partire in quarta

Italian

Etymology

Literally, “to start in fourth (gear)”. Compare French en quatrième vitesse.

Verb

partìre in quarta (first-person singular present pàrto in quarta, first-person singular past historic partìi in quarta, past participle partìto in quarta, auxiliary èssere)

1. to drive very fast; to speed
2. (by extension) to shoot off
3. (figurative, by extension) to hit the ground running; to get off a flying start; to come out swinging