mercy for their transgression thereof for the time past, and grace to keep the same for the time to come, as followeth .  Minister .  GOD spake these words, and said . . .  4 Remember that thou keep holy the Sabbath-day. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all that thou hast to do; but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God.  In it thou shalt do no manner of work; thou, and thy son, and thy daughter, thy man-servant, and thy maid-servant, thy cattle, and the stranger that is within thy gates.  For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day:  wherefore the Lord blessed the seventh day, and hallowed it.  Response.  Lord, have mercy upon us, and incline our hearts to keep this law. 5  

The quoted articulation of the commandment, which comes from Exodus 20:8-11, invites human beings to devote six days of the week to satisfying human necessity by human means:  “Six days shalt thou labour, and do all that thou has to do.”  But God forbids labor on the seventh day because God has “blessed” and “hallowed” that day by “rest[ing]” on it himself.  Human beings are invited to imitate him by resting; they are therefore invited to trust that if they rest in accord with his commandment, he will provide for them and will not allow them to come to harm (cf. Leviticus 25:20-22). 6   Sabbath rest helps man to trust in God as his maker. 

Emphasis falls in a different place in the version of the commandment appearing in Deuteronomy .  The commandment begins in the same way.  Masters are exhorted not to work and not to allow their servants to work, so “that thy manservant and thy maidservant may rest as well as thou.  And remember that thou wast a servant in the land of Egypt, and that the LORD thy God brought thee out thence through a mighty hand and by a stretched out arm:  therefore the LORD thy God commanded thee to keep the sabbath day” ( Deut . 5:12-14a).  The great gift of the Exodus from Egypt is central to this version of the commandment:  masters must be mindful of their servants because the Lord was mindful of them in the time of their bondage.  It also calls the master to be mindful of the common humanity he shares with his servants:  the “manservant” and “maidservant” shall not labor in order that they “may rest as well as thou .”  Man’s place in the hierarchy of the cosmos is emphasized here.

The commandments appearing in Exodus and Deuteronomy suggest that there are two purposes for keeping holy the Sabbath.  The first has to do with imitation of God as the creator who rested on the seventh day and, in so doing, made it holy; the second with imitation of God as the redeemer who delivered the Israelites from bondage and who therefore demands that his redeemed people enact justice toward their servants.  If one has to do with man’s posture towards God, the other has to do with his posture toward his “fellow-creatures.” 7   Sabbath rest puts man in his proper place. 

In alluding to the teaching about abstinence from Sunday-travelling, derived from the fourth commandment, Austen suggests that there is something about man that requires him to be put in his proper place on a weekly basis.  One need only read Exodus (or the newspaper) to ascertain that as human beings we tend to forget that we are creatures and stewards with respect to God as creator and master.  Anne knows that Captain Wentworth attends church every Sunday ( P 100).  She is of the opinion that a man like Mr. Elliot, who chooses not to observe the Lord’s day and thus neglects the opportunity to receive a needed weekly reminder of his place in the created order, makes himself untrustworthy. 8  

Mr. Elliot’s uncleansed mind: New Testament implications 

If we consider the habit of “Sunday-travelling” in light of the wording of the fourth commandment, we begin to see why Mr. Elliot’s transgression is so grave.  Sunday-travelling does not require Mr. Elliot himself to labor.  On a beautiful early summer day if the roads are in good repair, sitting in a church pew and sitting in a carriage might afford comparable rest and leisure.  But, as we have seen, the commandment is not for the sake of the master alone:  it is also for the sake of the “manservant,” the one who must harness and drive the horses.  The seventh day is “hallowed” not just for those in positions of wealth or power but for all human beings (and beasts of burden:  “cattle” and horses, too).  It is typical of Mr. Elliot—who, according to Mrs. Smith, “‘thinks only of himself; who, for his own interest or ease, would be guilty of any cruelty, or any treachery, that could be perpetrated without risk of his general character’” and who “‘has no feeling for others’” ( P 215)—to be himself innocent of laboring on the Sabbath while being the instrument of someone else’s transgression. 

Yet according to the wording of the commandment in Deuteronomy , Mr. Elliot and not his servant would be at fault if the servant were to break the Sabbath rest.  Secker’s interpretation insists that the master, who is called to imitate God as supremely good governor of creation, must ensure that those in his care who have no leisure time apart from the Sabbath day be allowed this “season” for rest and reflection on their duty (150).  If the servant violates Sabbath rest, the master, the one in a position of power and authority, must answer for the servant’s disobedience.  Mr. Elliot’s refusal to allow his servants to take a day off amounts to a usurpation of God’s place in the order of creation.  To break the Sabbath rest is to commit the sin of pride:  though Mr. Elliot flatters himself that his pride has “‘the same object’” as that of his cousin Anne ( P 163), Austen makes it clear through Anne’s being troubled by his habit of Sunday-travelling that this is not the case.  Readers are expected to find Mr. Elliot’s habit disconcerting. 

But we are not done with Mr. Elliot yet.  His habit of Sunday-travelling implies shirking not only the Old Testament commandment to keep holy the Sabbath ( Exodus 20:8-11; Deut . 5:12-14a) but also Christ’s great commandment regarding love ( Luke 10:25-28). 

In the New Testament, the Sabbath takes on even greater significance from the Christian perspective.  After his temptation in the desert, Christ’s first action in his life of public ministry is to go to the synagogue in Nazareth on the Sabbath, “as his custom was,” and stand to read from the book of Isaiah: 

[W]hen he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, to preach the acceptable year of the Lord.”  And he closed the book, . . . [a]nd he began to say unto them, “This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.”  ( Luke 4:16-21) 

Christ immediately, deliberately associates the Sabbath day with a new kind of liberty.  The distinction between “deliverance” and “liberty” is important:  the former applies to “captives,” the latter, to “them that are bruised.”  Moses brought about liberty for the Israelites through a literal, physical exodus from captivity in Egypt; Christian liberty has to do with the body—with healing “them that are bruised”—and with the spirit. 

The connection between spiritual and physical liberty becomes evident later in the same gospel.  While he is “teaching in one of the synagogues on the sabbath,” Jesus meets “a woman which had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bowed together, and could in no wise lift up herself” ( Luke 13:10-11).  After Jesus heals her, the “ruler of the synagogue answer[s] with indignation, because . . . Jesus had healed on the Sabbath day” ( Luke 13:11-14).  Jesus’s reply provides a new, Christian dimension to Sabbath rest:  “Thou hypocrite, doth not each one of you on the Sabbath loose his ox or his ass from the stall, and lead him away to watering?  And ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan hath bound, lo, these eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath day?” ( Luke 13:15-16).  The Sabbath is made a day of liberty from the bonds of sin and the decay of death by Christ, who takes on the new role of master while simultaneously showing that to be a master is to serve. 

Recall that Persuasion also introduces us to an infirm woman, Mrs. Smith, whose “severe rheumatic fever” makes her “for the present a cripple” (166).  She has “no possibility of moving” from the “noisy parlour” to the “dark bed-room” in her lodgings in Westgate-buildings “without assistance” (167).  And though he is the one person who could easily restore her fortunes and provide the means by which her health might be regained, “Mr. Elliot would do nothing” (227).  Anne sees Mrs. Smith’s account of his conduct as “a dreadful picture of ingratitude and inhumanity” (227).  It is an account not of “former practices,” but of present and ongoing indifference.  Anne’s intuition is affirmed:  through Sunday-travelling, Mr. Elliot has revealed his rejection of the duties imposed by the Old Law; in cruelly ignoring Mrs. Smith, he refuses to strive to meet the standard of excellence established by Christ in the New Law.  In both cases, Mr. Elliot cheats himself of liberty. 

Public worship and cleansing the mind 

To Anne, Mr. Elliot’s habit of “Sunday-travelling” is not merely a violation of a superficial social convention.  Rather, in Anne’s mind the habit points to a deeper problem.  Note that diction employed by the narrator in her account of Anne’s thoughts about Mr. Elliot in Persuasion appears likewise in the Collect from the Book of Common Prayer ’s Liturgy of Holy Communion.  In light of these considerations, Anne’s question is pregnant with meaning:  “How could it ever be ascertained that his mind was truly cleansed?”  How indeed, if he chooses not to go where he might hear the prayer, “ALMIGHTY God, unto whom all hearts be open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hid; Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of thy Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love thee, and worthily magnify thy holy Name; through Christ our Lord.  Amen.” 

Anne’s question takes for granted the assertion made in the Collect:  since Mr. Elliot’s “desires” and “secrets” are “hid” to all save God, Anne is not sure how “it could ever be ascertained that his mind was truly cleansed.”  She knows that she cannot know for sure.  This understanding holds true even after she has read what appears to us to be the damning letter Mrs. Smith shows her:  Anne’s strong sense of justice tells her that one should never be judged by what one says in a “private correspondence,” the context of which is known only to the interlocutors ( P 221). 

Nevertheless, Anne is right to doubt the purity of Mr. Elliot’s “mind” because his habit of shirking his religious duty tells her that he has chosen to isolate himself from the “inspiration of the Holy Spirit,” the agent which “cleanse[s] the thoughts of our hearts.”  I infer from the arrangement of the passage and the liturgical direction appearing after the Collect that the Holy Spirit, invoked by the celebrant, makes the recitation of the commandments efficacious for the faithful:  the people still kneeling shall, after every Commandment, ask God mercy for their transgression thereof for the time past, and grace to keep the same for the time to come . . .  . The necessary prerequisites for “grace” moving forward are the acknowledgement of “transgression” and the request for “mercy.” 9   Linked through shared diction, The Book of Common Prayer and Anne’s rhetorical question both suggest that participation in this liturgical rite (followed by the reception of Holy Communion if the parishioner discerns that he or she is fit) is the surest means of receiving “grace.”  That Mr. Elliot needs it as much as anyone else is plain; that he rejects it is also plain. 

What Sabbath rest might mean for Persuasion

Persuasion is deeply concerned with the quandary of mortality.  John Wiltshire notes that Anne “wears her sadness and deprivation in her prematurely aging body and face” (155).  The narrator brings before us various manifestations of aging and decay:  not only Anne’s loss of bloom, but also Lady Russell’s crow’s feet around the temple, Mrs. Smith’s crippled legs, and Captain Harville’s wound that will not heal.  We are not allowed to forget the late Dick Musgrove or Fanny Harville, nor are we allowed to forget that Sir Walter, Mr. Elliot, Lady Russell, and Mrs. Clay are all widowers and widows.  Half the cast of characters in the novel has been touched by death (Wiltshire 156-57; Deresiewicz 127-28). 

The other side of the coin is that Persuasion is also deeply concerned with immortality:  think of the narrator’s teasing description of “prett[y] musings of high-wrought love and eternal constancy” Anne was “sporting with from Camden-place to Westgate-buildings” ( P 208, emphasis mine).  Or think of Anne and Wentworth’s stroll up the “retired gravel-walk, where the power of conversation” makes “the present hour a blessing indeed” and prepares “it for all the immortality which the happiest recollections of their own future lives could bestow” ( P 261, emphasis mine).  In the most self-consciously morbid novel Austen produced, she describes the hero and heroine’s love not as earthly and therefore mortal but as an “eternal” thing, capable of “immortality.”  Because Anne is so aware of the fact of her age—an awareness which, for better or worse, comes from the obsessive preoccupation her father and sister have with physical beauty and the loss thereof—she can appreciate her constancy in love as something that transcends her own aging. 

Whatever immortality the novel offers, it is a direct fruit of Anne’s hard-won, deliberate, chosen habit of hopeful reflection ( P 193, 201, 246, 266-68).  She knows that she is no longer the blooming girl of nineteen Wentworth first loved.  Yet she is able practically to skip down the streets of Bath “sporting” with the aforementioned “musings of high-wrought love and eternal constancy” because she has submitted herself to the mysterious beauty—and, concomitantly, the moral obligations—of her Christian faith, a faith which is rooted in the Decalogue.  She is not fool enough to suspect that she can have the mystery and beauty without the duty and obligations; nor is she fool enough to think, as Mr. Elliot does, that the counterfeit of social propriety—mores, etiquette, manners—could ever stand substitute for authentic goodness.  There is nothing salvific about propriety in Persuasion .  It is good, but it is no more the highest good than physical beauty.  The characters who are allowed to have “spirits dancing in private rapture ” ( P 261, emphasis mine) are the characters who have chosen to submit themselves to the demands of a law—including the fourth commandment concerning Sabbath rest—outside of themselves, a law that has helped them to understand the limitations of their nature as embodied, animated human beings. 10  

Man’s amalgamated nature—embodied and animated—merits further consideration in light of what I’ve said about Anne’s religious convictions.  For the Christian, all faith and hope for happiness is sought not in man’s ability to reason, to please himself, to perfect himself, or to create an earthly utopia, but in Christ’s incarnation, suffering, death, and resurrection.  In other words, Christ’s having taken on human flesh matters to Austen’s characters.  Austen’s letters and prayers reveal her belief in the divinity of Christ. 11   But the humanity of Christ—his having entered into the lives of men and shared with them pleasure and pain—is central to Austen’s character-craft.  The teachings of Christ—his allusions to the Decalogue, his great commandment of love, and, as we have seen, his profession to be Israel’s true and final liberator from sin and death—spring as much from his humanity as they do from his divinity.  Christ teaches that the body requires rest (cf. Mark 6:31; Matthew 11:28-30), and both creation accounts in Genesis demonstrate why this is the case. 

Through Anne, then, Austen has a lesson for us that we need now perhaps more than ever before in human history.  It is almost easy to forget that as body-soul composites we are creatures in an “intermediate position” (Alvis ix)—below God and above the “ox,” the “ass,” and the “cattle.”  Technology compensates for many of our limitations, positioning us nearer to the divine; religious wars and disregard for creation class us with irrational animals.  The commandment to rest—and to ensure that those in our care also have the opportunity to rest—is utterly human and humanizing.  The Sabbath is therefore a celebration of our nature.  The significance of the Sabbath, then, is why Mr. Elliot’s habit of Sunday-travelling is such a problem and why it is such a grave misrepresentation to speak of Anne’s disapprobation of his habit as “a piece of prudery” (Butler 280).  When Anne, referring to the standard examination of conscience based on the Decalogue, thinks that for Mr. Elliot “Sunday-travelling had been a common thing” ( P 174), she tacitly criticizes him not for having lived too fully but for not having lived fully enough.  

  1 A letter from Jane Austen to Cassandra, 20-22 June 1808.  Irene Collins offers a helpful interpretation of this comment (190-91). 

2 Butler seems to complain of it (283-84).  White shows how complex the issue of Austen’s relationship to Evangelicalism was (24-27).  Irene Collins also acknowledges that complexity but asserts that Austen was not an Evangelical (184-94).  Michael Giffin sees the deontological influence of the Evangelical Reform Movement but suggests that Anglicanism had always held “deontology’s law of divine command” in “creative tension” with teleological natural law and that the mainstream morality of the Georgian Anglican church favored the latter (25).  Jocelyn Harris notes that, despite the aforementioned claim in a letter to Fanny Knight that all Christians perhaps “ought” to “be Evangelicals,” Austen also endowed the “oldest Anglican mission organization in Britain,” the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, “with some of her precious cash” (136).  Peter Knox-Shaw also denies Austen’s adherence to the tenets of Evangelicalism but is not convinced that Austen was always a firm believer: he hypothesizes that she may “without ever having ceased to believe in the utility of belief, have been something of a private sceptic in the first part of her career,” though he asserts that she “died a believer” (9).

3 White affirms that Sunday-travelling was “a practice condemned by the [Anglican] church (and implicitly by the Fourth Commandment)” (56).  She provides a catalog of other Austen characters who failed to keep holy the Sabbath.  Northanger Abbey ’s General Tilney, in sending Catherine home “by herself on a Sunday . . . worsens the already black nature of that act” (56-57).  And from the detail that Pride and Prejudice ’s Mr. Collins “has preached only twice before Lady Catherine de Bourgh in a period of time that stretches from Easter to mid-October,” White infers that “for all her oversight of her perish, Lady Catherine neglects to go to church herself” (56). 

4 In Pride and Prejudice Mr. Bingley’s playful jab at Mr. Darcy supports Secker’s assertion that both the master and the “generality” need to enter into the Sabbath.  In Mr. Bingley’s mind there is no “‘object’” as “‘aweful’” as “‘Darcy, on particular occasions and in particular places; at his own house especially, and of a Sunday evening when he has nothing to do’” (55).  The chiastic structure employed here highlights Mr. Bingley’s playfulness:  “occasions” fits with “Sunday evening,” “places” with “house.”  Through this structure, Austen deliberately makes it impossible for us to take what Mr. Bingley says as a serious criticism of Mr. Darcy’s character (even though Mr. Darcy himself, according to Elizabeth’s observation, is “rather offended” by his friend’s comment).  Yet though the tone is playful, there is no reason to assume that Mr. Bingley’s assessment is unreliable.  We know Mr. Darcy to be a very good man with a strong and correct sense of duty.  But he, like the “generality,” is also a man of action:  consider with what decision he proposes to Elizabeth, moves to rescue his sister from Mr. Wickham, and attempts to salvage Lydia Bennet’s reputation after her elopement.  Mr. Darcy’s habit of prompt and decisive action might perhaps mean that even he sometimes fails fully to enter into Sabbath rest in a way that would meet Secker’s high standard outlined above.  If “having nothing to do” on a Sunday evening makes Mr. Darcy an “aweful object,” we might conclude that in order to escape misery “in this world and the next,” Mr. Darcy needs authentic Sabbath rest as much as the servants whose Sunday leisure he is obliged to protect. 

5 White notes that the four certain occasions for celebrating Holy Communion were Christmas, Easter, Pentecost, and in commemoration of the harvest (52-53). 

6 Elsewhere in the Pentateuch, the Israelites are instructed to keep not only a Sabbath day each week, but also a Sabbath year each seven years.  During this year, they will neither sow nor reap.  God anticipates the distress of the people, representing their concern for their own survival in the following dialogue:  “And if ye shall say, What shall we eat the seventh year?  Behold, we shall not sow, nor gather in our increase:  Then I will command my blessing upon you in the sixth year, and it shall bring forth fruit for three years.  And ye shall sow the eighth year, and eat yet of old fruit until the ninth year; until her fruits come in ye shall eat of the old store” ( Lev . 25:20-22).  We can assume that what he will do for the Sabbath year he will also do for the Sabbath day.  The purpose, in either case, is to engender trust in God in the mind and heart of man and to remind man that he, like the land, is God’s creation and that he should not forget the limitations of his nature as a created being. 

7 In the climactic conversation about constancy with Captain Harville at the White Hart, Anne speaks of men and women equally as “‘fellow-creatures’” (256).  Archbishop Secker also uses this term in his lecture on the fourth commandment.  In referring to men and women together as “fellow-creatures,” Anne calls both sexes to live up to the standard of excellence which she at once articulates and enacts in her discussion (and living out of) constancy.  White notes that Austen’s “three prayers—which bear strong marks of evangelical self-searching—speak of ‘fellow-creatures,’ in five separate mentions.  ‘Fellow-creatures’ is a term that focuses on the shared human subordination before God” (109).  I argue that in his habit of Sunday-travelling, Mr. Elliot rejects this posture of humility. 

8 Austen’s Sunday habits are also worth considering.  William Baker provides a catalogue of the religious texts with which Austen was familiar: 

The Authorized Version of the Bible, or the King James Version (1611), and the 1662 Book of Common Prayer were familiar to Jane Austen from a young age.  She knew them from repetition in exact form on a daily basis.  She read the Bible, and had the Bible read to her at home or as a part of the church service.  She heard on a regular cyclical basis the passages for Sundays and for the religious festivals.  Passages from the book of Psalms were used throughout the church services.  She herself wrote prayers.  (507) 

White conjectures that the effect of hearing these religious texts repeated—and repeating prayers and petitions herself—“thousands of times” over the course of her life must have been “powerful” (50). 

9 Secker affirms that “a reasonable portion of the Lord’s day,” beyond “public worship” with one’s “fellow-creatures,” should be spent in “the private exercise of piety, in thinking over our past behavior, confessing our faults to God, and making good resolutions for the future” (150). 

10 There is evidence elsewhere in Persuasion of Anne’s submission to the commandments.  Consider, for instance, her choice to forego marriage to Wentworth out of obedience to her disapproving father and godmother, Lady Russell (29-30).  One of the most difficult problems of the novel (which my argument here might help us to resolve) is that Anne still defends this choice to Wentworth at the end of the novel (267-68).  It is true that Anne acts in apparent disobedience to her parent when he discourages her from doing that which she believes to be her duty (visiting Mrs. Smith in Westgate-buildings [170-72]).  The Anne we meet in the real-time of the novel has reached the age of maturity and grown in prudence; she is therefore capable of judging for herself—based upon her own conscience—where her religious duty lies. 

11 Consider the above epigraph for a sample of how seriously Austen thought about the Sunday liturgy of Holy Communion.  For Austen’s prayers, see the appendix to Collins’s Jane Austen and the Clergy (197-200). 

Works Cited

• The 1662 Book of Common Prayer.   Ed. John Baskerville.  Cambridge: CUP, 1762.
• Alvis, John.  Divine Purpose and Heroic Response .  Lanham, MD: Rowman, 1995.
• Austen, Jane.  Jane Austen’s Letters .   Ed. Deirdre Le Faye.  Oxford: OUP, 1995.
• _____.  The Works of Jane Austen .  Gen ed. Janet Todd.  Cambridge: CUP 2005-08.
• Baker, William.   Critical Companion to Jane Austen: A Literary Reference to Her Life and Work.   New York: Infobase, 2008.
• Butler, Marilyn.  Jane Austen and the War of Ideas .  Oxford: Clarendon, 1975.
• Collins, Irene.  Jane Austen and the Clergy .  Rio Grande, OH: Hambledon, 1994.
• Dow, Gillian, and Katie Halsey.  “ Jane Austen's Reading:  The Chawton Years ."   Persuasions On-Line 30.2 (Spr. 2010).
• Deresiewicz, William.  Jane Austen and the Romantic Poets .  New York: Columbia UP, 2004.
• Emsley, Sarah.  Jane Austen’s Philosophy of the Virtues .  New York: Palgrave, 2005.
• Giffin, Michael.  Jane Austen and Religion .  New York: Palgrave, 2002.
• Gross, Gloria Sybil.  In a Fast Coach with a Pretty Woman .  New York: AMS, 2002.
• Harris, Jocelyn.  “ Jane Austen and the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge . ”   Persuasions 34 (2012): 134-39.
• The Holy Bible: Authorized King James Version .  Colorado Springs: International Bible Society, 1987.
• Knox-Shaw, Peter.  Jane Austen and the Enlightenment .  Cambridge: CUP, 2009.
• Moorman, John R. H.  A History of the Church in England .  London: Black, 1980.
• The Oxford Guide to the Book of Common Prayer: A Worldwide Survey .  Ed. Charles Hefling and Cynthia Shattuck.  Oxford: OUP, 2006.
• Parker, Kenneth L.   The English Sabbath: A Study of Doctrine and Discipline from the Reformation to the Civil War .  New York: Cambridge UP, 2002.
• Secker, Thomas.  “The Fourth Commandment.”  Archbishop Secker’s Lectures on the Catechism, Arranged in Questions and Answers, for the use of Schools and Families .  London: Longman, 1829.  145-52.
• Tave, Stuart M.  Some Words of Jane Austen .  Chicago: UCP, 1973.
• White, Laura Mooneyham.  Jane Austen’s Anglicanism .  Burlington: Ashgate, 2011.
• Wiltshire, John.  Jane Austen and the Body .  Cambridge: CUP, 1992.

About JASNA

The Jane Austen Society of North America is dedicated to the enjoyment and appreciation of Jane Austen and her writing. JASNA is a nonprofit organization, staffed by volunteers, whose mission is to foster among the widest number of readers the study, appreciation, and understanding of Jane Austen’s works, her life, and her genius.  We have over 5,000 members of all ages and from diverse walks of life. Although most live in the United States or Canada, we also have members in more than a dozen other countries.

©2024 The Jane Austen Society of North America, Inc. All rights reserved.

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Jesus' Triumphal Entry: The Bible Meaning of Palm Sunday

The Biblical account of Jesus’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem is so noteworthy that it’s one of the few events recorded in all four Gospels.

A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Hosanna in the highest heaven!” When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, “Who is this?” The crowds answered, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.” ~ Matthew 21:8-11

The Sunday before Jesus’s crucifixion, also known as Palm Sunday, is an important day for all Christians to study and remember. The Biblical account of Jesus’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem is so noteworthy that it’s one of the few events recorded in all four Gospels. When we piece together the details from each of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John’s unique narratives—we gain a clear picture of who King Jesus is, why He came, and the future in store for all who put their hope and trust in Him.

What Was the Triumphal Entry?

When Jesus came to Jerusalem for the last time, He arrived to the adulation of many and the cheering approval of the crowd. The Triumphal Entry, as it is called, served a deeper purpose than simply a parade in His honor, however.

His coming in this manner had been revealed clearly in the Old Testament: the method, the timing, and the meaning. Zechariah 9:9 had told of the King's coming on the colt of a donkey so that Israel would recognize Him. From Daniel 9:25-26 the exact time of the Messiah's arrival can be calculated. Psalms 118:21-29 had announced the meaning of Christ's arrival, which the crowd realized in their shouts.

This event also fulfilled Jesus's promise. Several weeks earlier, some Pharisees came to lure Him back to Judea. Jesus said that He would not return until such time as the citizens of Jerusalem would say, "Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord" ( Luke 13:31-35 ). Perhaps He intended this to further establish His credentials as the promised Messiah.

The Triumphal Entry accomplished two major goals. Because of the heightened excitement caused by the resurrection of Lazarus and then the public entrance into Jerusalem, He piqued the curiosity of the people there—important because of the many pilgrims who had come to the city for Passover. In addition, the approbation of the crowd protected Him, at least initially, from the murderous desires of the spiritual leaders in Jerusalem. The delay allowed the prophecies of the Old Testament to be fulfilled.

In a way, His entrance established a test for the people in Jerusalem. While many cheered His arrival, their faith would be challenged when He did not live up to the conquering Messiah of popular imagination. Instead, He effectively took over the Temple and called the people to the Kingdom of God. After several days, the shouts of praise turned into shouts for crucifixion.*

Why Were the Crowds Awaiting Jesus in Jerusalem?

Jesus ministered tirelessly in the days leading up to Palm Sunday . Among other righteous acts, our Lord healed the blind, cured ten lepers, ate dinner with that wee little tax collector named Zacchaeus, taught about the Good Shepherd, revealed to His disciples for the third time that He would soon be crucified. And in Bethany—a town about two miles east of Jerusalem, Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead. (John:11)

The large crowd that had gathered for Lazarus’s funeral and had witnessed their friend’s awe-inspiring resurrection could not keep quiet about the event. They returned to their homes and spread the word all over Bethany and the neighboring towns and villages until soon the reports of Jesus’s astonishing miracle had reached the ears of every person in the region. ( John 12:12-19 )

As thousands of people began to swarm to Jerusalem in preparation for the Passover, the story of Lazarus’s resurrection spread even further, and Jesus became a hot topic of conversation among the masses. They looked for Him all over Jerusalem and asked each other, “What do you think? Isn’t he coming to the festival at all?” But the chief priests and the Pharisees had given orders that anyone who found out where Jesus was should report it so that they might arrest him.” ( John 11:56-57 ) 

Jesus’s Kingly Preparation for the Triumphal Entry

Meanwhile, as Jesus and His disciples left Jericho and made their way to Jerusalem for the Passover, they traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee, ( Luke 17:11 ) The group stopped in Bethany, stayed for a couple of days, and dined with Lazarus, Mary, and Martha, who had prepared a dinner for them, in Jesus’s honor. ( John 12:1-3 )

During the dinner, Mary anointed Jesus’s feet with fragrant oil and wiped his feet with her hair. Judas Iscariot , the dishonest treasurer of the group and Christ’s future betrayer, was indignant that Mary had wasted the costly perfume when the proceeds could have been given to the poor.  But Jesus rebuked Judas and told him, “It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial.  You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me.” ( John 12:1-8 )

Before Leaving Bethany to complete their journey to Jerusalem, Jesus sent two of his disciples ahead of their traveling party in search of a particular donkey and her unbroken colt. Once the two men found the colt they were to untie the animal and bring it to Jesus. If anyone questioned their actions, the disciples were instructed to say that the Lord needed the donkey and it would return promptly. The disciples did as they were told and brought the colt back to Jesus, threw their cloaks over it, and Jesus rode the colt to Jerusalem. ( Mark 11:1-7 ) 

“God never missed an opportunity to use powerful symbols throughout Scripture. The triumphal entry - Jesus’ famous ride on this lowly animal reveals much about Christ’s character and purpose. 

What Happened When Jesus entered Jerusalem?

By this time a large crowd of Jews, who had been in Jerusalem for the festival, had discovered that Jesus had been staying with Lazarus and His sister. Anxious to see Jesus and the man he had raised from the dead, the crowd headed to Bethany, en masse. ( John 12:9-11 ) But Jesus and His disciples met the throng while on their way into Jerusalem. ( John 12:9-11 )

The crowd engulfed Jesus. They spread their cloaks and palm branches on the road, and shouted, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the king of Israel! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest! Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David! Hosanna in the highest heaven!” ( Matthew 21:8-11 , Mark 11:8-10 , Luke 19:36-38 , John 12:12-13 )

The shouts of praise infuriated the Pharisees who were trying to find a way to catch and kill Jesus. They commanded that Jesus rebuke His boisterous admirers. But Jesus informed the wicked religious leaders that the “stones would cry out” in praise if He silenced the crowd. ( Luke 19:39-40 ) So the Pharisees said to one another, “See, this is getting us nowhere. Look how the whole world has gone after him!” ( John 12:19 )

What Does it Really Mean to Love God with Your Whole Heart?

As Jesus moved further into the city, He wept over Jerusalem. Although the masses had praised and honored Christ as King, He knew their hearts. He knew that in less than a week, some of the same people who had hailed Him, “King of Israel,” would cry out, “We have no king, but Caesar!” ( John 19:15 ) And He knew that some of the same worshipers who cheered, “ Hosanna ” (meaning, “please save us.”) would soon be screaming, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is God's Messiah, the Chosen One." ( Luke 23:35 ) 

Israel had rejected their Prince of Peace and Jesus mourned over the destruction they would suffer for their rebellion and unbelief. ( Luke 19:41-44 )

3 Interesting Facts about Jesus’s Triumphal Entry

1. The palm branches symbolized and foreshadowed victory. The palm branches that were used to pave Jesus’s way into Jerusalem ( John 12:12-15 ; Matthew 21:1-11 ; Mark 11:1-11 ; and Luke 19:28-44 ) were a symbol that foreshadowed Christ’s victory over sin and the grave. In Revelation 7:9 we’re given a glimpse of the fulfillment of Jesus’s victory, where palm branches will once again be used to praise the Lamb of God. “After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands.” ( Revelation 7:9 )

2. Jesus rode on a donkey but will return on a white horse. Jesus’s chosen means of transportation during his triumphal entry into Jerusalem was a fulfillment of prophecy. “Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout, Daughter Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.” ( Zechariah 9:9 , KJV) In Biblical times it was common for diplomatically inclined royalty to travel by donkey because the animal was a symbol of peace. The next time Jesus comes to earth, he will sit on a white horse, which symbolizes victory in battle. “Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness, He judges and makes war.” ( Revelation 19:11 )

3. Jesus came as King of a different kingdom —Billy Graham once explained that one of the reasons Jesus’s horde of fans soon turned into His worst enemies was because "He refused to be the kind of king they wanted — a political and military leader who would free them from the hated Roman government. Roman soldiers had occupied their land for decades, and they hoped Jesus would lead them in a successful revolt." Jesus was clear that the Kingdom He had come to establish was not at all of this world. Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders. But now my kingdom is from another place.” ( John 18:36 ) 

Many people today think of the kingdom of God as heaven or as the church. However, the kingdom of God is not an actual physical place. Since God is eternal, His kingdom is eternal. The Kingdom of God transcends time and space. When Jesus rode into Jerusalem during His triumphal entry, He proclaimed Himself as the long-awaited King Jesus—our redeemer—the King of our hearts for eternity. 

* Adapted from the lecture notes of Dr. Doug Bookman, professor of New Testament Exposition at Shepherds Theological Seminary (used by permission). 

Further reading about the days of Holy Week:

What Is Maundy Thursday? What’s So Good about Good Friday? What is Holy Saturday and Why is it Significant? What Is the True Meaning of Easter? Why Is it Celebrated?

7 Ways for Sons to Celebrate Their Mothers

6 Ways to Create and Cultivate Christ-Centered Friendships

12 Beautiful Prayers for Mother's Day

6 Smart Moves and 8 Key Prayers to Improve Mental Health

The Best Birthday Prayers to Celebrate Friends and Family 

Is Masturbation a Sin?

Morning Prayers to Start Your Day with God

If you have allowed the challenges of life to distract you and throw you off sched­ule in doing God's will, don't you agree that it's time for you to get back on track again?

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When Should You Start Your Weekend Trip? Friday Evening or Saturday Morning?

Among weekenders, there is a debate going on…when is the right time to start a weekend trip? Some say Friday evening while others say Saturday morning. A few have even mentioned Thursday evening. In a poll I ran on Twitter (follow me @thethoughtcard ) which consisted of 238 votes, 90% of people voted for a Friday evening departure over a Saturday departure. Which day do you prefer to start weekend travel?

In anticipation of my new book, Traveling With A Full-Time Job , I’m sharing excerpts that did not make it into the book. I hope you enjoy this article and if you do, order a copy. It would mean the world to me.

When To Start Weekend Travel

Table of Contents

My Personal Preference

Benefits of returning early sunday:, cons to returning early sunday:, benefits of returning late sunday:, cons to returning late sunday:.

Karen Turner from Wanderlustingk.com says: “Depends on how far I’m going. If it’s far, I leave on Friday night to have all of Saturday. I prefer Saturday mornings for closer destinations (30 minutes to 2 hours away), assuming I’m in no rush to arrive. I avoid paying for a hotel on Friday night unless I need to.” 

Jessica from TheFioneers.com says: “Depends where I’m going! Somewhere north or south of where I am, I prefer Saturday morning. Also, if I’m going to the west coast, I usually do Friday night. I figure if I’m crossing 3 or more time zones, I will be tired and jet-lagged. Might as well get there earlier.”

Paul of LaunchPersonalFinance.com says: “Friday evening because waking up at your destination Saturday morning makes it feel like a longer trip.” 

Read Next: 6 Things To Pack For Weekend Getaways

For weekend getaways, I usually start my trip right after work on Friday evening. However, depending on the mode of transportation, and the time slots available, I may ask my boss to leave earlier so I can catch an earlier flight or train.

I’ve found leaving the office around 3:30 p.m. is less disruptive and works well for my team. I may do this a few times a year, but I do not make this a habit.

Helpful Tip : If you want to leave earlier in the day, make concessions. Tell your boss you will skip lunch or make up the time by coming in earlier. If you are available to respond to emails, let your team know. 

I prefer to get to my destination late on Friday so I don’t have to wake up too early on Saturday. I don’t mind traveling late at night and I usually grab an Uber so I can get to my hotel as quickly as possible.

Also, if I can swing it, I don’t mind paying for the extra hotel night if that means getting a good night’s sleep. Making the most of my weekend breaks means sightseeing all day Saturday!

While I prefer to begin weekend travel right after work on Friday evenings, Kylie Neuhaus, author and travel blogger at Between England and Iowa and Essex Explored , prefers to fly out on Saturday mornings to avoid Friday rush hour traffic.

She says: “I feel more comfortable arriving at a new destination during the day time, rather than late at night. I tend to rely on public transport or walking, and I wouldn’t want to do that in the dark. It also saves on the cost of another night at a hotel by arriving first thing in the morning. I usually take the earliest flight on a Saturday morning (around 4 a.m. or 5 a.m.). That puts me in a new country by lunchtime. I can enjoy the local food for dinner, see some sites, and spend the majority of the second day exploring.”

When To End a Weekend Travel

Here’s another popular debate. Should you return from a weekend trip early on Sunday or late?

I usually end my trips early Sunday morning, but when I was younger, to extend the time, I took the latest flight or train back home Sunday evening or early Monday morning. However, I try not to do this anymore because it’s exhausting. I also realized the inconvenience it could cause if I run into delays. 

A few years ago I booked a return red-eye flight from Oslo (Norway) to New York City set to arrive Monday morning. With a 6:00 a.m. arrival, I thought I had plenty of time to make it to work by 9 a.m. However, when my flight got delayed, I arrived later than expected. Luckily my manager was accommodating, but I got to work at 3:00 p.m. missing the majority of the workday. After that incident, I haven’t booked any return trips on Sunday evenings or Monday mornings. 

Read Next: How Much Does a Four Day Trip To Oslo Cost?

Similar to the Friday evening or Saturday morning debate, people have differing opinions about this.

Lindsey Messenger of SevenDayWeekender.com says: “Depending on how far away I am, I usually return late Sunday afternoon between 2:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. That way I can still see some things in the morning, and be home by dinner time (to save money by not eating out).”

Beatriz Reynoso, a teacher from New York City says: “I tend to start heading back Sunday morning or early afternoon in case of delays. I like to have time to rest and recharge after traveling, before heading to work the next day.”

• Time to unpack and relax.
• Mentally prepare for the work week ahead.
• Early morning flights on Sunday are usually less expensive.  
• Wake up early for departure.
• More time to explore a destination.
• Wake up later or sleep in.
• Flights are more expensive during peak hours on Sunday.
• Less time to unpack and relax.
• Less time to prepare for the work week ahead.

While there is no right or wrong way to plan a weekend jaunt, I encourage you to experiment with starting your trip on Friday evening and Saturday morning. Start your journey back home late Sunday evening and next time try early Sunday morning. Be open to trying it all. All of this will help you figure out what’s right for you.

Did you enjoy this article?

Grab a copy of my new book, Traveling With A Full-Time Job available on Amazon. This easy to follow guide shares practical strategies to help you balance a full-time career and frequent travel. With your purchase, you’ll also get a bonus video where I interview four avid travelers who share their top tips for making the best use of their limited vacation time.

Want to continue the discussion? Share in the comments when you prefer to start weekend travel, Friday or Saturday?

Danielle Desir Corbett paid off $63,000 of student loan debt in 4 years, bought a house at 27, and has traveled to 27 countries, including her favorites, Iceland, China, and Bermuda. Go here to learn Danielle’s incredible story, from struggling financially and in debt to finding creative ways to earn more and live on her terms. Listen to The Thought Card Podcast , where Danielle shares how you can creatively travel more and build wealth regardless of your current financial situation. Reach out to Danielle by contacting: thethoughtcard (at) gmail (dot) com.

You are kind to share this information on your blog, and I am grateful.

You made a good point when you mentioned that there are no wrong ways to plan a weekend vacation. With that in mind, I would think that it would be a good idea to keep your children involved when planning a trip. You would want to keep your children involved so that they can have an enjoyable trip as well.

week excursions from NYC, the desire to get the hellfire away has honestly never been more grounded following a year-and-half long pandemic. In any case, the well established inquiry remains: where, precisely, should I go? Well, you’ve gone to the perfect spot, on the grounds that where got an assortment of ideas relying upon your concept of an ideal post-immunization get-away. Possibly all you need is a day at the ocean side, or perhaps you long for a wellbeing retreat. Maybe you need to climb through the forest, or go for a comfortable walk down the interesting roads of a nineteenth century town. (We have picks for those, on the off chance that you are pondering. This aide contains multitudes as do you. )

This is amazing thanks for sharing this blog I have become a fan of your blogs now. This blog is so interesting and informative.

This is a really awesome and helpful article for me this information has been very helpful, thank you.

It’s great that you talked about weekend trips and when’s the best day to leave for one. Recently, my wife and I decided we need a break from our busy lives. We want to get away for a couple of days and found a little cabin with a bonfire, so we’ll be sure to follow your advice on traveling. Thanks for the advice on leaving everything ready for our travel the day before.

We’ve been really enjoying weekend trips especially now that we work remotely. Also, I love the remote getaways out in the countryside, they are my favorite.

It’s awesome that you talked about how to enjoy more a weekend getaway, you should plan ahead. My girlfriend and I want to discover new places, and we thought we could travel on the weekends since neither of us works those days. That’s why we’re researching tips to make the most out of our trip, and we think your article will help us with it. We appreciate your information about how it’s better to start the trip right after work.

Hi Eli, thank you for your note. I hope you stay in touch by signing up for my newsletter and listening to my podcast for more helpful travel tips here: https://the-thought-card.ck.page/92f100127b

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• Newspapers & Gazettes
• Empire (Sydney, NSW : 1850 - 1875) View title info
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How to Travel More Sustainably

Don’t skimp on doing your own research, and be aware that ‘green’ certificates aren’t always all they’re cracked up to be.

Credit... Gabriel Alcala

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By Paige McClanahan

• April 22, 2021

So you’re vaccinated and eager to — finally — plan a real summer vacation after a rough year, but you don’t want to add to the problems you might have read about: overcrowding, climate change, unfair working conditions in the tourism industry. What’s a thoughtful traveler to do?

For those who want to travel responsibly, it comes down to this: You, the traveler, have to do your homework.

Looking for a hotel or tour operator that has earned a sustainability label might seem like a good place to start, but the reality isn’t so simple. There are around 180 certification labels floating around in the tourism industry, each purporting to certify the green credentials of a hotel, restaurant, tour operator or even a destination. And while some of those labels are well enforced, others might better be described as greenwashing — when a company portrays itself as an environmental steward, but its actions don’t match the hype.

“The range is enormous — from rigorous, impartial and excellent to, frankly, poor,” said Randy Durband, the chief executive of the Global Sustainable Tourism Council , a nonprofit organization that establishes and manages global standards for sustainable travel. “We strongly believe in the value of third-party certification, when it’s done right,” Mr. Durband added. “But the way the word ‘certification’ is used in tourism is out of control.”

Still, while the labels might be all over the map, many businesses are waking up to the importance of improving their environmental and social performance, said Andrea Nicholas, the chief executive of Green Tourism , an Edinburgh-based certification body with more than 2,500 members. The pandemic has brought the concept of sustainable tourism forward by five to 10 years, she said. Before, she added, many businesses saw sustainability as an “add-on.”

“What we’re seeing now, from the interest we’re getting, is that it’s a must-have,” she said.

There are some promising signs that consumers, too, are waking up to the consequences of their vacations. More than two-thirds of respondents to a recent seven-country global survey for American Express Travel said that they “are trying to be more aware of sustainability-friendly travel brands to support.” Another poll, this one for the digital travel company Booking.com, found that 69 percent of the more than 20,000 respondents “expect the travel industry to offer more sustainable travel options.”

What does “sustainable travel” mean, anyway?

Given the diversity of destinations and contexts that a traveler might encounter, there’s no universal answer to what sustainable travel means. A hotel’s water efficiency is a lot more important along Spain’s dry Mediterranean coastline than in rain-soaked western Scotland, for instance.

But experts say that the concept is about a lot more than just reusing the towels in your hotel room or buying a carbon offset for your flight, although those are good places to start.

Sustainability is also about the wages and working conditions of the people who are waiting tables on your cruise ship or schlepping your bag up a trail; it’s about the additional pressure you might be putting on an already-crowded city , heritage site or natural area ; it’s about whether your hotel buys its produce from a farm down the road or from a supplier on the other side of the world, or whether the money you spend goes into the community you’re visiting — or into the distant account of a multinational.

“What you need to do is marry the corporate social responsibility with an informed tourist consumer who knows what they’re asking for, and then demands it,” said Freya Higgins-Desbiolles, an adjunct senior lecturer in tourism at the University of South Australia. She listed some questions that travelers should ask themselves before they take their next trip: How can I travel in an off-peak time? How can I go to places that aren’t overcrowded? How can I ensure that the money I spend ends up in the local economy?

Johannah Christensen, a nonprofit executive and longtime concerned traveler, says that she always looks for some sort of reliable certification when she books a block of hotel rooms for an annual professional event. The Green Key label — a certification program that is headquartered in Copenhagen, where Ms. Christensen lives — is one that she has used in the past, but she is always sure to do some digging on her own. (This 2016 guide to some of the major tourism certifications can be a good starting point.)

“You can look for those green check marks, but understand what’s implied in them,” she said. “What does the hotel actually have to do to earn it? Don’t be afraid to ask questions.”

How to do your homework

Asking questions — both while you’re traveling and, more important, before you book — is one of the most powerful things that travelers can do, said Gregory Miller, the executive director of the Washington, D.C.-based Center for Responsible Travel . He recommends people start by looking closely at the websites of the tour operators, hotels and destinations that they’re considering. If they don’t find any language about sustainability, “that should be a flag,” he said.

Beyond that, he suggests that travelers check his organization’s list of responsible travel tips , which include recommendations like hiring local guides, asking permission before taking photos of people, staying on designated trails in natural areas and thinking twice about handing out money to children. While they’re traveling, Dr. Miller said, people shouldn’t be afraid to ask difficult questions of their service providers, or to call out waste or abuse when they see it — whether directly to a manager or in an online review.

“Certification can be a tool in the toolbox, but don’t be limited by that,” Dr. Miller said. “It’s about choices, and travelers do have the choice.”

Susanne Etti, the environmental impact specialist at Intrepid Travel , a global tour operator based in Australia, had other tips for travelers. She said they could start by checking the list of the more than 230 travel organizations that have joined the Tourism Declares initiative, members of which have pledged to publish a climate action plan and cut their carbon emissions.

Another reliable indicator, she said, is whether a company has been classified as a “B Corporation” — a rigorous sustainability standard that’s not limited to the tourism industry. Her company, Intrepid, has achieved the distinction, as have the apparel company Patagonia and ice cream maker Ben & Jerry’s. The B Corporation website lists some three dozen companies in the “travel and leisure” sector — from a paddle sports company in Hawaii to an Ecuadorean tour bus operator. A number of other tourism businesses are listed under “hospitality,” including Taos Ski Valley and Orlando-based Legacy Vacation Resorts.

Dr. Etti also shared some of the advice that she follows in her own travels. “When you fly, make it count,” she said, adding that, before the pandemic, when she would travel from her current home in Australia to her native Germany, she would do the long-haul flight, but then choose trains or other less-polluting ways to get around Europe, even when cheap short-haul flights were readily available.

Dr. Etti also recommended that travelers learn to slow down. “Stay in one location longer,” she said, “to really understand how life works in that community.”

Rethinking what travel means

Many travelers also need a shift in mind-set, said Dominique Callimanopulos, the head of Elevate Destinations , an international tour operator based in Massachusetts that has won a number of awards for its commitment to sustainability. People should learn to see their travels as an opportunity for exchange with a host community rather than a simple consumer transaction. Ms. Callimanopulos said that even her sustainability-inclined clientele rarely do their homework: She has received more questions about the availability of hair dryers than about the company’s environmental or social practices.

“People can make a shift from thinking just about what their personal experience is going to be to looking at the impact of their experience on the ground, on the destination and on the community,” she said.

Lindblad Expeditions , which operates adventure cruises in destinations like Alaska, the Antarctic and the South Pacific, has also won awards for its approach to sustainability and for giving back to the communities it visits. Sven-Olof Lindblad, the company’s chief executive, said that he continues to see people spending up to $40,000 on an Antarctic cruise without doing any research on the practices of the company offering the trip.

“You wouldn’t just buy a car from an ad without understanding what it was and how it compared,” he said. “I’m absolutely amazed at how little diligence people sometimes do in relationship to travel.”

Mr. Lindblad recommended that, in addition to doing their own research, travelers could speak to a travel adviser or travel agent who can help them dig for answers that might not be readily available on a company’s website.

“When people choose to travel, they should really understand what they’re getting into,” he said, “because there’s a lot of smoke and mirrors in this business.”

Follow New York Times Travel on Instagram , Twitter and Facebook . And sign up for our weekly Travel Dispatch newsletter to receive expert tips on traveling smarter and inspiration for your next vacation. Dreaming up a future getaway or just armchair traveling? Check out our 52 Places list for 2021 .

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What's the meaning of Palm Sunday? Here's what you need to know.

With Holy Week approaching, Christians are making preparations for Palm Sunday, which honors the last days of Jesus, his trial and crucifixion.

It's celebrated on the first day of Holy Week and the Sunday before Easter.

Palm Sunday is a celebration of Christianity around the world and the commemoration of Jesus dying and rising again, said Mark Jobe, president of the Moody Bible Institute and founding pastor of the New Life Community Church in Chicago.

After the first celebration in the gospels, the first recorded Palm Sunday dates back to the 4th century in Jerusalem, Jobe said. The ceremony wasn't introduced to Western Christianity until about the 9th century.

According to the gospels, Jesus rode a donkey into Jerusalem and people welcomed him as their king, he said, thinking he'd release them from Roman oppression. Days later, he was crucified.

The book of Luke, Jobe said, notes that as Jesus approached the cheering crowd welcoming him, he saw that his people wanted political peace but were in desperate need of "spiritual peace."

"Palm Sunday makes no sense unless you understand that shortly after, Jesus would die and pay the price for anybody, no matter prostitute or religious person, to forgive their sins and to give them an entrance into a new kingdom called the kingdom of Heaven," Jobe said.

Jesus entered the city knowing he'd be crucified, said Bishop Vashti McKenzie, interim president and general secretary of the National Council of Churches.

"The first chapter in Genesis talks about how God created the world," she told USA TODAY. "Palm Sunday begins the journey of how God saved the world through the death and resurrection of Jesus."

Holi 2023: What is Holi? Why is it celebrated? What to know about the Hindu festival of colors.

Good Friday 2023:   When is Good Friday this year? 2023 dates and a peek into the history of Holy Week.

What do palm branches symbolize on Palm Sunday?

The large, long palm branches were common in the Holy Land, Jobe said. During ancient times, they symbolized goodness and victory.

"It wasn't something unique to Jesus," he told USA TODAY. "When kings would come to town or when conquering warriors would come in, they would welcome them with palm branches, which they would throw on the ground in front of them."

And during Grecian Games, winners would be welcomed with the branches, he said.

What does the donkey symbolize?

Conquering kings typically rode in chariots or on the back of stallions, so Jesus riding a donkey went against the norm, Jobe said.

The donkey, he said, was a symbol of peace but it also represented the fulfillment of a prophecy from Zechariah 9:9.

"Your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey," the chapter reads.

The donkey is also a symbol of humility, said McKenzie, from the National Council of Churches. 

What do modern Palm Sunday celebrations look like?

Today, Palm Sunday celebrations vary according to the denomination.

Some people wear red or purple that day, Jobe said.

Calling it a "very celebratory worship service," McKenzie, from the National Council of Churches, said churchgoers sing praise songs and lift palm branches of various sizes.

The branches are blessed and some families take them home, placing them on desks or shelves to remember the event.

"Traditionally, some of the branches are saved," she said. "They're not given out to people. They are saved and when you get to Ash Wednesday, which is the beginning of Lent, the ashes come from those burnt palm branches."

She stressed a true understanding of why Christians celebrate Palm Sunday.

"It is a time of celebration," she said. "Jesus died on the cross and when he died on the cross, he died for all of us, not for some of us, not for a few chosen few, but all of us."

Saleen Martin is a reporter on USA TODAY's NOW team. She is from Norfolk, Virginia –  the 757  –  and loves all things horror, witches, Christmas, and food. Follow her on Twitter at  @Saleen_Martin  or email her at  [email protected] .

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Meaning of travelling in English

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• around Robin Hood's barn idiom
• communication
• super-commuting
• transoceanic
• well travelled
• break-journey
• circumnavigation

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travelling | Business English

Translations of travelling.

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a large office in which a company's employees provide information to its customers, or sell or advertise its goods or services, by phone

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90+ Travel Idioms: Fun Ways to Talk About Traveling and Adventures

Travel: it’s more than just the act of moving from one place to another. It’s a journey of discovery, an adventure of the senses, and often, a voyage of self-realization. Just as travel broadens our horizons, language, with its rich tapestry of idioms, offers insights into the essence of these journeys. In this article, we embark on an exciting expedition into the world of “Travel Idioms” — those linguistic gems that encapsulate the adventures, mishaps, joys, and revelations of travel.

From “hit the road” to “off the beaten path”, travel idioms capture the nuances of our wanderlust, the challenges we face, and the exhilaration of exploration. Tailored for avid travelers, linguistic enthusiasts, and anyone who’s ever felt the urge to explore beyond their comfort zone, this piece promises a journey through language that’s as captivating as any worldly expedition. Pack your linguistic bags, and let’s set sail on this voyage through the intriguing alleys of idiomatic expressions, where every turn holds a story, and every phrase, a destination.

Table of Contents

Common English Idioms for Travelling with Meaning and Example

The allure of travel has fascinated mankind for centuries. It beckons with the promise of new experiences, cultures, and memories. While the journey itself is often the highlight, the stories and conversations that ensue are the threads that weave these experiences into the fabric of our lives. The English language, rich and varied, encapsulates many of these experiences in idiomatic expressions. These idioms serve as shorthand for broader ideas, adding color and depth to our tales of adventure. Let’s embark on a linguistic journey exploring some common English idioms related to travelling.

• Meaning: To begin a journey or to leave a place.
• Example: “We need to hit the road early to avoid traffic.”
• Meaning: A place that is isolated or less frequented by tourists.
• Example: “On our trip to Italy, we discovered a charming little restaurant off the beaten path.”
• Meaning: To travel without carrying a lot of luggage.
• Example: “I always prefer to travel light, taking only essentials in a backpack.”
• Meaning: A strong desire to travel and see new places.
• Example: “She’s had itchy feet ever since her return from Europe.”
• Meaning: Doing something quickly without much preparation.
• Example: “We booked the hotel on the fly, without any prior planning.”
• Meaning: To adopt a popular activity or trend.
• Example: “Since everyone’s visiting Iceland now, I thought I’d jump on the bandwagon and plan a trip there too.”
• Meaning: To be very successful and popular.
• Example: “The new beach resort has gone down a storm with holidaymakers.”
• Meaning: The unofficial ‘club’ of people who have had intimate relations in an airplane in flight.
• Example: “Some people have joining the mile-high club on their bucket list.”
• Meaning: A flight that departs late at night and arrives the next morning.
• Example: “To maximize our time, we’re taking the red-eye flight to New York.”
• Meaning: At a point where one has to make an important decision.
• Example: “After backpacking across Asia, I felt I was at a crossroads, deciding between continuing my journey or returning home.”
• Meaning: To enjoy the sunshine, especially on a beach.
• Example: “Let’s head to the beach and catch some rays.”
• Meaning: The strong and irresistible urge to travel.
• Example: “Ever since his gap year, he’s been bitten by the travel bug.”
• Meaning: To act just within the limits of what is legal or safe.
• Example: “Hitchhiking through unknown places can be sailing close to the wind, but he enjoys the thrill.”
• Meaning: Act in a way that makes return to a situation impossible.
• Example: “Be careful not to burn bridges when you leave a hostel on bad terms.”
• Meaning: A place full of luxury and great opportunity, often in reference to a place one is travelling to.
• Example: “She moved to California, believing it to be the land of milk and honey.”

List of 80 Idioms For Travelling with Meaning

In Summation

Travel has the power to transform, inspire, and rejuvenate. It’s a dance of discovery, both of the world and of oneself. Just as each destination has its unique charm, the idioms that stem from our travel experiences are snapshots of those moments, emotions, and tales. Whether you’re a seasoned traveler with countless adventures under your belt or a dreamer planning your first escapade, these idioms offer a fun and flavorful way to recount and relate to travel stories. So the next time you hit the road, remember to weave these idioms into your tales and let the journey continue through words! Safe travels!

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Travel + Beauty

115 Idioms About Travel: What They Mean & How To Use Them

If you have an upcoming trip to an English-speaking country you may hear a few idioms about travel along the way. In this post,  I have 100+ travel idioms so you will know what they mean and how to use them yourself! 

Whether you are taking time to learn English or know it well you will find these English idioms about travel fun to learn. 

Let’s begin with this list of common idioms related to travel.

This article may contain affiliate / compensated links. For full information, please see our  disclosure here.

Besides reading these idioms for travel, you may enjoy these other related posts:

• Travel Expressions and Phrases To Learn For your Trip
• 66 Genius Traveling Hacks
• How To Use Google Maps To Plan A Trip
• Tips To Survive Long Flights In Economy

Idioms About Travel

Here in this curated list, we’re going to dive into all the idioms about travel. All these idioms related to travel you will know when you’re finished reading this post! Whatever your preferred mode of transportation is when traveling, I have travel idioms for them all! 

So fasten your seat belt, it’s time to take off!

Hit the Road

When you hear hit the road it means to leave. 

Example: “We need to be at the airport by 8 AM. We better hit the road so we’re not late.”

To Pack Light

This is one of my favorite idioms about travel. I’m sure most travelers will find it hard like me to follow. To pack light means only bringing what you need and not overstuffing your luggage. 

Example: “For the road trip we need to pack light so all our luggage can fit in the trunk.”

Backseat Driver

When one is a backseat driver they tend to be that annoying passenger who tells the driver how to drive. It can also mean one who is controlling. 

Example: “Would you stop being a backseat driver? I know where I am going. I’ve driven around Paris many times.”

To be in a rut is being stuck in a situation that doesn’t seem to change. 

Example: “I feel I have been stuck in a rut with my job since I moved here to Los Angeles .”

Hit A Roadblock

Hitting a roadblock is when something hinders you from progressing. 

Example: “I was working on my novel every day, then I seemed to hit a roadblock and can’t write anymore.”

Carry Coals To Newcastle

Where some says carry coals to Newcastle it means to do something that is unnecessary. 

Example: “You don’t need to pack all those suitcases for an overnight trip, it would be like carrying coals to Newcastle. 

Catch The Sun

This is one of the idioms about travel we all have experienced before. Catching the sun means getting sunburned. 

Example: “I caught the sun bad on my vacation in Florida. ”

Paddle One’s Own Canoe

To paddle one’s own canoe is to be an independent person. 

Example: “Jane can paddle her own canoe. She likes to travel all over the world solo. ”

This is one of the idioms about travel we clearly all know so well. Live it up is to enjoy yourself and leave the worries of money or anything behind. 

Example: “We are going to live it up every night during our trip to Miami. ”

Drive A Hard Bargain

When you hear drive a hard bargain means to deal with a tough negotiator. 

Example: “The farmers at the markets in Mauritius drive a hard bargain.” 

Any Port In A Storm

When you hear any port in a storm means being in a troublesome situation and taking any solution to fix the problem. 

Example: “Since our flight was canceled, we decided to rent a car to get home in time for work. We took any port in a storm for our situation”

Asleep At The Wheel

Asleep at the wheel is not paying attention or someone failing their responsibilities. 

Example: “Amy is always asleep at the wheel and she can never do her part when we are planning trips. ”

Shift Gears

When you or someone quickly changes what they are doing. 

Example: “I know we were planning a trip to Mexico t his summer, but let’s shift gears and plan a trip to Guatemala instead.”

Wheels Fall Off

When you hear the wheels fall off, be prepared! This is when everything that was going well makes a turn for the worse. Things begin to turn to chaos. 

Example: “Our vacation took a turn during our hike and the wheels fell off from there.”

Cool One’s Jets

Cooling your jets means calming down. 

Example: “Even though the plane was delayed with will get home tonight. So cool your jets.”

Highways And Byways

This is one of the idioms about travel relating to life. It means the paths taken in life, referring to major or less-traveled roads. 

Example: “She moved to a village outside of Athens by highways and byways.”

To fly high means to be extremely happy. 

Exampling: “We were flying high coasting the Greek Islands .”

Hitch Your Wagon To A Star

When you hitch your wagon to a star you or someone else is setting large goals. 

Example: “You can make money traveling the world, why not hitch your wagon to a star?”

Fall Off The Wagon

Falling off the wagon means returning to destructive behaviors, such as drugs, alcohol, or overeating. 

Fork In The Road

When you have to make a decision between two different choices you come to a fork in the road. 

Example: “I reached a fork in the road. I can’t decide if I should take that job in New York or Los Angeles . What do you think I should do?”

Rock The Boat

Rock the boat is causing harm or problems in a situation. 

Example: “Jane and Robert are getting along since they returned from their trip. Hope one of them doesn’t rock the boat.”

On A Shoestring/ On The Cheap

Being on a shoestring is having to be tight with finances. 

Example: “We were on a shoestring while backpacking through Europe.”

At The Crack Of Dawn

Waking up at the crack of dawn is waking up very early. 

Example: “Let’s wake up at the crack of dawn so we can catch the sunrise on the beach.”

Call It A Day Or Night

Whenever you call it a day or night it means to go home or end an activity. 

Example: “We stayed at that rooftop bar until 1 AM before calling it a night.”

Thirty Thousand Foot View

When you are looking at something with a thirty thousand foot view it means seeing the whole picture or perspective of the situation. 

Example: “From a thirty-thousand-foot view, Miami is very hot during the summer season. However, it is cheaper to visit then and less crowded. 

Ship Has Sailed

If the ship has sailed, it means you missed your opportunity. 

Example: “I have always dreamed of becoming a flight attendant, but the ship has sailed on that one.”

Off The Beaten Track

To go off the beaten track means to travel the route or a remote location. 

Example: “We went off the beaten track during our road trip to Switzerland .”

Your Mileage May Vary

If you hear your mileage may vary, it means getting different results. 

Example: “I heard the milage varies when booking flights . I heard it’s cheaper to book on Mondays than Saturdays.”

Put The Brakes On

Putting the breaks on means to slowing something down. 

Example: “We should put the brakes on how we spend money so we have money for our trip.”

Fifth Wheel

Having a person around that is not welcome is known as a fifth wheel. 

Example: “My sister said she feels like a fifth wheel when she goes to dinner with us.”

Rocky road means going through a difficult time or situation. 

Example: “It was a rocky road getting over my fear of flying.”

Catch The Red-Eye

Catching the red-eye is one of the idioms about travel we have all experienced at least once. This means taking a flight leaving late at night. 

Example: “Since I am catching a red-eye I will be sure to stay awake so I can sleep on the plane.”

In The Same Boat

Being in the same boat as someone means experiencing the same situation. 

Example: “I think we’re in the same boat feeling this jet lag.”

Jump/ Leap/ Climb On The Bandwagon

Whether you use to jump, leap, or climb on the bandwagon it means following the current trend. 

Example: “I guess I will jump on the bandwagon with you all buy those shoes.”

Live Out Of A Suitcase

If you’re living out of your suitcase it means staying in several places for a short length of time. No need to unpack because your stay is so brief. 

Example: “I have been hopping around Europe and living out of my suitcase.”

When you break the journey it means to stop and take a rest somewhere during your travels. 

Example: “We will break the journey in Texas for a night before continuing to New York . ”

Drivers who consume the road and make it difficult to pass are road hogs.

Example: “That road hog is driving down the middle of the road! Look he’s causing traffic since no one can pass him.”

Make Your Way Back

When you visit a place again or come back to a task, then you made your way back to it. 

Example: “It took a while, but I  made my way back to Greece this year.”

Hustle And Bustle

To hustle and bustle means being busy. 

Example: “We planned on relaxing during our trip to Mexico, but we hustled and bustled.”

Country Mile

A country mile means going a long distance, especially when you expected it to be shorter. 

Example: “We thought the drive from Miami to Key West was short, but it turned out to be a country mile.”

Travel Broadens The Mind

This idiom means you can broaden your perspective about the world through traveling. 

Example: “I was stuck in my ways for so long, but after exploring other countries travel broadened my mind.”

Put The Pedal To The Metal

If you ever hear put the pedal to the metal, be sure to buckle up. This means driving fast!

Example: “We were able to arrive in Fort Lauderdale from Miami quickly. Jack really put the pedal to the metal.”

Be In The Driver’s Seat

Being in the driver’s seat is having control of a situation. 

Example: “My sister took the driver’s seat planning our trip to Hawaii. ”

Throw Someone Under The Bus

To throw someone under the bus means to harm someone for personal gain through deceit. 

Example: “My co-worker is being considered for a promotion. She threw me under the bus when I called out sick and I wasn’t. I don’t know how she found out I really went for a day trip to Key West. ”

Have Itchy Feet

One who is experiencing itchy feet has a strong desire to travel. 

Example: “I haven’t taken a vacation in a while. I’m getting itchy feet to so somewhere. 

Drive Someone Up The Wall

If someone is really irritating you then they have driven you up the wall. 

Example: “The guy kicking my seat on this plane is driving me up the wall.”

A Wheel Within A Wheel

When one is dealing with a wheel within a wheel it means having to handle a difficult situation. 

Example: “I can’t figure out how to work this camera. It’s a wheel within a wheel. Do you know someone who can help me?”

Cross The Bridge When We Get To It

To cross the bridge when you get to is dealing with the problem if/when it occurs. 

Example: “I am worried our flight will be canceled due to the weather. We will have to cross that bridge when we get to it, but let’s think positively. 

Float One’s Boat

If one ever floated your boat, then they made you really happy. 

Example: “We have visited Hawaii several times and I really don’t want to go. But, whatever floats your boat. 

Bump In The Road

When you hit a bump in the road a problem has occurred. 

Example: “There was a bump in the road when our plane was delayed. We missed our connecting flight. “

Cover One’s Tracks

Covering one’s tracks is to hide the evidence of your actions. 

Example: “We need to cover our tracks so the flight attendants won’t’ know we stole those snacks.” 

To Jump Ship

When a person jumps ship they abandon a task. 

Example: “My sister jumped ship and bailed on our yearly Europe trip.”

Just Around The Corner

Just around the corner, it means something is going to happen very soon. 

Example: “My trip to Munich is just around the corner.” 

Wheels Fell Off

This idiom about travel is about dealing with a problem that occurred unexpectedly. 

Example: “Our vacation in Vienna started off well, but then wheels fell off. The second day we lost all our money. “

Run A Tight Ship

When a person keeps a tight ship,  they are keeping things organized and in order. 

Example: “Annie runs a tight ship when she is travel planning . ” 

Take Someone For A Ride

If you have ever been swindled or conned, you have been taken for a ride. 

Example: “I should have known that girl would take me for a ride.”

On The Home Stretch

On the home stretch means the journey is coming to an end. 

Example: “We are on the home stretch. Zurich is our last stop before heading home. 

Hit The Beach

Hit the beach means to go to the beach. 

Example: “We’re planning to hit the beach every day when we’re in Miami.  

On A Wing And A Prayer

On a wing and a prayer means when you rely on hope during a difficult situation. 

Example: “We are on a wing and prayer that our flight home doesn’t get delayed again.”

Miss The Boat

Miss the boat is an idiom travel expression meaning you missed your chance. 

Example: “I should have booked that flight yesterday. We missed the boat on that price.”

Train Of Thought

Train of thought is one’s pattern and sequence of thinking. 

Example: “I forgot what I was going to say. You interrupted and ruined my train of thought.”

When you have to think very quickly and are not able to put in much thought, you are thinking on the fly. 

Example: ”I need a day to think about what I’m packing , it’s not so easy to think on the fly for this trip.”

Send Flying

Sending something flying is something is getting tossed in the air or somewhere around. 

Example: “That guy at the airport bumped into me so hard it sent my passport flying.”

Take The High Road

Despite how someone might have treated you poorly,  you still take the high road and respond ethically and rationally. 

Example: “Even though Megan treated me poorly on the trip, I decided to take the high road and not get even with her.”

Turn The Corner

When things to a corner mean there is an improvement when dealing with a difficult situation. 

Example: “After being lost in the mountains for days, things turned a corner when we bumped into a hiker on the trail who helped us.”

Travel idiom phrase manning to take a short break during a trip. 

Example: “When we reach Dallas, let’s take a pit stop and fill up on gas and grab some snacks.”

Right Up One’s Alley

Having something right up your alley means it’s of your interest.

Example: “I am not into city destinations, secluded beaches are right up my alley. “

Just The Ticket

Just the ticket means getting exactly what you wanted. 

Example: “I’ve got just the ticket to cheer you up. We’re going to Mauritius!”

A Mile A Minute

If you’re going a mile a minute, you are going very fast. 

Example: “That taxi driver was driving a mile a minute.”

Get One’s Wings

Idiom for when a pilot gets his license. 

Example: “After all that training, I finally got my wings!” 

Pull Up Stakes

When you pull up stakes you are packing up and leaving the campsite. 

Example: “After spending 3 days camping, it’s time to pull up stakes.”

Tire Kicker

When someone pretends to be interested in buying something but doesn’t have intentions to buy anything they are a tire kicker. Also, one who wastes people’s time.

Example: “Let’s just plan the trip without Joanne. She is not going to contribute, we know she is a tire kicker.”

Feet On The Ground

Being able to remain calm in unpleasant circumstances. 

Example: “Blake always has bad luck on a trip, but he is always able to keep his feet on the ground.”

Take The Wind Out Of Someone’s Sails

When you take the wind out of one’s sails it means to discourage them and others. 

Example: “Amy was showing so much progress with her travel blog until Robert came and told her he didn’t like her writing. That really took the wind out of her sails. 

Be In One’s Wheelhouse

This idiom about travel means to be in your comfort zone. 

Example: “You always visit Vienna. Get out of your wheelhouse and explore other countries.”

When a person has road rage they are a very angry driver and can exhibit violent or aggressive behaviors. 

Example: “I don’t want Blake driving when we are in Dallas. He has terrible road rage.”

Jet set is a group of wealthy and trendy people who frequently travel the world. 

Example: “I am dreaming of the day to becoming a jet set.”

Hitch A Ride

To hitch a ride means getting a free ride. 

Example: “I hitched a ride from France to Switzerland . ”

Train Wreck

If something is a train wreck, it’s a complete failure and disaster. 

Example: “That airline is a train wreck! They are always losing my luggage and have delayed flights.”

Light At The End Of The Tunnel 

When you reach the light at the end of the tunnel a difficult situation is coming to an end. 

Example: “After having my luggage lost for a week the airline called and said it’s found. Now, they just have to get it to me, so I’m seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.”

Give The Green Light

Giving someone the green light is giving permission to move forward and proceed. 

Example: “The pilot gave the green light to the flight attendants to prepare for landing.”

All Hands On Deck

When orders are given for all hands on deck, every crew member on the ship must report to the deck. 

Example: “I was about to have lunch, but then the captain announced all hands on deck.”

Bad News Travels Fast

When bad news travels fast, means it gets around to others rather quickly. 

Example: “How does everyone know I got arrested in Mexico ? I guess bad news travels fast.”

Neck Of The Woods

This means a place nearby. 

Example: “Hey, I will be in your neck of the woods tomorrow. Would you like to meet for lunch?”

Be Off One’s Trolley

When one is off their trolley, they are exhibiting crazy behavior. 

Example: “You must be off your trolley taking all those suitcases for an overnight trip.”

Running On Fumes

Telling someone you’re running on fumes means continuing to do something although you’re extremely tired.

Example: “We have been hiking for hours, I am running on fumes.”

Desert A Sinking Ship

To desert a sinking ship means leaving the situation when you know it is going to fail. 

Example: “I hate to be the one who deserts a sinking ship, but I don’t think that is a wise decision for me.”

Walk It Off

When one has an injury, one will make an attempt to walk to feel better. 

Example: “After hurting my ankle at the beach yesterday, I tried walking it off, but it didn’t help. 

Hit The Ground Running

Hit the ground running is to begin something with lots of excitement. 

Example: “Jane hit the ground running promoting her group tour.”

Go Off The Rails

To off of the rails means to begin behaving strangely. 

Example: “John went off the rails when his flight got delayed again.”

Make Headway

When one makes headway it means they are making progress. 

Example: “It was difficult to  make headway sailing because of the tide.”

Go The Extra Mile

This idiom about travel means doing more than what is expected. 

Example: “That airline always goes the extra mile for their passengers.”

Old Stomping Grounds

When one visits their old stomping grounds it means to visit a familiar or favorite place. 

Example: “It’s been a while since I visited my old stomping grounds. I used to visit Greece every summer.”

When you part ways one is separating or going in different directions. 

Example: “After working for the airline for 20-years, I decided to part ways.”

In Full Flight

If one is in full flight, they are leaving something or someone quickly. 

Example: “I was in full flight to catch the plane during my layover. ”

Set Up Camp

Setting up for camp is to prepare or set up. 

Example: “We need to set up before we go on our hike.”

Clear Sailing

Clear sailing means when a situation is clear of problems. 

Example: “We didn’t have any delays or issues with our flight. It was clear sailing.” 

At A Good Clip

Being a good clip means going very fast. 

Example: “Wow, we walked around the city at a good clip. What’s next?”

Without A Hitch

When one has no problems they are without a hitch. 

Example: “The flight went without a hitch.”

Where Rubber Meets The Road

When one is where rubber meets the road, their skill are being tested.

Example: “During my first solo trip I had many moments where rubber meets the road.”

Get The Show On The Road

Getting the show on the road is when you start something. 

Example: “Vacation is here! Let’s get this show on the road.”

Fly By The Seat Of One’s Pants

When one has to fly the seat of one’s pants, they are depending on their own instincts. 

Example: “I got lost in Los Angeles and was flying by the seats of my pants to find the hotel.”

Circle The Wagons

When one becomes defensive they are circling the wagons. 

Example: “Don’t circle the wagons. I know you know where we are going, I just made a suggestion for another route. 

Walk The Plank

When one has to accept the consequences of their actions. 

Example: “I said you didn’t need all those suitcases. Now, you must walk the plank and carry them all yourself.” 

Spin One’s Wheels

Spinning one’s wheels is wasting time on something or someone.

Example: “She is just spinning her wheels at that job. She will never get promoted.”

Fly Under The Radar

When something or someone does something without being noticed. 

Example: “Lilly never stays until the party ends. She flys under the radar when she leaves. 

When you go on a short or long trip by car. 

Example: “Let’s take a road trip from Miami to Key West. “

My Way Or The Highway

If one says my way or the highway, it means you do what I say or leave. 

Example: “Sally makes all the travel arrangements. She makes it clear it’s her way or the highway.”

At A Crossroads

When one has come to a point where a choice has to be made they are at a crossroads.

Example: “I’m at a crossroads deciding where to spend the holiday. Should I go to Vienna or Munich ? ”

Sail Close To The Wind

If you said close to the wind you are doing something risky or even dangerous. 

Example: “John likes to climb some of the tallest mountains alone. He is sailing too cost to the wind.”

Have a One-Track Mind

One who is preoccupied with one particular topic. 

Example: “Laura has a one-track mind. Travel is the only thing she ever talks about. 

Lose Track Of Someone Or Something

When one forgets, misplaces, or doesn’t pay attention to someone or something. 

Example: “I lost track of Amy after she moved to Panama .  

Step It Up A Gear

Stepping up a gear is to work on something with more enthusiasm and energy. 

Example: “I decided to step it up a gear studying for my pilot’s license.”

Smooth Sailing

One is smooth sailing when they can work on a task free from difficulties. 

Example: “Planning our world trip was stressful, but with Google maps, it turned out to be pretty smooth sailing.”

Sunday Driver

A Sunday driver is one who drives obnoxiously slow on the road.

Example: “Don’t have Tom drive us to dinner. He is a Sunday driver and we will miss our reservation.”

Idioms Travel List Wrap Up

I hope you enjoyed these idioms about travel.  Learn them quickly by using these travel idioms as much as you can when speaking with others. I’m curious to know which of these travelling idioms were your favorite? Let me know in the comments below. 

Keep these idioms about travel handy with you, especially if you’re learning English, and download your travel idioms pdf here.  

If you enjoyed these vacation idioms, check out these other related posts: 

Like this post on idioms about travel? Share it with others or pin it for later!

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Money blog: 600 new skyscrapers 'on way' for London, report finds

A reader seeks help as her employer of 24 years is bringing in a new clock-in system to pay her by the minute. Read this and all the latest personal finance and consumer news in the Money blog - and share your own problem or dispute below.

Monday 13 May 2024 18:00, UK

• Gen Z would rather deliver parcels than work in restaurants, Michel Roux Jr claims
• 600 new skyscrapers on way for London, report finds
• Money Problem: My workplace is bringing in new clock-in system to pay us by the minute - is this allowed?
• Free childcare applications open for new age band

Essential reads

• How to make sure your car passes its MOT
• 'Loud budgeting': The money-saving trend that has nothing to do with giving up your daily coffee
• How to avoid a holiday data roaming charge (while still using the internet)
• Best of the Money blog - an archive

Ask a question or make a comment

Waitrose has become the only supermarket to receive a royal warrant from the King. 

The recognition means the company has regularly provided the royal household with products for at least five years. 

It also means it can use the King's coat of arms on packaging, as part of advertising or on any stationary it creates. 

Waitrose was first granted a royal warrant in 1928 for supplying King George V with groceries and cleaning materials.

"We are honoured and proud that His Majesty has granted us his warrant," James Bailey, executive director of Waitrose, said. 

"It means the world to all of us, and our farmers and suppliers. There couldn’t be a more powerful symbol of our commitment to service and quality, and our determination to have the highest environmental and animal welfare standards." 

Waitrose was previously granted a royal warrant by the late Queen in 2002 and the King when he was Prince of Wales in 2010.

The Queen has also granted her first royal warrants, picking seven companies, including luxury department store Fortnum & Mason and the florist that supplied her coronation flowers, Shane Connolly & Company. 

The royal nod could be bad news for customers, however, with a brand finance expert telling Sky News that having a royal warrant allows firms to charge a price premium.

David Haigh said his company's research estimated this to be "between 10% and 25%".

A royal warrant says a company or a product is luxurious, high quality and sustainable, he explained. 

He estimates the scheme is "worth billions to UK companies and… therefore it's a very high value to the UK economy".

"And one of the reasons for that is that a lot of foreign tourists and buyers have a preference for royal warrant holder products. We found that 100% of Chinese buyers would pay in excess of 10% for a royal warrant holder product."

Read more on the Queen's choices here :

Gordon Ramsay's restaurants tripled losses to £3.4m last year, as the chef warned businesses in the industry were facing a "challenging" climate. 

The chef's group spent millions opening five new restaurants in 2023, including a Lucky Cat in Manchester, a Bread Street Kitchen in Battersea Power Station and a Street Pizza in Edinburgh. 

Sales at his wide-ranging establishments rose, however, by 21% to £95.6m in the year to August, according to The Telegraph. 

"It's been a really hard-fought year, but at the same time an exciting year, and in tough times it amazes me how strong and vibrant our industry is," Ramsay told the news outlet. 

"It's challenging out there and businesses are battling to stay afloat, rising costs, rent and food costs, multiple strikes. It's a battle" 

He was optimistic, however, saying there hasn't been "so much passion and vibrancy" in the industry since he opened his first restaurant in 1998.

"We've still got something wonderful to celebrate, and I truly believe the industry has never been so exciting."

Once the UK's favourite alcoholic beverage, beer's popularity seems to be fading among the younger drinking generation... 

In fact, only 30% of people aged 18 to 24 ever drink it, according to a study commissioned by the Society of Independent Brewers. 

Instead, younger drinkers say they prefer drinking spirits, wine and cider. 

Pub visits appear to be suffering as well, with almost a quarter of the 2,000 people surveyed saying they have never visited their local. 

SIBA's 2024 Craft Beer Report paints a more positive picture for small and independent brewers, however, with more than 55% of beer consumers saying they now drink "local craft beer". 

It also found average beer production volumes among independent breweries has risen by 14% since last year - a return to pre-pandemic levels for the first time in 4 years. 

"Demand for local, independently brewed beer in the UK is strong, with independent brewers reporting production volumes up by 14%, meaning they have returned to 2019 volumes again," Andy Slee, SIBA's chief executive, said. 

But, he said, it's time for "cautious optimism" only, with the industry still plagued with a number of issues. 

"The short-term issue for small independent breweries isn't demand; it's profitability, rising costs and financial pressures such as lingering COVID debt," he said. 

"Far too many breweries are simply trying to survive rather than thrive, so while there are many positives signs highlighted in the report, for now it's cautious optimism."

Earlier this year, our Money reporter Emily Mee explored whether the UK's big night out culture was dying out. 

Nightlife experts warned we're losing one club every two days at the moment - and if we stay on this trajectory, we will have none left by 2030.

You can read more about her findings here...

A total of 583 skyscrapers are "queuing up in the pipeline" to be built across central London, a development thinktank has said. 

That is more than double the 270 built in the past decade. 

In the eastern borough of Tower Hamlets alone, 71 tall buildings were completed in that time that time, the report by New London Architecture found. 

A further 24 were in the City of London and 27 in Canary Wharf and Isle of Dogs. 

The report said the rapid change has been fuelled by a "burgeoning demand" for office and residential space, overseas investment and a supporting planning environment. 

"Tall buildings have changed the face of London substantially over the last 20 years and will continue to do so - the pipeline that NLA has tracked means there is at least 10 years' supply that has already been defined," Peter Murray, the organisation's co-founder, said. 

"London's population continues to grow, passing the 10 million mark at the end of this decade.

"We'll still need tall buildings; and NLA will continue to keep a close watch on what's going on." 

Restaurants might only be able to open three or four days a week due to staffing problems, Michel Roux Jr has warned. 

Speaking to The Telegraph as he gears up to open his new restaurant Chez Rouz, the Michelin starred chef admitted the industry needs to change to accommodate flexible working hours. 

"Just because I worked 80 hours a week or more doesn't mean the next generation should," he said. 

"Quite the contrary. That is something that we have to address in our industry."

But, he warned that the move will come at a cost... 

"It will mean ultimately that going out is going to be more expensive, and that maybe your favourite restaurant is no longer open seven days a week - it's only open three or four days a week," he said. 

The industry is known for its long, unsociable working hours, and Roux Jr explained that the real issue hit after the pandemic, with people no longer wanting to work weekends. 

"People don't want to work unsociable hours and would rather work delivering parcels as and when they want to. It's as simple as that," he added. 

Earlier this year, Roux Jr said goodbye to his famous restaurant Le Gavroche in London. 

It had been opened by his father Albert Roux and uncle Michel Roux in 1967. 

Now, he said it's "brave" to open a new restaurant, with the market "very, very tough". 

"I really feel for anyone that is brave enough to open up a restaurant now. It's incredibly difficult," he added. 

Chez Rouz at The Langham in Marylebone, central London, is due to open on 22 May. 

By James Sillars , business news reporter

A pause for breath on the FTSE 100 after a 3% gain over the course of past week that took the index to a fresh record closing high.

The rally of recent weeks - significant for London's standing and pension pots alike - has been broad based and reflects several factors.

A major driver has been sterling's weakness versus the US dollar.

The US currency has been strong as the Federal Reserve, its central bank, has hinted it will be some time yet before it begins to cut interest rates.

Language out of the Bank of England last week sparked a flurry of bets that UK rates could be cut as early as next month.

A weaker pound boosts dollar-earning constituents on the FTSE 100 because they get more for their money when dollars are converted to pounds.

Also at play is the view that UK stocks represent good value, as they are cheaper compared to many of their international peers.

A few moments ago, the FTSE 100 was trading 6 points lower at 8,423.

A major talking point is the possibility of the Chinese fast fashion firm Shein listing in London.

According to Reuters, the company has shifted its focus to the UK after receiving a lukewarm reception in the United States.

The news agency, citing two sources, reported that Shein was stepping up its preparations for an initial public offering in London that would be expected to be one of the biggest carried out globally this year.

By Emily Mee , Money team

No one likes the date in their calendar when their MOT rolls around. 

But to make things a little less stressful, consumer expert Scott Dixon - known as The Complaints Resolver - has given us some tips on what to look out for to help your vehicle pass with flying colours. 

Some of the most common failures are faulty steering, brakes, suspension, worn or damaged tyres, cracked windscreens and faulty lights. 

Mr Dixon recommends you get your car serviced a couple of weeks before your MOT, in case there are any complex or costly issues. 

This will give you time to get them fixed and get your car through first time without any advisories. 

Aside from taking your car for a service, there are also some easy checks you can run yourself... 

Listen for unusual clunks while you're driving - this could be a sign of a damaged suspension. 

You could also check by pushing the car down on each corner. It should return to normal without bouncing a few times. 

Another option is to look with a torch under the wheel arch, as this should reveal any obvious defects. 

Blown bulbs are a common MOT failure, but they're cheap to fix. 

Walk around your car and check all the bulbs are working - this includes the headlights, sidelights, brake lights, indicators and the number plate bulb.

Mr Dixon says it's "not an easy job" to change the lightbulbs yourself on most modern cars, as the MOT will also check the positioning of the light. Therefore he recommends getting this done professionally. 

Squealing or grinding noises may be a sign your brake pads need replacing. 

You should also check whether your car stops in a straight line, or whether it pulls in different directions. 

Don't forget about the handbrake, too. Test it out on a slope and see if it securely holds the car. If it doesn't, you should get it adjusted. 

It's easy to check if your wipers work okay, but you should also make sure to inspect the blades for tears and rips. 

They should be able to clean the windows with no smears. 

Mr Dixon says you don't need to pay Halfords to change your wiper blade as you can "do it yourself in seconds". All you need to do is look for a YouTube tutorial. 

He also recommends buying the Bosch wiper blades, as he says these are good quality and will also be a sign you've looked after your car well when you come to sell it. 

One thing to look out for is tread depth. You can do this by looking for the "wear bar" that sits between the tread. 

If it's close to 1.6mm and is low, you should get the tyre replaced so it's not flagged as an advisory. 

Also check for perished tyre walls, which can happen when a vehicle is standing for any length of time. 

Uneven tyre wear is another potential issue, and if there are signs of this you should get the tyre replaced and tracking and suspension checked. 

These must be in good condition and working order, with no tears or knots. 

Registration plates

Your number plates should be clean and visible with a working light bulb at the rear. You may need to give them a wipe and replace the bulb if necessary. 

This should be in good condition, without damage such as loose bumpers or sharp edges. 

Mr Dixon advises against using automatic car washes during your car's lifetime, saying they "wreck your car". 

"It's not just your paintwork but they can also damage the wiper blades and the bodywork," he says. 

Check for warning lights

You'll need to take your vehicle to a trusted garage or mechanic for this. 

Exhaust emissions

Some diesel vehicles can fail their MOTs based on emissions. To avoid this, you can buy a fuel treatment pack and take your car for a good run to clear the fuel lines and tank.

Driving for at least 30 to 50 minutes at a sustained speed on a motorway or A-road should help to clear the filter. 

You should make sure the driver's view of the road isn't obstructed, so check for stone chips at eye level and remove any obstructions such as air fresheners and mobile phone cradles. 

What else should you think about? 

Make sure your car is clean beforehand, as a tester can refuse to do your MOT if the vehicle is filthy and full of rubbish. 

Giving your car a clean can also give you a chance to inspect it, Mr Dixon says. 

Another thing to do is to check last year's MOT for any advisories that might crop up this time. 

These potential issues will still be there - so it's best not to ignore them. 

You can check your vehicle's MOT history using  https://car-check.co.uk . 

Every Monday we get an expert to answer your money problems or consumer disputes. Find out how to submit yours at the bottom of this post. Today's question is...

I have worked at a bank for 24 years - the facilities are outsourced. This new company is bringing in a system where the staff have to click in and out and are then paid by the minute? Is this allowed? Amber

Ian Jones, director and principal solicitor at Spencer Shaw Solicitors, has picked this one up...

Your rights depend on your contract and what it says about payment. Does it specify an annual salary, or payment by time? Does it allow for changes to how payment is calculated?

If the contract does not allow for this type of payment, your employer may be trying to vary the contract of employment unlawfully.

If you're directly employed by the bank, and your pay arrangements are changing because of a new monitoring system, this would be an internal contract variation. If you work in the facilities department and the new contractor is taking over as your employer, the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations (TUPE) 2006 may apply. 

In this case, your current terms, conditions and previous service will transfer to the new employer.

TUPE may make the issue sound more complicated but, in practice, either way the changes will be valid only if the employee agrees to them.

If you have not agreed to the change, then this could be a breach of contract. This could give rise to a successful claim in the civil courts or the employment tribunal. 

If the breach is serious (for example, you're paid less than agreed in the original contract) and you resign in response, this could amount to constructive dismissal for which a claim can be made in the employment tribunal. 

It would be sensible to get the contract reviewed by a solicitor for advice. But act swiftly - if you continue working for the employer, you are effectively waiving the breach and accepting the change to your contract.

To make it possible to pay by the minute, employees may be monitored while at work. When collecting and processing data and using it to make a decision, the employer must comply with data protection laws. If not, the employee could be entitled to compensation, depending on the breach, or the employer could be at risk of a sanction by the regulator the Information Commissioner's Office.

This feature is not intended as financial advice - the aim is to give an overview of the things you should think about.  Submit your dilemma or consumer dispute via:

• The form above - make sure you leave a phone number or email address
• Email [email protected] with the subject line "Money blog"
• WhatsApp us  here .

Please make sure you leave your contact details as we cannot follow up consumer disputes without them.

We're back for another week of consumer news, personal finance tips and all the latest on the economy.

This is how the week in the Money blog is shaping up...

Today : Every week we ask industry experts to answer your Money Problems . Today, a reader's employer is bringing in a new clock-in system to pay workers by the minute - but is this allowed?

Tuesday : This week's  Basically...  explains everything you need to know about the PIP. 

Wednesday : We speak to one of London's top chefs for his Cheap Eats at home and in the capital.

Thursday : Savings Champion  founder Anna Bowes will be back with her weekly insight into the savings market.

Friday : We'll have everything you need to know about the mortgage market this week with the guys from Moneyfacts.

Running every weekday, Money features a morning markets round-up from the  Sky News business team  and regular updates and analysis from our business, City and economic correspondents, editors and presenters -  Ed Conway ,  Mark Kleinman ,  Ian King ,  Paul Kelso  and  Adele Robinson .

You'll also be able to stream  Business Live with Ian King on weekdays at 11.30am and 4.30pm.

Bookmark  news.sky.com/money  and check back from 8am, and through the day, each weekday.

The Money team is Emily Mee, Bhvishya Patel, Jess Sharp, Katie Williams, Brad Young and Ollie Cooper, with sub-editing by Isobel Souster. The blog is edited by Jimmy Rice.

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Strong geomagnetic storm reaches Earth, continues through weekend

NOAA space weather forecasters have observed at least seven coronal mass ejections (CMEs) from the sun, with impacts expected to arrive on Earth as early as midday Friday, May 10, and persist through Sunday, May 12, 2024. 

NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC) has issued a Geomagnetic Storm Warning for Friday, May 10. Additional solar eruptions could cause geomagnetic storm conditions to persist through the weekend.

• The First of Several CMEs reached Earth on Friday, May 10 at 12:37 pm EDT.  The CME was very strong and SWPC quickly issued a series of geomagnetic storm warnings. SWPC observed G4 conditions at 1:39 pm EDT (G3 at 1:08 pm EDT).
• This storm is ongoing and SWPC will continue to monitor the situation and provide additional warnings as necessary.

This is an unusual and potentially historic event. Clinton Wallace , Director, NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center

CMEs are explosions of plasma and magnetic fields from the sun’s corona. They cause geomagnetic storms when they are directed at Earth. Geomagnetic storms can impact infrastructure in near-Earth orbit and on Earth’s surface , potentially disrupting communications, the electric power grid, navigation, radio and satellite operations. SWPC has notified the operators of these systems so they can take protective action.

Geomagnetic storms can also trigger spectacular displays of aurora on Earth . A severe geomagnetic storm includes the potential for aurora to be seen as far south as Alabama and Northern California.

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The huge solar storm is keeping power grid and satellite operators on edge

Geoff Brumfiel

Willem Marx

NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory captured this image of solar flares early Saturday afternoon. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says there have been measurable effects and impacts from the geomagnetic storm. Solar Dynamics Observatory hide caption

NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory captured this image of solar flares early Saturday afternoon. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says there have been measurable effects and impacts from the geomagnetic storm.

Planet Earth is getting rocked by the biggest solar storm in decades – and the potential effects have those people in charge of power grids, communications systems and satellites on edge.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says there have been measurable effects and impacts from the geomagnetic storm that has been visible as aurora across vast swathes of the Northern Hemisphere. So far though, NOAA has seen no reports of major damage.

The Picture Show

Photos: see the northern lights from rare, solar storm.

There has been some degradation and loss to communication systems that rely on high-frequency radio waves, NOAA told NPR, as well as some preliminary indications of irregularities in power systems.

"Simply put, the power grid operators have been busy since yesterday working to keep proper, regulated current flowing without disruption," said Shawn Dahl, service coordinator for the Boulder, Co.-based Space Weather Prediction Center at NOAA.

NOAA Issues First Severe Geomagnetic Storm Watch Since 2005

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"Satellite operators are also busy monitoring spacecraft health due to the S1-S2 storm taking place along with the severe-extreme geomagnetic storm that continues even now," Dahl added, saying some GPS systems have struggled to lock locations and offered incorrect positions.

NOAA's GOES-16 satellite captured a flare erupting occurred around 2 p.m. EDT on May 9, 2024.

As NOAA had warned late Friday, the Earth has been experiencing a G5, or "Extreme," geomagnetic storm . It's the first G5 storm to hit the planet since 2003, when a similar event temporarily knocked out power in part of Sweden and damaged electrical transformers in South Africa.

The NOAA center predicted that this current storm could induce auroras visible as far south as Northern California and Alabama.

Extreme (G5) geomagnetic conditions have been observed! pic.twitter.com/qLsC8GbWus — NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center (@NWSSWPC) May 10, 2024

Around the world on social media, posters put up photos of bright auroras visible in Russia , Scandinavia , the United Kingdom and continental Europe . Some reported seeing the aurora as far south as Mallorca, Spain .

The source of the solar storm is a cluster of sunspots on the sun's surface that is 17 times the diameter of the Earth. The spots are filled with tangled magnetic fields that can act as slingshots, throwing huge quantities of charged particles towards our planet. These events, known as coronal mass ejections, become more common during the peak of the Sun's 11-year solar cycle.

A powerful solar storm is bringing northern lights to unusual places

Usually, they miss the Earth, but this time, NOAA says several have headed directly toward our planet, and the agency predicted that several waves of flares will continue to slam into the Earth over the next few days.

While the storm has proven to be large, predicting the effects from such incidents can be difficult, Dahl said.

Shocking problems

The most disruptive solar storm ever recorded came in 1859. Known as the "Carrington Event," it generated shimmering auroras that were visible as far south as Mexico and Hawaii. It also fried telegraph systems throughout Europe and North America.

Stronger activity on the sun could bring more displays of the northern lights in 2024

While this geomagnetic storm will not be as strong, the world has grown more reliant on electronics and electrical systems. Depending on the orientation of the storm's magnetic field, it could induce unexpected electrical currents in long-distance power lines — those currents could cause safety systems to flip, triggering temporary power outages in some areas.

my cat just experienced the aurora borealis, one of the world's most radiant natural phenomena... and she doesn't care pic.twitter.com/Ee74FpWHFm — PJ (@kickthepj) May 10, 2024

The storm is also likely to disrupt the ionosphere, a section of Earth's atmosphere filled with charged particles. Some long-distance radio transmissions use the ionosphere to "bounce" signals around the globe, and those signals will likely be disrupted. The particles may also refract and otherwise scramble signals from the global positioning system, according to Rob Steenburgh, a space scientist with NOAA. Those effects can linger for a few days after the storm.

Like Dahl, Steenburgh said it's unclear just how bad the disruptions will be. While we are more dependent than ever on GPS, there are also more satellites in orbit. Moreover, the anomalies from the storm are constantly shifting through the ionosphere like ripples in a pool. "Outages, with any luck, should not be prolonged," Steenburgh said.

What Causes The Northern Lights? Scientists Finally Know For Sure

The radiation from the storm could have other undesirable effects. At high altitudes, it could damage satellites, while at low altitudes, it's likely to increase atmospheric drag, causing some satellites to sink toward the Earth.

The changes to orbits wreak havoc, warns Tuija Pulkkinen, chair of the department of climate and space sciences at the University of Michigan. Since the last solar maximum, companies such as SpaceX have launched thousands of satellites into low Earth orbit. Those satellites will now see their orbits unexpectedly changed.

"There's a lot of companies that haven't seen these kind of space weather effects before," she says.

The International Space Station lies within Earth's magnetosphere, so its astronauts should be mostly protected, Steenburgh says.

In a statement, NASA said that astronauts would not take additional measures to protect themselves. "NASA completed a thorough analysis of recent space weather activity and determined it posed no risk to the crew aboard the International Space Station and no additional precautionary measures are needed," the agency said late Friday.

People visit St Mary's lighthouse in Whitley Bay to see the aurora borealis on Friday in Whitley Bay, England. Ian Forsyth/Getty Images hide caption

People visit St Mary's lighthouse in Whitley Bay to see the aurora borealis on Friday in Whitley Bay, England.

While this storm will undoubtedly keep satellite operators and utilities busy over the next few days, individuals don't really need to do much to get ready.

"As far as what the general public should be doing, hopefully they're not having to do anything," Dahl said. "Weather permitting, they may be visible again tonight." He advised that the largest problem could be a brief blackout, so keeping some flashlights and a radio handy might prove helpful.

I took these photos near Ranfurly in Central Otago, New Zealand. Anyone can use them please spread far and wide. :-) https://t.co/NUWpLiqY2S — Dr Andrew Dickson reform/ACC (@AndrewDickson13) May 10, 2024

And don't forget to go outside and look up, adds Steenburgh. This event's aurora is visible much further south than usual.

A faint aurora can be detected by a modern cell phone camera, he adds, so even if you can't see it with your eyes, try taking a photo of the sky.

The aurora "is really the gift from space weather," he says.

• space weather
• solar flares
• solar storm

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The Sunday Blues - Meaning & How to Beat Them

Picture this: you’re enjoying your weekend, finding a good balance between relaxation and being productive. 4pm hits on Sunday afternoon and your mind wanders to tomorrow and the upcoming week. Suddenly your heart starts beating faster, and you can feel your stomach twist into a knot. You aren’t relaxed anymore, you’re feeling anxious. Despite your great weekend (which isn’t even over yet) you’ve got the Sunday blues, or what some people call the Sunday scaries.

Sound familiar? In this blog we’ll cover the meaning of the Sunday blues, and how to work through them and be more present on the weekend. Here’s to enjoying your Sunday at last!

What are the Sunday Blues?

The Sunday blues, the Sunday scaries, anxiety, worry or dread. Call them what you like, they all have the same effect and kick in on Sunday. Despite your best attempts each weekend to prevent your mind from wandering to the week ahead, come Sunday afternoon it can be hard to stay present and enjoy your day. Once you start thinking about the upcoming week, your mind starts to spiral and suddenly you’re thinking about the to-do’s that you didn’t get to last week, the meetings on the calendar, the kids’ extracurricular activities, the list goes on.

This anticipation has negative mental and physical effects . Your heart can race, you feel physically uncomfortable, it might be hard to concentrate, and you likely (unsurprisingly) are irritable. It’s like the body and mind are in a hyper-alert state , but the ‘threats’ are a rather typical week that you’ve likely experienced before.

That’s why the Sunday blues can also be called existential dread, where you might question your career and your choices that leave you feeling this way. That can be a lot to process every Sunday evening. So how can you deal with the Sunday blues and actually start to enjoy your weekends?

How to Deal With the Sunday Blues       

If you’re feeling the Sunday blues on a regular basis, first take whatever comfort you can in the knowing that you’re not alone. A LinkedIn survey found that 8% of professionals report feeling the Sunday blues, while over 90% of millennials and Gen Z say they feel it too. It doesn’t matter if you’re someone who loves their job or career, someone who has an ‘easy’ job, a difficult one, or is a stay-at-home parent. It’s all relative, and many people in many different circumstances deal with these feelings.

There are many ways you can deal with these weekly panic attacks (that’s essentially what they are to some degree) so they have less and less of an effect on you over time.

• Create Sunday habits - good, healthy habits aren’t a cure-all but they can help in many ways. When you’re feeling anxious on Sundays, part of this may be because of the anticipated switch from an unstructured, free-time weekend to the structure of the work week. Without going overboard (or actually working), making a plan for your day and schedule in some activities to help ease you into a routine again. Maybe it’s a routine morning workout with a friend or going to brunch with your family. Make it something that you enjoy doing.
• Have something to look forward to - this is true for Sunday but also during the week. Having something to look forward to on your Sunday will keep your mind occupied and in the present. Then, adding in something during the week that you’re looking forward to can help you re-frame the idea of the work week in your mind.
• Reduce your screen time - don’t get caught in a doom scroll on Sunday afternoon. Instead of taking in all the posts from friends who got up to fun and exciting things on the weekend, put down your phone and try a different activity to occupy your time. We often resort to our phones to distract us, but this doesn’t really work in practice and can often have the opposite effect, making us more anxious.
• Manage your stress throughout the week - your Sunday blues can get better over time but it’s not a process you work through on Sundays only. Manage your stress during the week so by the time Sunday rolls around, you’re not still feeling the weight of last week. In addition to adding something in during the week that you look forward to, find ways to de-stress during your week. That could look like physical exercise, visiting a friend, practicing meditation , writing routinely in a gratitude journal , or improving your morning routine .
• Make a list - the panic you feel when the Sunday blues hit could be your brain scrambling to think about what you have to accomplish this upcoming week. Maybe it’s a combination of what didn’t get done last week or something urgent that came up on Friday. Either way, you can deal with that before Sunday so it’s been captured already and doesn’t need to occupy any space in your mind during the weekend. Before you close your laptop on Friday, make a list of what you want to tackle on Monday and next week. Things will still be fresh in your mind and it’ll be easier to jot down your priorities.
• Use positive self-talk - when we get stressed out and anxious, our internal voices are often driving this by saying we’re unprepared, disorganized, or not good at our jobs. These feelings, and the Sunday blues  in general, are rooted in feelings associated with the unknown and things we can’t control . Use positive self talk to remind yourself in simple affirmations that you’re capable and doing your best.
• Be mindful - to expand on the last point, one of the biggest tools to combat the Sunday blues is mindfulness. This means checking your thoughts and being curious about them, then letting them go. Thoughts are not facts. When you start to feel these thoughts or worry creep in on Sunday, take note of them and remind yourself that you’re doing your best and you deserve to feel okay. The fears and nerves you have that drive your Sunday blues don’t need to dominate your mind and body. Use mindfulness and even meditation to take control of your thoughts and be present in your current circumstances.

Sundays Come and Go

Lastly, one of the key things to remember as you work through your Sunday blues is that you’ve been here before and you’re still standing. You got through it! There are 52 Sundays in a year, and you’ll get through them. When things feel out of control and you feel like you don’t have a grasp on your week, hold on to the fact that this too shall pass, and you can handle it.

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11 Better Ways To Say “Safe Travels”

“Safe travels” is a polite way to wish somebody well on their upcoming journey. However, there are better ways to be polite and reassuring to your friends when they’re ready to go somewhere (often by plane). This article will share the best alternatives for such a case with you.

What Can I Say Instead Of “Safe Travels”?

There are plenty of ways to use “safe travels” in more exciting manners. You should check out one of the following:

• Have a good flight
• Happy landings
• See you on the other side
• Let me know when you arrive safely
• Stay safe out there
• Enjoy your trip
• Have a relaxing time away
• Happy travels

The preferred version is “be safe” because it keeps it simple. It’s a common phrase we use when we want to wish someone well, and we don’t want them to come across any complications or dangers that might occur if they’re not “careful” enough.

“Be safe” is great to show we care about someone. It lets them know that we worry about them, and we want them to stay “safe” no matter what happens. It works regardless of the method of transport for the journey as well, which makes it a good general phrase.

It’s common for family members to use the phrase “ be safe ” when seeing each other off. This shows that there is a lot of love behind the phrase and that it works well to show how much you care about someone’s wellbeing.

Here are a few ways we might be able to use this phrase:

• Be safe out there. I know you like to find trouble, but for once, I’d love it if you looked after yourself!
• Be safe on your way out! I would love to hear from you and see the pictures of all the things you get up to.
• Don’t forget to message me when you get there! Be safe, and I love you!

“Safe trip” is a simple phrase we can use to make sure someone knows we care. Using words like “safe” reminds people that we worry about them. Even if we are not physically there with them, we hope they are “safe” and do not get into trouble.

This phrase works well regardless of the trip that someone is taking. It could be a long-distance or a short-distance trip. Likewise, it could be by car, plane, boat, or something else entirely!

This phrase works in the following situations:

• Safe trip, Yuri! I’ll miss you, but I know you’ll be thinking about me while you’re away.
• Safe trip back to your hometown, then. Let me know when you get there safely.
• Safe trip, old friend. I’ll see you again whenever you’re next in town!

Have A Good Flight

“Have a good flight” is appropriate to use when someone is going to get on a plane . We use “flight” here to be specific, which helps us to show that we know what someone is getting up to and what they’re likely going to expect from their journey.

We can use this phrase in the following ways:

• Have a good flight! I’m sure you can get all the food and drink you want on there!
• Have a good flight, and don’t forget to let me know when you land safely!
• Have a good flight! There’s nothing to worry about, and you know it’ll all be okay!

Happy Landings

“Happy landings” specifically highlights the “landing” portion of a journey. It works well when someone is going on a plane, and we want them to be “happy” throughout the course of their journey.

Here are a few useful examples of how this one works:

• Happy landings, fella! Don’t forget that they really like their tips out there when you’re dining out!
• Happy landings, then! I’ll miss you every second, so I want you to send me all the photos you can!
• Happy landings! Don’t forget to explore some of the local scenery!

See You On The Other Side

“See you on the other side” is an informal idiom that works well in many cases. We can do it when we know that someone will be returning to see us again soon. “The other side” indicates the place where we will be staying while they go on a journey.

Check out some of these examples to see how it looks:

• See you on the other side, then! Have a great holiday!
• Have a great time away, Fred! See you on the other side!
• I’ll be here waiting for you as always! See you on the other side!

Let Me Know When You Arrive Safely

“Let me know when you arrive safely” is a calm way to let someone know that you are worried. When they arrive at their destination, we can ask them to “message” us to ease our minds and show us that they are thinking about us even after their journey.

We could also use a phrase like “text me when” instead of “let me know when.” If we want to be more specific about the manner of messaging, this phrase works just as well.

This phrase works well in the following ways:

• Let me know when you arrive safely, please! You know how much I worry about you while I’m not around!
• Text me when you arrive safely, please! I want to know just how much fun you’re getting up to.
• Let me know when you arrive safely! I’ll miss you every second that you’re away.

Stay Safe Out There

“Stay safe out there” is a good way to show that you care about someone. “Stay safe” helps to let them know that you’ll be looking out for them and that you want them to explore, but in a reasonable way that won’t cause them harm.

We typically use this phrase when someone is going on a long-distance journey. “Out there” is a good indicator of that.

Check out some of these examples to see how it works:

• Stay safe out there, then! I know you’ll make all the best choices while you’re away.
• Stay safe out there! I’ll miss you, but I know you’ll be having an absolutely adoring time!
• Stay safe out there. You never know what hijinx you might get into, so make sure you text me!

Enjoy Your Trip

“Enjoy your trip” is a simple way to show someone that you care. It helps to let them know that we want them to “enjoy” themselves. While trips can sometimes be boring (especially long-distance ones), we want people to feel like they can still have fun.

This simple phrase works as follows :

• Enjoy your trip, Michael! Let me know when you arrive so we can discuss the adventure more!
• Enjoy your trip! Don’t forget to immerse yourself in the local culture when you get there!
• Enjoy your trip! I expect you to be fluent in German by the time you get back, okay?

Have A Relaxing Time Away

“Have a relaxing time away” works well in many cases. It’s most effective when we know that someone is inclined to worry (whether about the journey or the place they’re going). If we want to calm them down, this phrase works well.

These examples will help you make more sense of it:

• Have a relaxing time away! Remember, you don’t need to worry about a thing when you get on that plane!
• Have a relaxing time away! If anyone deserves it, it is most certainly you!
• Have a relaxing time away! I’m going to miss you, but I know you’ll be back in no time!

Happy Travels

“Happy travels” works really well when we want people to feel “happy” on their journey. “Travels” can refer to any method of transport, but the idea is that they’ll be spending a long time getting from point A to point B, and we want them to feel “happy.”

Perhaps one of these examples will help you make more sense of it:

• Happy travels, mate! I know you’ll love it over there in Australia, but you must tell me all about it.
• Happy travels, Sue! I’ll miss you, so don’t forget to write to me every day about what you do.
• Happy travels, Dan! Thank you for coming to see me again, and I’ll see you again soon, yeah?

“Bon voyage” is a great way to wish someone well before they go on an adventure. It’s French (and Italian), and it means “good journey.” It’s a commonly-used exclamation in English when we want to wish somebody well for something they’re going to do.

It’s also comforting because it shows that we do not wish any problems to come their way when they’re on their journey.

• Bon voyage, my little friend! I’ll see you again when you return!
• Bon voyage, then! I will miss you, but I hope you get a chance to text me a bunch when you get there!
• Bon voyage! I love you so much, and I’ll definitely miss you while you’re away.

You may also like: Safe Travels – Meaning & Usage (Helpful Examples)

Martin holds a Master’s degree in Finance and International Business. He has six years of experience in professional communication with clients, executives, and colleagues. Furthermore, he has teaching experience from Aarhus University. Martin has been featured as an expert in communication and teaching on Forbes and Shopify. Read more about Martin here .

• “Arrive To”, “Arrive At”, or “Arrive In”? Correct Preposition
• “Made It Home Safe” vs. “Made It Home Safely” – Correct Version
• Be Safe, Stay Safe, or Keep Safe? [Helpful Examples]
• Will Arrive or Will Be Arriving – What’s the Difference?

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Compensatory Time Off for Travel - Questions & Answers to Fact Sheet

• Q1. What is compensatory time off for travel? View more A. Compensatory time off for travel is a separate form of compensatory time off that may be earned by an employee for time spent in a travel status away from the employee's official duty station when such time is not otherwise compensable.
• Q2. Are all employees covered by this provision? View more A. The compensatory time off provision applies to an "employee" as defined in 5 U.S.C. 5541(2) who is employed in an "Executive agency" as defined in 5 U.S.C. 105, without regard to whether the employee is exempt from or covered by the overtime pay provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, as amended. For example, this includes employees in senior-level (SL) and scientific or professional (ST) positions, but not members of the Senior Executive Service or Senior Foreign Service or Foreign Service officers. Effective April 27, 2008, prevailing rate (wage) employees are covered under the compensatory time off for travel provision. (See CPM 2008-04 .)
• Q3. Are intermittent employees eligible to earn compensatory time off for travel? View more A. No. Compensatory time off for travel may be used by an employee when the employee is granted time off from his or her scheduled tour of duty established for leave purposes. (See 5 CFR 550.1406(b).) Also see the definition of "scheduled tour of duty for leave purposes" in 5 CFR 550.1403. Employees who are on intermittent work schedules are not eligible to earn and use compensatory time off for travel because they do not have a scheduled tour of duty for leave purposes.
• Q4. What qualifies as travel for the purpose of this provision? View more A. To qualify for this purpose, travel must be officially authorized. In other words, travel must be for work purposes and must be approved by an authorized agency official or otherwise authorized under established agency policies. (Also see Q5.)
• Q5. May an employee earn compensatory time off when he or she travels in conjunction with the performance of union representational duties? View more A. No. The term "travel" is defined at 5 CFR 550.1403 to mean officially authorized travel—i.e., travel for work purposes approved by an authorized agency official or otherwise authorized under established agency policies. The definition specifically excludes time spent traveling in connection with union activities. The term "travel for work purposes" is intended to mean travel for agency-related work purposes. Thus, employees who travel in connection with union activities are not entitled to earn compensatory time off for travel because they are traveling for the benefit of the union, and not for agency-related work purposes.
• Q6. An employee receives compensatory time off for travel only for those hours spent in a travel status. What qualifies as time in a travel status? View more A. Travel status includes only the time actually spent traveling between the official duty station and a temporary duty station, or between two temporary duty stations, and the usual waiting time that precedes or interrupts such travel.
• Q7. Is travel in connection with a permanent change of station (PCS) creditable for compensatory time off for travel? View more A. Although PCS travel is officially authorized travel, it is not travel between an official duty station and a temporary duty station or between two temporary duty stations. Therefore, it is not considered time in a travel status for the purpose of earning compensatory time off for travel.
• Q8. What is meant by "usual waiting time"? View more A. Airline travelers generally are required to arrive at the airport at a designated pre-departure time (e.g., 1 or 2 hours before the scheduled departure, depending on whether the flight is domestic or international). Such waiting time at the airport is considered usual waiting time and is creditable time in a travel status. In addition, time spent at an intervening airport waiting for a connecting flight (e.g., 1 or 2 hours) also is creditable time in a travel status. In all cases, determinations regarding what is creditable as "usual waiting time" are within the sole and exclusive discretion of the employing agency.
• Q9. What if an employee experiences an "extended" waiting period? View more A. If an employee experiences an unusually long wait prior to his or her initial departure or between actual periods of travel during which the employee is free to rest, sleep, or otherwise use the time for his or her own purposes, the extended waiting time outside the employee's regular working hours is not creditable time in a travel status. An extended waiting period that occurs during an employee's regular working hours is compensable as part of the employee's regularly scheduled administrative workweek.
• Q10. Do meal periods count as time in a travel status? View more A. Meal periods during actual travel time or waiting time are not specifically excluded from creditable time in a travel status for the purpose of earning compensatory time off for travel. However, determinations regarding what is creditable as "usual waiting time" are within the sole and exclusive discretion of the employing agency.
• Q11. What happens once an employee reaches a temporary duty station? View more A. Time spent at a temporary duty station between arrival and departure is not creditable travel time for the purpose of earning compensatory time off for travel. Time in a travel status ends when the employee arrives at the temporary duty worksite or his or her lodging in the temporary duty station, wherever the employee arrives first. Time in a travel status resumes when an employee departs from the temporary duty worksite or his or her lodging in the temporary duty station, wherever the employee departs last.
• Q12. When is it appropriate for an agency to offset creditable time in a travel status by the amount of time the employee spends in normal commuting between home and work? View more A. If an employee travels directly between his or her home and a temporary duty station outside the limits of the employee's official duty station (e.g., driving to and from a 3-day conference), the agency must deduct the employee's normal home-to-work/work-to-home commuting time from the creditable travel time. The agency must also deduct an employee's normal commuting time from the creditable travel time if the employee is required—outside of regular working hours—to travel between home and a transportation terminal (e.g., an airport or train station) outside the limits of the employee's official duty station.
• Q13. What if an employee travels to a transportation terminal within the limits of his or her official duty station? View more A. An employee's time spent traveling outside of regular working hours to or from a transportation terminal within the limits of his or her official duty station is considered equivalent to commuting time and is not creditable time in a travel status for the purpose of earning compensatory time off for travel.
• Q14. What if an employee travels from a worksite to a transportation terminal? View more A. If an employee travels between a worksite and a transportation terminal, the travel time outside regular working hours is creditable as time in a travel status, and no commuting time offset applies. For example, after completing his or her workday, an employee may travel directly from the regular worksite to an airport to attend an out-of-town meeting the following morning. The travel time between the regular worksite and the airport is creditable as time in a travel status.
• Q15. What if an employee elects to travel at a time other than the time selected by the agency? View more A. When an employee travels at a time other than the time selected by the agency, the agency must determine the estimated amount of time in a travel status the employee would have had if the employee had traveled at the time selected by the agency. The agency must credit the employee with the lesser of (1) the estimated time in a travel status the employee would have had if the employee had traveled at the time selected by the agency, or (2) the employee's actual time in a travel status at a time other than that selected by the agency.
• Q16. How is an employee's travel time calculated for the purpose of earning compensatory time off for travel when the travel involves two or more time zones? View more A. When an employee's travel involves two or more time zones, the time zone from point of first departure must be used to determine how many hours the employee actually spent in a travel status for the purpose of accruing compensatory time off for travel. For example, if an employee travels from his official duty station in Washington, DC, to a temporary duty station in San Francisco, CA, the Washington, DC, time zone must be used to determine how many hours the employee spent in a travel status. However, on the return trip to Washington, DC, the time zone from San Francisco, CA, must be used to calculate how many hours the employee spent in a travel status.
• Q17. How is compensatory time off for travel earned and credited? View more A. Compensatory time off for travel is earned for qualifying time in a travel status. Agencies may authorize credit in increments of one-tenth of an hour (6 minutes) or one-quarter of an hour (15 minutes). Agencies must track and manage compensatory time off for travel separately from other forms of compensatory time off.
• Q18. Is there a limitation on the amount of compensatory time off for travel an employee may earn? View more A. No.
• Q19. How does an employee request credit for compensatory time off for travel? View more A. Agencies may establish procedures for requesting credit for compensatory time off for travel. An employee must comply with his or her agency's procedures for requesting credit of compensatory time off, and the employee must file a request for such credit within the time period established by the agency. An employee's request for credit of compensatory time off for travel may be denied if the request is not filed within the time period required by the agency.
• Q20. Is there a form employees must fill out for requests to earn or use compensatory time off for travel? View more A. There is not a Governmentwide form used for requests to earn or use compensatory time off for travel. However, an agency may choose to develop a form as part of its internal policies and procedures.
• Q21. How does an employee use accrued compensatory time off for travel? View more A. An employee must request permission from his or her supervisor to schedule the use of his or her accrued compensatory time off for travel in accordance with agency policies and procedures. Compensatory time off for travel may be used when the employee is granted time off from his or her scheduled tour of duty established for leave purposes. Employees must use accrued compensatory time off for travel in increments of one-tenth of an hour (6 minutes) or one-quarter of an hour (15 minutes).
• Q22. In what order should agencies charge compensatory time off for travel? View more A. Agencies must charge compensatory time off for travel in the chronological order in which it was earned, with compensatory time off for travel earned first being charged first.
• Q23. How long does an employee have to use accrued compensatory time off for travel? View more A. An employee must use his or her accrued compensatory time off for travel by the end of the 26th pay period after the pay period during which it was earned or the employee must forfeit such compensatory time off, except in certain circumstances. (See Q24 and Q25 for exceptions.)
• Q24. What if an employee is unable to use his or her accrued compensatory time off for travel because of uniformed service or an on-the-job injury with entitlement to injury compensation? View more A. Unused compensatory time off for travel will be held in abeyance for an employee who separates, or is placed in a leave without pay status, and later returns following (1) separation or leave without pay to perform service in the uniformed services (as defined in 38 U.S.C. 4303 and 5 CFR 353.102) and a return to service through the exercise of a reemployment right or (2) separation or leave without pay due to an on-the-job injury with entitlement to injury compensation under 5 U.S.C. chapter 81. The employee must use all of the compensatory time off for travel held in abeyance by the end of the 26th pay period following the pay period in which the employee returns to duty, or such compensatory time off for travel will be forfeited.
• Q25. What if an employee is unable to use his or her accrued compensatory time off for travel because of an exigency of the service beyond the employee's control? View more A. If an employee fails to use his or her accrued compensatory time off for travel before the end of the 26th pay period after the pay period during which it was earned due to an exigency of the service beyond the employee's control, the head of an agency, at his or her sole and exclusive discretion, may extend the time limit for up to an additional 26 pay periods.
• Q26. May unused compensatory time off for travel be restored if an employee does not use it by the end of the 26th pay period after the pay period during which it was earned? View more A. Except in certain circumstances (see Q24 and Q25), any compensatory time off for travel not used by the end of the 26th pay period after the pay period during which it was earned must be forfeited.
• Q27. What happens to an employee's unused compensatory time off for travel upon separation from Federal service? View more A. Except in certain circumstances (see Q24), an employee must forfeit all unused compensatory time off for travel upon separation from Federal service.
• Q28. May an employee receive a lump-sum payment for accrued compensatory time off for travel upon separation from an agency? View more A. No. The law prohibits payment for unused compensatory time off for travel under any circumstances.
• Q29. What happens to an employee's accrued compensatory time off for travel upon transfer to another agency? View more A. When an employee voluntarily transfers to another agency (including a promotion or change to lower grade action), the employee must forfeit all of his or her unused compensatory time off for travel.
• Q30. What happens to an employee's accrued compensatory time off for travel when the employee moves to a position that is not covered by the regulations in 5 CFR part 550, subpart N? View more A. When an employee moves to a position in an agency not covered by the compensatory time off for travel provisions (e.g., the United States Postal Service), the employee must forfeit all of his or her unused compensatory time off for travel. However, the gaining agency may use its own legal authority to give the employee credit for such compensatory time off.
• Q31. Is compensatory time off for travel considered in applying the premium pay and aggregate pay caps? View more A. No. Compensatory time off for travel may not be considered in applying the biweekly or annual premium pay limitations established under 5 U.S.C. 5547 or the aggregate limitation on pay established under 5 U.S.C. 5307.
• Q32. When are criminal investigators who receive availability pay precluded from earning compensatory time off for travel? View more A. Compensatory time off for travel is earned only for hours not otherwise compensable. The term "compensable" is defined at 5 CFR 550.1403 to include any hours of a type creditable under other compensation provisions, even if there are compensation caps limiting the payment of premium pay for those hours (e.g., the 25 percent cap on availability pay and the biweekly premium pay cap). For availability pay recipients, this means hours of travel are not creditable as time in a travel status for compensatory time off purposes if the hours are (1) compensated by basic pay, (2) regularly scheduled overtime hours creditable under 5 U.S.C. 5542, or (3) "unscheduled duty hours" as described in 5 CFR 550.182(a), (c), and (d).
• Q33. What constitutes "unscheduled duty hours" as described in 5 CFR 550.182(a), (c), and (d)? View more A. Under the availability pay regulations, unscheduled duty hours include (1) all irregular overtime hours—i.e., overtime work not scheduled in advance of the employee's administrative workweek, (2) the first 2 overtime hours on any day containing part of the employee's basic 40-hour workweek, without regard to whether the hours are unscheduled or regularly scheduled, and (3) any approved nonwork availability hours. However, special agents in the Diplomatic Security Service of the Department of State may count only hours actually worked as unscheduled duty hours.
• Q34. Why are criminal investigators who receive availability pay precluded from earning compensatory time off when they travel during unscheduled duty hours? View more A. The purpose of availability pay is to ensure the availability of criminal investigators (and certain similar law enforcement employees) for unscheduled duty in excess of a 40-hour workweek based on the needs of the employing agency. Availability pay compensates an employee for all unscheduled duty hours. Compensatory time off for travel is earned only for hours not otherwise compensable. Thus, availability pay recipients may not earn compensatory time off for travel during unscheduled duty hours because the employees are entitled to availability pay for those hours.

A. When an employee who receives availability pay is required to travel on a non-workday or on a regular workday (during hours that exceed the employee's basic 8-hour workday), and the travel does not meet one of the four criteria in 5 U.S.C. 5542(b)(2)(B) and 5 CFR 550.112(g)(2), the travel time is not compensable as overtime hours of work under regular overtime or availability pay. Thus, the employee may earn compensatory time off for such travel, subject to the exclusion specified in 5 CFR 550.1404(b)(2) and the requirements in 5 CFR 550.1404(c),(d), and (e).

Under the provisions in 5 U.S.C. 5542(b)(2)(B) and 5 CFR 550.112(g)(2), travel time is compensable as overtime hours of work if the travel is away from the employee's official duty station and—

(i) involves the performance of work while traveling, (ii) is incident to travel that involves the performance of work while traveling, (iii) is carried out under arduous conditions, or (iv) results from an event which could not be scheduled or controlled administratively.

The phrase "an event which could not be scheduled or controlled administratively" refers to the ability of an agency in the Executive Branch of the United States Government to control the scheduling of an event which necessitates an employee's travel. If the employing agency or another Executive Branch agency has any control over the scheduling of the event, including by means of approval of a contract for it, then the event is administratively controllable, and the travel to and from the event cannot be credited as overtime hours of work.

For example, an interagency conference sponsored by the Department of Justice would be considered a joint endeavor of the participating Executive Branch agencies and within their administrative control. Under these circumstances, the travel time outside an employee's regular working hours is not compensable as overtime hours of work under regular overtime or availability pay. Therefore, the employee may earn compensatory time off for such travel, subject to the exclusion specified in 5 CFR 550.1404(b)(2) and the requirements in 5 CFR 550.1404(c), (d), and (e).

• Q36. If an employee is required to travel on a Federal holiday (or an "in lieu of" holiday), is the employee entitled to receive compensatory time off for travel? View more A. Although most employees do not receive holiday premium pay for time spent traveling on a holiday (or an "in lieu of" holiday), an employee continues to be entitled to pay for the holiday in the same manner as if the travel were not required. Thus, an employee may not earn compensatory time off for travel during basic (non-overtime) holiday hours because the employee is entitled to his or her rate of basic pay for those hours. Compensatory time off for travel may be earned by an employee only for time spent in a travel status away from the employee's official duty station when such time is not otherwise compensable.
• Q37. If an employee's regularly scheduled tour of duty is Sunday through Thursday and the employee is required to travel on a Sunday during regular working hours, is the employee entitled to earn compensatory time off for travel? View more A. No. Compensatory time off for travel may be earned by an employee only for time spent in a travel status away from the employee's official duty station when such time is not otherwise compensable. Thus, an employee may not earn compensatory time off for travel for traveling on a workday during regular working hours because the employee is receiving his or her rate of basic pay for those hours.
• Q38. May an agency change an employee's work schedule for travel purposes? View more A. An agency may not adjust the regularly scheduled administrative workweek that normally applies to an employee (part-time or full-time) solely for the purpose of including planned travel time not otherwise considered compensable hours of work. However, an employee is entitled to earn compensatory time off for travel for time spent in a travel status when such time is not otherwise compensable.
• Q39. Is time spent traveling creditable as credit hours for an employee who is authorized to earn credit hours under an alternative work schedule? View more A. Credit hours are hours an employee elects to work, with supervisory approval, in excess of the employee's basic work requirement under a flexible work schedule. Under certain conditions, an agency may permit an employee to earn credit hours by performing productive and essential work while in a travel status. See OPM's fact sheet on credit hours  for the conditions that must be met. If those conditions are met and the employee does earn credit hours for travel, the time spent traveling would be compensable and the employee would not be eligible to earn compensatory time off for travel. If the conditions are not met, the employee would be eligible to earn compensatory time off for travel.
• Q40. May an agency restore an employee's forfeited "use-or-lose" annual leave because the employee elected to use earned compensatory time off for travel instead of using his or her excess annual leave? View more A. Section 6304(d) of title 5, United States Code, prescribes the conditions under which an employee's forfeited annual leave may be restored to an employee. (See fact sheet on restoration of annual leave .) There is no legal authority to restore an employee's forfeited annual leave because the employee elected to use earned compensatory time off for travel instead of using his or her excess annual leave.

A. No. Compensatory time off for travel may be earned by an employee only for time spent in a travel status away from the employee's official duty station when such time is not otherwise compensable. The term "compensable" is defined at 5 CFR 550.1403 to make clear what periods of time are "not otherwise compensable" and thus potentially creditable for the purpose of earning compensatory time off for travel. Time is considered compensable if the time is creditable as hours of work for the purpose of determining a specific pay entitlement (e.g., overtime pay for travel meeting one of the four criteria in 5 CFR 550.112(g)(2)) even when the time may not actually generate additional compensation because of applicable pay limitations (e.g., biweekly premium pay cap). The capped premium pay is considered complete compensation for all hours of work creditable under the premium pay provisions.

In other words, even though an employee may not receive overtime pay for all of his or her travel hours because of the biweekly premium pay cap, all of the travel time is still considered to be compensable under 5 CFR 550.112(g)(2). Under these circumstances, the employee has been compensated fully under the law for all of the travel hours and the employee may not earn compensatory time off for any portion of such travel not generating additional compensation because of the biweekly cap on premium pay.

• Q42. May an employee who receives administratively uncontrollable overtime (AUO) pay under 5 U.S.C. 5545(c)(2) earn compensatory time off for travel? View more A. If such employee's travel time is not compensable under 5 CFR 550.112(g) or 5 CFR 551.422, as applicable, and meets the requirements in 5 CFR part 550, subpart N, the employee is eligible to earn compensatory time off for travel for time spent in a travel status.
• Q43. If a part-time employee's regularly scheduled tour of duty is Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., and the employee is required to travel on a Friday from 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., is the employee entitled to earn compensatory time off for travel for those 2 hours? View more A. It depends. If the travel qualifies as compensable hours of work under 5 U.S.C. 5542(b)(2)(B) and 5 CFR 550.112(g)(2)—i.e., the travel involves or is incident to the performance of actual work, is carried out under arduous and unusual conditions, or results from an event which could not be scheduled or controlled administratively—the employee may not be credited with compensatory time off for travel hours. (Such travel time outside a part-time employee's scheduled tour of duty, but not in excess of 8 hours in a day or 40 hours in a week, would be non-overtime hours of work compensated at the employee's rate of basic pay.) If the travel time does not qualify as compensable hours of work and meets the other requirements in 5 CFR part 550, subpart N, the part-time employee would be entitled to earn compensatory time off for those 2 hours. We note travel time is always compensable hours of work if it falls within an employee's regularly scheduled administrative workweek. (See 5 U.S.C. 5542(b)(2)(A) and 5 CFR 550.112(g)(1).) For a part-time employee, the regularly scheduled administrative workweek is defined in 5 CFR 550.103 as the officially prescribed days and hours within an administrative workweek during which the employee was scheduled to work in advance of the workweek. An agency may not adjust the regularly scheduled administrative workweek normally applied to an employee (part-time or full-time) solely for the purpose of including planned travel time otherwise not considered compensable hours of work.
• Q44. Does an upgrade in travel accommodations impact an employee's entitlement to compensatory time off for travel? View more A. Allowing an employee to upgrade his or her travel accommodations (e.g., to business class) does not eliminate his or her eligibility to earn compensatory time off for travel.

Is it ‘traveling’ or ‘travelling’?

What to Know When it comes to spelling the forms of the verb travel , traveled and traveling are more common in the U.S., and travelled and travelling are dominant everywhere else.

Spelling is typically clear-cut in modern English: forty unfailingly betrays four ; the sweet treat after dinner is spelled dessert , not desert .

But some words have two forms that appear often enough in edited text to make it clear that something else is going on. And so it is with forms of the verb travel : traveled and travelled , and traveling and travelling .

It might have a different spelling wherever you're going.

One or Two L 's?

If you look at where the single l forms originate and where the double l forms originate a pattern emerges: in the United States, traveled and traveling predominate, and everywhere else travelled and travelling are preferred.

The reason mostly comes down to one man we at Merriam-Webster hold especially dear: Noah Webster. Our lexicographical father (brothers George and Charles Merriam bought the rights to Noah Webster’s 1841 dictionary after Webster died) was a great believer in spelling reform and wanted English spelling to make more sense—and if the English of his homeland had more logic to it than its British parent, so much the better. He decided that travel needed only one l in its past and present participle forms.

Webster’s logic is the reason behind the spelling of canceled and cancelled as well: in the U.S., they have just one l , but elsewhere two l ’s are the norm.

American English Words that Use 2 L 's

Webster didn’t think all double l ’s needed to be reduced to one, however: in cases in which the accent, or emphasis, is on the syllable with the l , two l ’s are preserved: expelled and expelling ; controlled and controlling ; patrolled and patrolling .

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Controlled demolition of Baltimore bridge rescheduled for Monday

(Gray News) - Maryland Governor Wes Moore held a press conference Monday morning to give updates on the efforts underway following the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore.

Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi, Sen. Ben Cardin, Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott and Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski were among those who attended.

The bridge collapse in late March, which killed six road maintenance workers, blocked a key maritime port and removed a vital part of the transportation infrastructure, complicating the commute in the area.

The last body was recovered from the bridge’s wreckage on Tuesday.

Moore said during the press conference the constant communication between the state, local and federal agencies involved in the recovery efforts led to finding all the vicitms.

They knew that bringing comfort and closure to the victims’ families was necessary and “wasn’t obligatory.”

Moore spoke directly to the loved ones during the press conference to assure them they will do everything in their power to continue to provide and support throughout their journey to healing.

An attempt to set off explosives to free the Dali, the cargo ship that hit and destroyed the bridge, from the wreckage was postponed Sunday because of inclement weather.

That controlled blast has been tentatively rescheduled for Monday evening around 5:30, weather permitting.

“Safety is our top priority,” Moore said. “We plan to continue this mission without a single injury.”

Workers will attempt to set off small explosives to break apart a massive chunk of the bridge that has been sitting on top of the Dali cargo ship.

The ship rammed into the bridge six weeks ago and has been stuck in place since the crash on March 26.

Once parts of the bridge are broken into smaller pieces, crews can refloat the vessel and move it out of the channel.

Moore said crews are very close to fully clearing the channel and expect about 30 vessels to pass through within the next week, including cargo ships.

Officials hope to reopen the port’s channel by the end of the month.

Meanwhile, the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure is planning to hold a hearing on the investigation Wednesday.

Copyright 2024 Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. CNN Newsource contributed to this report.

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