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Dictionary

Words, grammatical forms and meanings linked to the ontology.

put the pedal to the metal en · VERB

Pronunciation

Etymology

First use appears c. 1976. Originated in car racing.

Meanings

  1. (idiomatic) To press the gas pedal to the maximum extent.
    • I released the brakes, smashed the clutch and switched the transmission case into low gear, then put the pedal to the metal again throwing the car into what is known as a “moonshine spin”. 2013, Loyd E. Hill, Marvin R. Query, Reap the Wild Seeds, Xlibris Corporation, →ISBN, page 74:
  2. (broadly) To exert maximum effort.
    • There are times for all of us when we have to put the pedal to the metal. Businesspeople and students have deadlines. Parents have periods of time when they don't get breaks because their partners are unavailable or they have no partners. 2007, Donna Carter, 10 Smart Things Women Can Do to Build a Better Life, Harvest House Publishers, →ISBN, page 22:

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
put pedal to the metal alternative lexicographic
put pedal to the medal alternative lexicographic
put the pedal to the medal alternative lexicographic
put the pedal to the metal Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part lexicographic
put the pedal to the metal Tense=Past lexicographic
puts the pedal to the metal Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres lexicographic
putting the pedal to the metal Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part lexicographic

Coordinates

give it the gun

Relateds

balls to the wall · pedal to the metal

Synonyms

go all out · redline · floor it

Translations (11)

da sparke sømmet i bund (make a rapid acceleration) · ru притопить (make a rapid acceleration) · ru поднажать (make a rapid acceleration) · pl wcisnąć gaz do dechy (make a rapid acceleration) · pl wciskać gaz do dechy (make a rapid acceleration) · ru дать газу (make a rapid acceleration) · de Vollgas geben (make a rapid acceleration) · fr mettre le pied au plancher (make a rapid acceleration) · ru утопить педаль в пол (make a rapid acceleration) · ru втопить (make a rapid acceleration) · fr mettre les gaz (make a rapid acceleration)