pedal to metal
Maximum speed ahead
Pedal to metal describes pushing an accelerator pedal all the way down—flooring it.
The phrase extends to any situation requiring maximum effort or speed: We've got the pedal to the metal trying to finish this project.
Sometimes rendered as pedal to the meddle in deliberate wordplay.
The full form is put the pedal to the metal.
- flooringSurface underfoot material
- accelerateIncrease in velocity
- speedRate of motion
- throttlePower flow controller
- gasFormless, expanding substance
lead foot · racing · fast · fast lane · adrenaline · high octane · highway · open road · roar · engine · burnout · burn rubber · nitro · zero to sixty · chase · rush · zoom · horsepower
- accelerationaccelerate, acceleration, accelerating, speed up, speeding up
- driving slangfloor it, gun it, peel out, burn rubber, tailgate
- energy idiomsfull of beans, running on empty, second wind, burn out, fired up
pedal to metalslamming on the brakes
Applying maximum stopping force suddenly
at a standstill · idling · dead stop · full stop · coasting
pedal to metalphoning it in
Performing without genuine commitment
going through the motions · coasting · taking it easy · slacking off · mailing it in
pedal to metalslow and steady
Gradual but consistent
taking one's time · unhurried · dragging one's feet · deliberate · cooling one's heels
pedal, metal, pedals, pedaled, pedaling, metals, metallic, metallurgy, metallurgical