pick up steam
Start moving faster
To pick up steam is to gain momentum or increase in intensity.
The phrase comes from steam engines, which needed time to build pressure before reaching full power.
Now it describes any process that starts slowly and accelerates: The campaign picked up steam after the debate.
Rumors picked up steam on social media.
- gather paceIncrease in speed
- catch fireBegin combustion
- snowball effectAccelerating cumulative increase
- velocityDirected rate of motion
- developmentProgress toward maturity
gain momentum · force · acceleration · expansion · vigor · surge · on the rise · shift gears · take off · propulsion · advancement · moving forward · thrust · thriving · flourishing · evolution · escalation · pickup
pick up steamlose steam
Gradually lose momentum
run out of steam · stall out · grind to a halt · slow down · peter out
pick up steamlose steam
Gradually lose momentum
run out of gas · fizzle · fade · ebb · weaken
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