Daniel Bullock- Daniel Bullock
Fast Expressions: Everything You Need To Know About Speed Idioms
What are some idioms for fast?
Here are some idioms that are related to the word fast. If your manager asks you to "get into gear", what do they mean? They are telling you to either hurry up or get ready to work more quickly. Has anybody ever advised you to "stand fast"? What they are trying to say is you should remain determined, do not move from your current position. This could be either physical or figurative. How about "speed up"? That means you need to move faster! For a full list check the sections below.
Idioms for quick: A useful list
Get into gear
To go at breakneck speed
As fast as lightning
Pull a fast one
Stand fast
Blazing-fast
Blistering speed
Built for speed
Fast track
To get nowhere fast
A table of fast expressions with their meanings
What's the meaning of these fast expressions? Here is a table explaining the meaning of these fast, speedy, and hurried English idioms. Have a look right away!
Speed idiom | Meaning |
Get into gear | This means getting ready for action. Just like a manual car needs to be “in gear” before it can move forward. |
To go at breakneck speed | This means moving at a superfast speed. Almost like you could break your neck because of the speed! |
As fast as lightning | Lightning moves almost instantaneously, doesn't it? As fast as lightning means something or someone moves really, really quickly. |
Pull a fast one | This means to trick someone. |
Stand fast | This means to remain in your current position. It is often used when people try to change your opinion, but you keep to your idea and remain determined. You “stand fast”. |
Blazing-fast | Just like fire burns, or “blazes”,blazing-fast means something moves extremely quickly. |
Blistering speed | It means fast, like running our feet quickly over the carpet can give us blisters. |
Built for speed | This person or animal is naturally designed for speed. Think of a cheetah. |
Fast track | This is a business English expression. It means that a plan or project gets accelerated to the front of the line. It could also be used to talk about a person. For example. my application for a visa was "fast-tracked" and I got it more quickly than other people. |
To get nowhere fast | Used negatively. This implies a lack of swiftness. For instance, we have a puncture on our car tire. We are going nowhere fast! |
What are some example sentences for Idioms about speed?
Example sentence for: breakneck speed
We have been driving at breakneck speed. We will arrive soon, safely I hope!
Example sentence for: get into gear
We have to get into gear for this presentation. If we don't get it ready soon the boss will be angry.
Example sentence for: As fast as lightning
That cheetah was running as fast as lightning!
Example sentence for: Pull a fast one
My son pulled a fast one on me and lied about eating the cookies.
Example sentence for: Stand fast
Manchester United stood fast against Liverpool, and were rewarded with a goal in the last minute.
Example sentence for: Blazing-fast
The Japanese Shinkansen is blazing-fast. Its top speed is 320kph.
Example sentence for: Blistering speed
The Space X starship will go at blistering speeds through space.
Example sentence for: Built for speed
The BMW M5 looks like it is built for speed. I'd Like one!
Example sentence for: Fast track
Janet's promotion at work was fast-tracked due to ger excellent sales performance.
Example sentence for: To get nowhere fast
We are not going to get anywhere fast with this punctured tire. Let's call the repair shop.
What kind of phrase is hard and fast?
Hard a fast is a phrase that implies there are no particularly strict rules or conditions to a topic. For example, a student asks his English teacher:
Student: How should I write this essay on William Shakespeare and how long should it be?
Teacher: Well, there are no hard and fast rules. Just make sure you have researched the topic well. The length of the essay is up to you.
As you can see by this example, the teacher seems quite flexible about what is included in the essay. There are no rigid guidelines. When you hear this expression pop up in conversation, it usually implies that you can decide for yourself about the topic, within reasonable limits.
Is up to speed an idiom?
Yes, up to speed is definitely an idiom! This expression means the person has up-to-date (current) information about a topic. It is often used in conversation in the form of a suggestion. See this example:
Colleague 1: What are we working on this afternoon, Sarah? Is it the presentation?
Colleague 2: Yes, that's right. I'll get you up to speed on it if you'd like. I know you were off work recently.
Colleague 1: Thanks, that would be brilliant. I have forgotten most of the details already.
What's the meaning of "more your speed"?
This idiom means that something is suitable for our current skill level when compared to something else more advanced. See this example to clarify things:
Student 1: Do you think I should read some of Shakespeare's works this semester?
Student 2: This book here my be your speed. No offense intended, but Shakespeare is very difficult material!
Student 1: I see your point. Maybe next year when my English skill is a bit more advanced?
Student 2: Yes, that's an excellent idea!
What does "get into gear" mean?
According to Collins, it means: to start to deal with something in an effective way. This idiom definitely has a speed connotation. It means we are going to rapidly get ready for something. Here is an example:
The tourist spots on the Algarve are getting into gear for the coming tourist season.