full steam ahead
All-out forward push
Full steam ahead means proceeding with maximum effort and energy, without hesitation or restraint.
The phrase comes from the era of steam-powered ships, when the captain's order meant to run the engines at full power.
Now used figuratively for any determined push forward: Once funding was secured, it was full steam ahead on the project.
Forward movement or promotion
- headwayForward progress achieved
- forwardOnward in direction
- breakthroughSudden important advance
- developmentProgress toward maturity
pushing forward · gaining ground · onward · growth · expansion · stride · pressing on · making tracks
Sustained resolve despite obstacles
- resolveFirmness of purpose
- tenacityPersistent grip or resolve
- gritDetermination or abrasive particles
- commitmentFirm pledge to act
dedication · willpower · fortitude · steadfastness · conviction · doggedness · persistence · resilience
Rate velocity changes
- thrustForceful forward motion
- propulsionForce driving movement forward
- velocityDirected rate of motion
- speedRate of motion
force · drive · headway · forward motion · unstoppable · barreling · surging · charging
Railway pulling machine
- boilerWater-heating vessel
- throttlePower flow controller
- engineMachine producing motion
- furnaceEnclosed heat-producing structure
coal · stoker · paddlewheel · vessel · voyage · captain · engineer · pistons
Intense willingness to act
- excitementState of eager enthusiasm
- passionIntense emotional drive
- zealIntense driving devotion
- ardorIntense emotional warmth
fervor · gusto · exuberance · keenness · spiritedness · avidity · wholehearted · gung-ho
advancement
Forward movement or promotion
- headwayForward progress achieved
- forwardOnward in direction
- breakthroughSudden important advance
development · pushing forward · gaining ground · onward · growth · expansion · stride · pressing on · making tracks · closing in
perseverance
Sustained resolve despite obstacles
commitment · dedication · willpower · fortitude · steadfastness · conviction · doggedness · persistence · resilience · single-mindedness
acceleration
Rate velocity changes
- thrustForceful forward motion
- propulsionForce driving movement forward
- velocityDirected rate of motion
speed · force · drive · headway · forward motion · unstoppable · barreling · surging · charging · gaining ground
locomotive
Railway pulling machine
furnace · coal · stoker · paddlewheel · vessel · voyage · captain · engineer · pistons · smokestack
eagerness
Intense willingness to act
- excitementState of eager enthusiasm
- passionIntense emotional drive
- zealIntense driving devotion
ardor · fervor · gusto · exuberance · keenness · spiritedness · avidity · wholehearted · gung-ho · raring to go
- energy idiomsrunning on empty, second wind, burn out, fired up, pumped up
- machine idiomswell-oiled machine, gears turning, firing on all cylinders, grinding gears, cranking up
- Nautical Idiomsbatten down the hatches, all hands on deck, smooth sailing, three sheets to the wind, in the same boat
- travel idiomshit the road, in the same boat, miss the boat, end of the road, crossroads
- momentumbuilding momentum, gain traction, gaining traction, pick up speed, picking up speed
- progressprogress, in progress, promotion, raise, making progress
full steam aheaddead stop
Complete cessation of motion
full stop · at a standstill · grinding to a halt · dead in the water · going nowhere
full steam aheadproceed with caution
Continue while staying vigilant
tread carefully · hold your horses · pump the brakes · slow and steady · wait and see
full steam aheadfull stop
Terminal punctuation mark
dead stop · grinding halt · slam on the brakes · pump the brakes · hit the brakes
full, steam, ahead, fulfill, steaming, fullness, steamy, steamed, steamer