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Glite Dictionary
to work on all cylinders

to work on all cylinders

1 5.2
To do something with a lot of energy and good results
  • idiom
  • Informal
translation icon : trabajar a todo vapor
  • The team is working on all cylinders to meet the project deadline.

Examples

  • Yeah, I mean, she works on all cylinders all the time.

    The Intern (2015)

  • After resting well, she felt ready to work on all cylinders during the meeting.

  • They worked on all cylinders to ensure the event was a success.

Synonyms

to fire on all cylinders
vsto work on all cylinders
  • Informal
5 5.7

Work at the best possible level

has identical meaning but uses a different idiomatic phrasing

Antonyms

to slow down
687 1.4

To move or act more slowly

to underperform
20 5.3

To do worse than expected or needed

How Efficient

to work on all cylinders
  • Informal
1 5.2
to function
441 2.6
struggle
466 3.2

Surface Forms

work on all cylinders infinitive
worked on all cylinders past
worked on all cylinders past participle
working on all cylinders present participle
works on all cylinders third person singular

Morphology

work + on + all + cylinder

The parts ('work' = function/operate, 'all' = whole, 'cylinder' = engine chamber) provide a plausible clue that the phrase refers to all engine components operating — i.e., operating at full capacity. However, the meaning relies on an engine/mechanical metaphor (often expressed as 'firing on all cylinders') that requires background technical or cultural knowledge, so the exact idiomatic sense is not fully predictable for a B1 learner from the words alone.

Etymology

Work on all cylinders comes from car engines: an engine must have every cylinder doing its job for the car to run smoothly and with full power. That's why saying someone works on all cylinders means they are 'working with full power and efficiency'.