picks up steam
Starts moving faster
Picks up steam means to gain momentum, energy, or force.
The image is of a steam engine building pressure and accelerating.
A campaign, movement, or project picks up steam as it attracts more support or moves faster toward its goal: The petition picked up steam after the celebrity endorsement.
Negotiations were slow at first but picked up steam in the final week.
- reboundReturn after deflection
- uptickSlight increase
- on the riseBecoming greater or more
- accelerationRate velocity changes
- velocityDirected rate of motion
propulsion · forward motion · advancement · fervor · vitality · resurgence · quickening · evolution · thrust · takes off · trajectory · catches fire · spread · traction · popularity · improvement · dynamism · expansion
picks up steamslows down
Reduces velocity progressively
grinds to a halt · stalls out · decelerates · winds down · peters out
picks up steamstalls out
Ceases functioning suddenly
stagnates · falters · stalls · runs aground · goes nowhere
picks up steamdies down
Gradually becomes less intense
runs out of gas · flames out · deflates · languishes · fades
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