put the pedal to the metal

Meaning: To accelerate a vehicle to maximum speed, or more figuratively, to exert maximum effort.

Example: “We're late for the airport; put the pedal to the metal.”

Equivalents in other languages

Origin: Originates from mid-twentieth-century American driving culture; the gas pedal sits directly above the metal floorboard or frame of a car.

donkey's ears A very long time; ages.
soft underbelly A point of vulnerability or weakness in something otherwise strong or well-defended.
long fuse A personality trait of being slow to anger; patience before losing one's temper.
long pork Human flesh, especially as food.
bow out To resign or withdraw from a situation while preserving one's dignity and reputation.
long shot Something unlikely to succeed or happen; a bet or venture with very poor odds.

Words that capture a feeling or idea English needs a whole sentence for.

Weltschmerz The weariness and sadness you feel when the world as it is falls painfully short of the w…
Torschlusspanik The anxious fear that time is running out — that the gates of opportunity, youth, or life…
Kummerspeck The weight you gain from emotional eating — the extra pounds that accumulate during heart…

Keep exploring