to step lively
4
5.5
- phrasal verb
- Informal
:
apresurarse
- If we want to get to the movie on time, we need to step lively.
- step lively now
- step lively, girls
- step lively, men
Examples
-
Come on, step lively.
-
Come on, boys, step lively.
-
Step lively for a tour of San Francisco.
-
- Come on, step lively, Huck.
-
"Yes, sir, my boy, we've all got to step lively when your mother's around.
Fiction book (1992) -
- Step lively!
-
- Step lively, kid.
-
Now step lively, men.
Fiction book (1990) -
Step lively, Mr. Nickerson!
-
She shivered and quickened her pace again, and Egwene had to step lively to catch up.
Fiction book (1991)
Synonyms
637
1.0
To move or act more quickly to avoid being late
54
3.1
To move quickly with short, hurried steps because you feel afraid or rushed
22
3.2
To move quickly with small, light, playful steps
1
8.2
To move quickly with short, hurried steps when you feel nervous
Move very fast along a street or path
Antonyms
How Fast
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning 'to move quickly or with energy' follows directly from combining 'step' (move by foot) with 'lively' (energetic); the adjective straightforwardly specifies the manner of the action. This verb + manner adjective pattern is compositional and common across languages, so a B1 learner who knows both words would readily infer the MWE meaning.
Etymology
Step lively likely comes from old bus and tram conductors who shouted for passengers to step on quickly so the vehicle could leave. So, lively here meant 'quickly', and the phrase now means 'move quickly' or 'hurry'.