pedal to the metal
Meaning
Go as fast as possible; proceed at full speed or with maximum effort.
Origin
From driving: pressing the accelerator pedal all the way down until it hits the carโs metal floor, meaning maximum speed. Popularized in U.S. car culture and later used metaphorically for any maximum-effort push.
Notes
Energetic, informal phrase. Used literally for driving or metaphorically for pushing hard/fast. In safety-conscious contexts it can sound reckless if taken literally.
Examples
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When the storm started, we went pedal to the metal to get home before the roads flooded.
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The CEO told the team to go pedal to the metal if we wanted to hit the launch date.
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As soon as the final lap began, she pushed pedal to the metal and passed two cars.
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Weโre behind schedule, so itโs pedal to the metal all week to finish this project.
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Heโs got his pedal to the metal trying to save up for a down payment by working two jobs.
Grammar & Usage Notes
Usually as a noun phrase after verbs like go/put/keep: โgo pedal to the metal,โ โkeep it pedal to the metal.โ Often appears without articles; sometimes hyphenated (pedal-to-the-metal) as an adjective.
Synonyms
- full throttle
- flat out
- at full speed
- balls to the wall
- go all out
Antonyms
- take it easy
- slow down
- ease off
- pump the brakes