put the pedal to the metal
English
Alternative forms
Etymology
Mid-1970s, originated in car racing.[1]
Pronunciation
Audio (AU): (file)
Verb
put the pedal to the metal (third-person singular simple present puts the pedal to the metal, present participle putting the pedal to the metal, simple past and past participle put the pedal to the metal)
- (idiomatic) To press the gas pedal to the maximum extent.
- Synonyms: floor it, redline
- Coordinate term: give it the gun
- (by extension) To exert maximum effort.
- Synonym: go all out
- 2007, Donna Carter, 10 Smart Things Women Can Do to Build a Better Life, Harvest House Publishers (→ISBN), page 22:
- There are times for all of us when we have to put the pedal to the metal. Businesspeople and students have deadlines. Parents have periods of time when they don't get breaks because their partners are unavailable or they have no partners.
Translations
make a rapid accelleration
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