pick up speed
Gain more velocity
To pick up speed is to accelerate—to move faster than before.
The phrase applies literally to vehicles and runners: The train picked up speed as it left the station.
Figuratively, projects or processes pick up speed when they gain momentum: Negotiations picked up speed after the breakthrough.
- quickenTo accelerate or animate
- hastenTo accelerate or rush
- accelerationRate velocity changes
- hit the gasIncrease vehicle speed suddenly
- surgeSudden powerful increase
ramp up · gather pace · change up · rapidity · momentum · pace · hurry · upshift · swiftness · velocity · escalation · intensification · burst · race against time · progress · wind · zoom · growth
- motion idiomsin motion, on the move, on the go, move forward, move along
- accelerationaccelerate, acceleration, accelerating, quicken, hasten
- momentumbuilding momentum, gain traction, gaining traction, gaining steam, gather steam
- Fast Startshit the ground running, off to the races, flying start, quick off the mark, jump start
velocity change
pick up speedslow down
Reduce pace or speed
decelerate · brake · grind to a halt · come to a stop · ease off
speed, pick up, speedy, speeding, speedily, speedboat, speedometer, speedway, speedster