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Glite Dictionary
at a canter

at a canter

5.7
Quickly and easily, like a horse moving in a smooth, easy run
  • idiom
  • UK
translation icon : a paso ligero
  • The rider urged the horse to move faster, so they took off at a canter down the sunny trail.

Examples

  • Well, I'd say it's a horse coming up at a canter.

    A Tale of Two Cities (1935)

  • After the breakfast meeting, she managed to finish her report at a canter before the deadline.

  • He completed the project at a canter, impressing his supervisor with how quickly he worked.

Synonyms

at a good clip
vsat a canter
  • Informal
1 6.0

Moving at a fairly fast speed

moves more moderately and easily rather than at high speed

Antonyms

to gallop
25 1.9

To move or ride at a horse's fastest speed

How Fast

to gallop
3 2.8
at a canter
  • UK
5.7
to trot to
1 4.8
to walk
∞ 1.0
crawl
19 2.7

Surface Forms

at a canter positive

Morphology

at + a + canter

The phrase is compositionally built: 'canter' denotes a smooth, moderate horse gait and the prepositional frame 'at a ___' marks manner, so 'at a canter' straightforwardly means 'at a moderate/easy pace'. The figurative extension ('with ease') is a natural and predictable metaphorical use, and similar manner expressions occur cross-linguistically, so a B1 learner who knows the constituents would likely understand it.

Etymology

At a canter comes from horse riding: a canter is a smooth, steady way a horse moves that looks easy but is faster than a walk. That's why saying someone did something at a canter means they did it 'easily' and quickly.