gained steam
Picked up speed
Gained steam means to build momentum or increase in intensity, from the image of a steam engine building pressure and power.
A movement, idea, or campaign gains steam as it attracts more support or energy: The protest gained steam after the video went viral.
Her candidacy gained steam in the final weeks.
- driveOperate a vehicle
- surgeSudden powerful increase
- momentumProduct of mass, velocity
- pushForce something away
- increaseGrowth in amount
building momentum · popularity · adoption · virality · catching on · groundswell · acceleration · gathering pace · snowballed · snowball effect · buildup · heat · spread · going viral · chug · enthusiasm · prominence · on the rise
gained steamstalled out
Ceased functioning unexpectedly
lost momentum · petered out · hit a wall · slowed down · stagnated
gained steamdied out
Ceased to exist entirely
collapsed · fell apart · withered · faded · floundered
gain, gained, gaining, gains, gainer, gainers, gainful, gainfully, steam