high-test fuel
- noun
- /haɪ tɛst fjuːəl/
- Specialized
:
combustible de alto octanaje
- Before the big race, he filled his tank with high-test fuel to maximize horsepower.
Examples
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Many racecar drivers prefer high-test fuel for its superior octane rating.
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Using high-test fuel helps ensure optimal performance in modern sports vehicles.
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To understand why I took a cat-nap on 1,200 gallons of high-test fuel...
Synonyms
1
6.8
Fuel for powerful engines that lets them run without knocking
How High-Octane
- Specialized
- Specialized
Surface Forms
Morphology
high-test + fuel
The adjective 'high-test' is a specialized, idiomatic modifier meaning 'high-octane' rather than a literal combination of 'high' + 'test' in the everyday sense; a B1 learner who knows 'high' and 'test' is unlikely to derive the technical meaning 'suitable for high-performance engines'. While 'high' gives a clue that something about the fuel is elevated (e.g., stronger or better), the specific notion of octane rating is not predictable from the constituents, so the expression is only partially transparent.
Etymology
The term high-test fuel comes from old fuel labels. Fuel that passed a tougher 'test' for power was called high-test, so the phrase means gasoline for strong, 'high-performance' engines.