paint the wagon
To get things done.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“We need to paint the wagon and finish this project today.”
“The deadline is tomorrow, so we really need to paint the wagon if we want to succeed.”
“Despite the mounting pressure from the board of directors, the team managed to paint the wagon and deliver the final report well ahead of schedule.”
first recorded 20th c.
Modern business jargon derived from the title song of the 1951 Broadway musical Paint Your Wagon. The lyrics, including the lines "Gotta dream boy / Gotta song / Paint your wagon / And come along," provided the source for the expression.
- 01
circle the wagons
To prepare to defend against an attack or criticism.
- 02
fall off the wagon
To cease or fail at a regimen of self-improvement or reform; to lapse back into an old habit or addiction.
- 03
fix someone's wagon
To cause injury, distress, or inconvenience to someone, especially as punishment or as a comeuppance.
- 04
hitch one's wagon to
to rely on (someone or something) for success
- 05
hitch one's wagon to a star
To commit to an aspirational goal or course of action that will lead to fulfillment.
- 06
know someone from a can of paint
Synonym of know someone from Adam.
- 07
not as black as one is painted
not as bad as one is said to be
- 08
paint a rosy picture
To describe a situation or prospective set of events in an upbeat, optimistic manner.
Last updated August 10, 2026