on a roll

Idioms  

1. On a streak of success or intense activity, as in The team's scored three runs in the last inning and they're really on a roll, or Once the experiment succeeded, Tim was on a roll. This slangy term, alluding to the momentum in the act of rolling, dates from the second half of the 1900s, but roll alone has been used in this sense since the early 1800s.

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Example Sentences

The actor is feeling like he's on a roll after playing a comedic role in last year's box office hit, "A Minecraft Movie," which he starred in with Jack Black.

From Barron's • Jun. 1, 2026

Brighton are on a roll and look strong candidates for sixth place and European football.

From BBC • Apr. 30, 2026

Göransson is on a roll, on track to win his third Oscar in this category, following “Black Panther” in 2019 and “Oppenheimer” in 2024.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 11, 2026

Copper was already on a roll thanks to data-center construction, but since November soared another 20%, before having its worst day on Friday since the Trump tariffs last April.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 1, 2026

And all at once, Travis felt an overwhelming urge to relieve himself of one more weight that day, while he was on a roll.

From "The Serpent King" by Jeff Zentner