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Glite Dictionary
to put the pedal to the metal

to put the pedal to the metal

7 6.3
To drive or work as fast as possible, often to finish something
  • idiom
  • Informal
translation icon : pisar el acelerador
  • Come on, Darrell, put the pedal to the metal!
  • put the pedal to the metal, dude
  • just put the pedal to the metal
  • Let's put the pedal to the metal

Examples

Synonyms

to step on it
vsto put the pedal to the metal
  • Informal
35 5.2

To hurry and go faster, often when driving

emphasizes determined full-speed effort rather than just quickening pace
to floor it
vsto put the pedal to the metal
  • Informal
17 8.0

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

means speed up strongly with energetic determination
to step on the gas
vsto put the pedal to the metal
  • Informal
9 3.7

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

is broader, adding determined urgency to the same speeding action
to hit the gas
vsto put the pedal to the metal
  • Informal
8 3.6

Press the car pedal to make it go faster

adds an energetic, determined attitude to simple acceleration
to push to the limit
vsto put the pedal to the metal
7 5.1

Make a person or thing work as hard as possible until they cannot keep going

relates instead to reaching top speed quickly with determination
to get one's ass in gear
vsto put the pedal to the metal
  • Offensive
2 9.9

Start working quickly and with more energy

is similar but stresses pushing speed to the maximum
to put one's shoulder to the wheel
vsto put the pedal to the metal
  • Informal
2 7.5

To start working very hard to reach a goal

focuses more on rapid acceleration and energetic speed than steady work
to hit the accelerator
vsto put the pedal to the metal
  • Informal
1 4.4

To try harder or work faster to reach a goal

focuses more on fast action driven by determination
to go into high gear
vsto put the pedal to the metal
1 4.4

To start working faster and harder

expresses the same increase but as urgent, full-speed action
to push it to the limit
vsto put the pedal to the metal
  • Informal
1 7.2

Use all your energy and take big risks to test your skill

is narrower, meaning immediate fast acceleration with determined force
to drive like crazy
vsto put the pedal to the metal
  • Informal
6.0

To make a car go very fast and in a dangerous way

is similar in speed but stresses purposeful energy rather than recklessness
to run like a demon
vsto put the pedal to the metal
  • Informal
3.9

To move very fast with great energy

focuses on rapid acceleration specifically with determined intent
to push into overdrive
vsto put the pedal to the metal
6.1

To work much harder and faster to get something done

is more about swift full acceleration with determined purpose

Antonyms

to slow down
687 1.4

To move or act more slowly

to take it easy
  • Informal
572 2.5

Relax and avoid doing too much or worrying

How Fast

to floor it
  • Informal
17 8.0
to put the pedal to the metal
  • Informal
7 6.3
to step on the gas
  • Informal
9 3.7
to accelerate
  • Specialized
331 3.7
to speed up
161 2.5

Surface Forms

put the pedal to the metal infinitive
put the pedal to the metal past
put the pedal to the metal past participle
putting the pedal to the metal present participle
puts the pedal to the metal third person singular

Morphology

put + the + pedal + to + the + metal

The meaning is derived from a driving metaphor — pressing a vehicle pedal hard against the (metal) floor to accelerate — so the constituent words 'pedal' and 'metal' point toward speed. However, this is a culturally specific, metaphorical construction (colloquial US English) and the exact sense 'go as fast as possible' is not fully predictable for a B1 learner without knowledge of the driving image, so some prior exposure is needed.

Etymology

The idiom put the pedal to the metal comes from driving: in older cars drivers would press the pedal hard against the metal floor so the car would go as fast as possible. So today it means 'to go as fast as possible' or 'to try very hard'.