put pedal to the metal
Go full throttle
Put pedal to the metal means to accelerate as fast as possible, pressing a vehicle's gas pedal all the way to the floor.
Figuratively, it means to exert maximum effort or move with urgency: We need to put pedal to the metal if we're going to meet this deadline.
The phrase evokes the physical sensation of flooring it.
- full throttleMaximum engine power
- step on itUrging someone to hurry
- hit the gasIncrease vehicle speed suddenly
- floor itAccelerate to maximum speed
- zero to sixtySpeed buildup benchmark
speedometer · bullet train · acceleration · checkered flag · fast lane · urgency · race against time · hustle · terminal velocity · horsepower · turbocharge · torque · speed · racing · rev up · ambition · breakneck · resolve
put pedal to the metalslam on the brakes
Emergency vehicle stopping action
hit the brakes · brake · decelerate · slow down · coast
put pedal to the metaltake it easy
Advice to relax
slack off · phone it in · coast · ease up · hold back
put pedal to the metaldilly-dally
Waste time idly
pump the brakes · procrastinate · dawdle · wait and see · sleep on it
putting, putter, pedal, pedals, pedaled, pedaling, pedaller, metal, metals