step on it
Meaning
Hurry up; do something faster (often said to a driver to speed up).
Origin
From the idea of stepping on the accelerator pedal to make a vehicle go faster; later generalized to mean “hurry up” in other situations.
Notes
Informal and somewhat forceful. Commonly used to tell a driver to accelerate, and by extension to urge faster action in general; avoid in very formal contexts.
Examples
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We’re running late—step on it or we’ll miss the train.
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The ambulance driver stepped on it when the call came in.
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Can you step on it a little? I need to be at the airport by seven.
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As soon as the light turned green, he stepped on it and sped off.
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If the boss asks where you are, tell her we’re stepping on it.
Grammar & Usage Notes
Usually used as an imperative: “Step on it!” Can take an implied object (“it” is fixed). Rarely inflected; not typically used as *stepped on it* with the idiomatic meaning.
Synonyms
- hurry up
- get a move on
- speed up
- make it snappy
Antonyms
- take your time
- slow down