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

Convinced the singers were on a roll as disco surged, Capitol teamed Tavares with Freddie Perren, a hit-making producer, songwriter and arranger.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 25, 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

"Becca played absolutely fantastically - we all did - but it's great to see Becca when she's like that and I'm sure she'll be on a roll now," Jackson added.

From BBC • Feb. 14, 2026

While I was on a roll, maybe I should have asked her to stock up on some new desk candy, too, but there are times when you just don’t push your luck.

From "Drums, Girls, and Dangerous Pie" by Jordan Sonnenblick