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Glite Dictionary
in gear

in gear

22 3.6
With the gears engaged so a car or machine can move when the engine runs
  • idiom
translation icon : con la marcha puesta
  • Keller put the Ford in gear, pulled away from the curb.
  • Put it in gear
  • car in gear
  • Get in gear

So OK, I'm I'm going in hot is OK, OK, I'll pull it back in gear.

Examples

  • Sonny, behind the wheel, gets the car in gear and drives away from the crowd.

    Fiction book (1990)

  • Louise puts the car in gear and pulls out of shot.

    Fiction book (1991)

  • Well, is it in gear or what?

    Small Apartments (2012)

  • - Get this thing in gear, boy.

    The Mummy (1999)

  • Put it in gear, we gotta get out of here.

    The Fog (2005)

  • How do you put it in gear?

    Buffalo '66 (1998)

  • - I'm putting it in gear!

    Little Miss Sunshine (2006)

  • "Libby had put the car in gear, but sat there with her foot on the brake."

    Fiction book (1996)

  • Charles Carr puts the Cadillac in gear and drives into the snowy night.

    Fiction book (1990)

  • Before we can start moving, you need to make sure the car is in gear.

Synonyms

geared
vsin gear
  • Specialized
3.7

Fitted with parts that change speed or power, like on a bicycle

refers to gears actually engaged so movement happens when power is applied

Antonyms

out of gear
  • Specialized
1 4.6

The gears are not engaged so the engine does not move the wheels

How Ready

top gear
  • Informal
1 3.8
in gear
22 3.6

Surface Forms

in gear positive

Morphology

in + gear

The meaning 'with the gears engaged' is directly derived from combining 'in' (position) and 'gear' (mechanical gearing); a B1 learner who knows both words can infer that the gears are engaged so movement is possible. This is a straightforward spatial + object composition following normal English patterns and has clear parallels in other languages, making it immediately comprehensible.

Etymology

The phrase in gear comes from vehicles and machines with gears. When the gears are connected and the engine runs the vehicle will move, so being in gear means 'ready to move' or 'able to move'.