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to step on it

to step on it

35 5.2
To hurry and go faster, often when driving
  • phrasal verb
  • Informal
translation icon : darse prisa
  • The traffic is picking up, so we need to step on it to get to the airport on time.
  • please step on it
  • come on, step on it
  • go ahead and step on it

And unbeknownst to us, while we weren't able to car Jack him because he stepped on it and got away, he later followed me but followed me all day.

Examples

Synonyms

to hurry up
vsto step on it
  • Informal
637 1.0

To move or act more quickly to avoid being late

is used especially for driving or urgent situations rather than any haste
to rush
vsto step on it
548 1.0

To move or act quickly because a situation needs it

is focused on speeding up in driving or urgent travel situations
to move it
vsto step on it
  • Informal
512 6.7

To hurry so you do something faster, often to avoid being late

is used more in driving and urgent contexts rather than casual prompts
to speed
vsto step on it
137 1.0

To move or travel quickly, often faster than allowed

is more tied to urgent driving use than the general act of going fast
to scramble
vsto step on it
118 3.2

Climb quickly using your hands and feet on steep or rough ground

is more focused on speeding up in driving or urgent situations not awkward climbing
to hurry
vsto step on it
97 1.0

To make someone move or work faster than they want

is used more for driving or urgent situations rather than pressuring people
to race
vsto step on it
91 1.0

To move or work very quickly to reach a goal

is used more to urge speed in driving or urgent travel rather than competition
to scurry
vsto step on it
54 3.1

To move quickly with short, hurried steps because you feel afraid or rushed

is more about hurrying in driving or urgent tasks rather than small quick steps
to scoot
vsto step on it
  • Informal
29 2.8

Move a short distance quickly, often to make room or hurry

is used more for urgent driving or necessary haste rather than playful movement
to floor it
vsto step on it
  • Informal
17 8.0

Press the gas pedal all the way to make the car go very fast

is less extreme and can mean hurry without reaching maximum speed
to step on the gas
vsto step on it
  • Informal
9 3.7

To press the pedal in a car to make it go faster or hurry to finish something

is used more generally to urge faster action not only in driving
to shake a leg
vsto step on it
  • Archaic
9 6.5

To hurry when someone tells you to

is often used for urgency in driving as well as in daily life
to hit the gas
vsto step on it
  • Informal
8 3.6

Press the car pedal to make it go faster

is a broader phrase to hurry in driving and other urgent situations
to put the pedal to the metal
vsto step on it
  • Informal
7 6.3

To drive or work as fast as possible, often to finish something

is more general, meaning to hurry but not always reach top speed
to hasten
vsto step on it
7 3.9

Move quickly to do something

is more casual and urgent for driving rather than formal quick action
to make tracks
vsto step on it
  • Informal
5 7.2

Leave quickly to go somewhere or to avoid trouble

is broader, meaning to hurry up in many urgent situations not just escape
to hie
vsto step on it
  • Archaic
2 9.9

To go quickly to a place, often used in old writing

is the everyday urgent form used in driving rather than literary speech
to hotfoot
vsto step on it
  • Informal
1 7.7

To move quickly on foot

is used more for urgent driving or pressing hurry rather than casual fast walking
to leg it
vsto step on it
  • UK
1 9.0

Move quickly on foot to escape or reach a place fast

is used more for driving or urgent situations rather than escaping on foot
to rush along
vsto step on it
1 2.7

To move quickly in one direction

is more about going faster in driving or emergencies rather than direction alone
to scutter
vsto step on it
  • UK
1 8.2

To move quickly with short, hurried steps when you feel nervous

is used more for urging quick action in urgent situations not just nervous steps
to get skates on
vsto step on it
  • UK
1 8.6

Hurry up and start doing something

is used more in driving or emergency contexts rather than casual urging
to pelt down
vsto step on it
  • Informal
1 7.2

To run or move very quickly without control

is used more for urgent speeding in driving rather than uncontrolled running
to run, don't walk
vsto step on it
  • Informal
7.1

To hurry to do something so you do not miss a good chance

is used in driving urgency as well as other urgent actions
to belt along
vsto step on it
  • Informal
6.0

To move very quickly, usually by running or driving

is used more for urgent driving or for pressing speed in tense situations
to bucket along
vsto step on it
  • UK
7.8

To move quickly by car or on foot

is used more for urging faster action in driving and emergencies
to cannonball along
vsto step on it
  • Informal
7.1

To move very quickly in a straight, forceful way

is less about aggressive speed and more about urgent driving or hurry
to pelt along
vsto step on it
  • Informal
8.0

Move very fast along a street or path

is more about driving urgency and general hurrying than uncontrolled running

Antonyms

687 1.4

To move or act more slowly

To do something slowly and carefully without hurrying

How Fast

to floor it
  • Informal
17 8.0
to step on the gas
  • Informal
9 3.7
to step on it
  • Informal
35 5.2
to speed up
161 2.5
to hurry
1.0
to dawdle
17 5.0

Surface Forms

step on it infinitive
stepped on it past participle
stepping on it present participle
steps on it third person singular

Morphology

step + on + it

The phrase relies on the literal sense of 'step on' (to press with the foot) which can be mapped onto pressing a car's accelerator, giving a physical-image basis for 'go faster'. However, the vagueness of 'it' and the conventionalized shift from literal pressing to the idiomatic 'hurry up/press the gas' means the precise sense is not fully predictable for a B1 learner who only knows the constituent words.

Etymology

The phrase step on it may come from the simple picture of pressing a car pedal: you step on it, the gas pedal, to make the car go faster. That's why today it means 'to go faster' or 'hurry up'.