pedal to the metal
Maximum throttle commitment
Pedal to the metal means pushing an accelerator pedal all the way down—flooring it.
The phrase extends to any situation demanding maximum effort or speed: We need to go pedal to the metal if we're going to finish by Friday.
Sometimes shortened to pedal down or varied as put the pedal to the metal.
Power flow controller
- floor itAccelerate to maximum speed
- gun itAccelerate suddenly and fully
- full throttleMaximum engine power
- revvingIncreasing engine speed
turbo · boost · nitro · horsepower · torque · redline · afterburner · launch
With complete effort
- full speed aheadCommand for maximum thrust
- rushQuick sudden movement
- hustleEnergetic, aggressive action
- crunch timeHigh-pressure final stretch
deadline · time-sensitive · race against time · no holds barred · balls to the wall · go hard · push through · sprint
throttle
Power flow controller
- floor itAccelerate to maximum speed
- gun itAccelerate suddenly and fully
- full throttleMaximum engine power
revving · turbo · boost · nitro · horsepower · torque · redline · afterburner · launch · takeoff
all-out
With complete effort
- full speed aheadCommand for maximum thrust
- rushQuick sudden movement
- hustleEnergetic, aggressive action
crunch time · deadline · time-sensitive · race against time · no holds barred · balls to the wall · go hard · push through · sprint · blitz
- accelerationaccelerate, acceleration, accelerating, speed up, speeding up
- car talkhit the gas, step on it, floor it, burn rubber, peel out
- driving slangfloor it, gun it, peel out, burn rubber, tailgate
- maximum effortall-out, full throttle, go all out, go hard, all in
- Speed Expressionsin a flash, quick as a flash, in no time, lickety-split, lickety split
- travel idiomshit the road, in the same boat, miss the boat, end of the road, crossroads
pedal to the metalslam on the brakes
Emergency vehicle stopping action
hit the brakes · braking · coasting · at a standstill · grinding to a halt
pedal to the metalphoning it in
Performing without genuine commitment
coasting · taking it easy · going through the motions · slacking off · mailing it in
pedal to the metalslow and steady
Gradual but consistent
taking one's time · unhurried · easy does it · dragging one's feet · at a snail's pace
metal, pedal, pedals, pedaling, pedaled, bipedalism, pedaller