full speed ahead
5
3.7
- idiom
- Informal
:
a toda velocidad
- We are headed full speed ahead toward that fiscal cliff.
- go full speed ahead
- move full speed ahead
- damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead
Examples
-
Then cheer up and go full speed ahead.
Fiction book (1993) -
Obama has gone full speed ahead and made his re-election strategy all about firming up the base.
Blog text (5) -
Next up, it's full speed ahead.
-
Put the hammer down, keep it full speed ahead.
Fiction book (1991) -
Full speed ahead, Mr. Cohen!
-
Set a course for Ping Island, full speed ahead.
-
It's full speed ahead on the Superblock.
Blog text (15) -
We're full speed ahead.
-
It's a glorious day here where a field of 51 racers stream full speed ahead from the starting line in Miami.
-
After the meeting, the team decided it was time to move forward, so they went full speed ahead with the project.
Synonyms
∞
1.0
To move or act quickly because there is little time
637
1.0
To move or act more quickly to avoid being late
512
6.7
To hurry so you do something faster, often to avoid being late
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
61
2.7
To start or continue something so it gets closer to a goal
19
3.1
To keep making progress despite problems
12
5.8
A state of moving at the highest speed and with the most effort
3
3.7
To move forward steadily despite problems
3
7.4
As quickly as possible
3
4.7
Continue doing something even when there are problems
1
4.4
To try harder or work faster to reach a goal
1
2.7
To move quickly in one direction
Antonyms
How Fast
Surface Forms
Morphology
The phrase is compositionally built from an intensifier 'full' + 'speed' (how fast) + 'ahead' (forward), so a learner who knows those words can infer 'going forward at maximum speed/effort.' This pattern (intensifier + velocity + forward direction) is common across languages and follows ordinary English composition, making the expression immediately comprehensible to B1 learners.
Etymology
The idiom full speed ahead comes from old ships where a captain told the engines to run at full speed and move the ship ahead, meaning forward. So, it now means 'to go forward with maximum effort'.