Dictionary

pedal to the metal en · X

Meanings

1. (idiomatic) At maximum speed.
   • As Quincy recovered from our one-block adrenaline burst, I gunned all 700 horsepower once more. Even with the pedal to the metal, the Exelero's sheer bulk caused a multisecond lag from the twin-turbo-charged V12's wind-up to actual launch. 2007 January 24, Sue Callaway, “Jonesing for a Maybach”, in CNN, archived from the original on 17 Apr 2009:
2. (idiomatic) With maximum effort.
   • Use this energy to make a concerted move, pedal to the metal, on what you've dreamt up while hosting this cosmic power ball. 2026 April 4, Vanessa Montgomery, “Your Weekly Horoscope: April 5-11, 2026”, in Glamour.com, via EBSCOhost:

Forms

Deriveds

put the pedal to the metal

Relateds

balls to the wall · step on it · close to the metal

Synonyms

pedals to the metal

Translations (14)

de Vollgas (max speed or intensity) · cmn 极速 (max speed or intensity) · fr à fond la caisse (max speed or intensity) · bg газ до ду́пка (max speed or intensity) · sv plattan i mattan (max speed or intensity) · fr pleins gaz (max speed or intensity) · fr pied au plancher (max speed or intensity) · pl gaz do dechy (max speed or intensity) · sv gasen i botten (max speed or intensity) · no klampen i bånn (max speed or intensity) · pt pé na tábua (max speed or intensity) · es pisando el acelerador (max speed or intensity) · fi nasta laudassa (max speed or intensity) · fr à toute berzingue (max speed or intensity)