fires on all cylinders
Operating at peak
Fires on all cylinders means operating at full capacity or peak performance.
The phrase comes from internal combustion engines, where each cylinder must fire properly for maximum power.
Someone firing on all cylinders is functioning optimally, with all abilities engaged: After her morning coffee, she was firing on all cylinders.
The negative—not firing on all cylinders—suggests impaired function or mental sluggishness.
- peak performanceHighest level of functioning
- combustionExothermic reaction with oxygen
- multitaskingDoing several things concurrently
- efficiencyProductive without waste
- horsepowerRate of mechanical work
optimization · drive · spark plug · mastery · well-oiled machine · full throttle · pedal to the metal · high gear · momentum · ignition timing · determination · synergy · streamlining · productivity · in full swing · engine block · piston · focus
fires on all cylinderssputters
Emits irregular bursts
misfires · struggles · falters · underperforms · malfunctions
fires on all cylinderscoasts
Edges of continents
sleepwalks · drags one's feet · mails it in · idles · stagnates
fires on all cylindersrunning on empty
Operating without remaining resources
dead on one's feet · out of gas · half-asleep · sluggish · lethargic
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