to belt along
- phrasal verb
- Informal
:
ir a toda prisa
- The kids were belting along the path, eager to reach the playground.
Examples
-
She was belting along in her car, trying to make it to the meeting on time.
-
"He nodded in the direction of Rachel's bedroom, where Adolpho was belting along with Led Zeppelin.
Fiction book (1993) -
I belted along the track to catch the last train of the night.
Synonyms
548
1.0
To move or act quickly because a situation needs it
137
1.0
To move or travel quickly, often faster than allowed
91
1.0
To move or work very quickly to reach a goal
35
5.2
To hurry and go faster, often when driving
7
3.9
Move quickly to do something
2
9.9
To go quickly to a place, often used in old writing
1
7.7
To move quickly on foot
1
9.0
Move quickly on foot to escape or reach a place fast
1
2.7
To move quickly in one direction
1
5.1
To move very fast, often making a soft rushing sound like a car or train
1
7.2
To run or move very quickly without control
To move quickly by car or on foot
Move very fast along a street or path
A quick, often careless movement that can cause mistakes
To move very quickly in a straight, forceful way
To move quickly with short, hurried steps because of fear
Antonyms
How Fast
Surface Forms
Morphology
belt + along
The particle 'along' clearly signals movement, but the verb 'belt' (here meaning 'move quickly') is a colloquial verb sense that many B1 learners will not know from the basic noun sense of 'belt'. Because part of the meaning (movement) is transparent from 'along' but the speedive sense of 'belt' is idiomatic and requires exposure, this is best classified as semi-transparent.
Etymology
Belt along may come from the picture of a fast-moving belt on a conveyor that pulls things quickly along a track. So, belt along means 'to move very fast', as if the belt is pushing you forward.