These fast idioms can be useful tools for improving your vocabulary, and also make our English more effective both socially and at work! If your manager asks you to “get into gear”, what do they mean? It means you should get ready to work. Many more fast expressions will be looked at here!
Fast idioms
Speed affects everything in the world. Did you know that the tongue is the fastest healing part of the body? And the first person to ever measure speed properly was Galileo Galilei. Here are 13 fast idioms that we can use to improve our English vocabulary. They will also benefit our listening comprehension. Along with that, we will also have an idiom quiz at the end!
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! Here is a list of today’s fast idioms, and then we will look at meanings and example sentences.
- 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
- Hard and fast
- Up to speed
- more your speed
Related: 43 Bug Idioms: Popular English Phrases To Speak Naturally
Speed idioms: meanings and everyday English examples
Below you will find today’s fast idioms with everyday English examples. When we think about how to improve vocabulary, one of the methods is reading the new phrase out, then saying it in a sentence, and after that writing it down. These 3 steps can help us to acquire and improve our English vocabulary! Also, be sure to read down to the bottom of the article, where you can find a fun idiom quiz! Let’s look at today’s speed idioms:
Get into gear
The first of our fast expressions means getting ready for action. Just like a manual car needs to be “in gear” before it can move forward.
We have to get into gear for this presentation. If we don’t get it ready soon the boss will be angry.
Breakneck speed
The second addition to our fast idioms means moving at incredible speed. Almost like you could break your neck because of the speed!
We have been driving at breakneck speed. We will arrive soon, safely I hope!
As fast as lightning
Lightning moves almost instantaneously, doesn’t it? As fast as lightning means something or someone moves really, really quickly.
That cheetah was running as fast as lightning!
Pull a fast one
This member of our fast idioms means to trick someone.
My son pulled a fast one on me and lied about eating the cookies.
Stand fast
This means remaining 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”.
Manchester United stood fast against Liverpool and was rewarded with a goal at the last minute.
Blazing-fast
Just like fire burns, or “blazes”, blazing-fast means something moves extremely quickly.
The Japanese Shinkansen is blazing fast. Its top speed is over 300 kph.
Blistering speed
This quick member of our fast expressions means really fast, like running our feet quickly over the carpet can give us blisters.
The Space X Starship will go at blistering speeds through space.
Built for speed
Built for speed refers to a person or animal that is naturally designed for speed. This fast idiom can be used with someone who can run naturally or describe an animal like a cheetah.
Cheetahs and leopards are built for speed.
On the topic of animals, I wrote an article about pig idioms. I think it can help us improve our vocabulary. There are plenty more articles on this site about English idioms, so I would recommend reading them all if you are interested in leveling up your English ability. This goes for people who are learning English as a second language, but for native speakers, too!
Fast track
Fast track is a business English component of our fast expressions. 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.
Janet’s promotion at work was fast-tracked due to her excellent sales performance.
To get nowhere fast (nowhere fast)
Used negatively, get nowhere fast implies a lack of swiftness. It is often said after a problem has occurred, or if someone procrastinates, or is lazy.
We are not going to get anywhere fast with this punctured tire. Let’s call the repair shop.
Hard and fast
This strict addition to our fast expressions means that a rule is definite, without flexibility. It is often spoken with “no”, however. This means there are fewer strict rules.
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.
Up to speed
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. We offer to get someone up to speed: to let them know what’s going on.
I’ll get you up to speed on it if you’d like. I know you were off work recently.
More your speed
This member of our fast idioms means that something is suitable for our current skill level when compared to something else more advanced. See this example to clarify things:
This book here may be more your speed. No offense intended, but Shakespeare is very difficult material!
Idiom quiz: Count the fast idioms!
Now that we have learned 13 fast idioms, it is time to try an idiom quiz to see if we know and recognize them! There are two versions of this quiz. The first one works if you have a friend who can read out the conversation to you. Try to catch as many fast idioms as you can. After they have read it, say how many there were, and also the sayings themselves. The second way to do this is by yourself. Read the below conversation through once only. Again, count and repeat all the sayings at the end. How many fast expressions did you find?
Liam: I feel like we are behind the ball on our marketing project, Emma.
Emma: I know. I think this week we should really get into gear on this.
Liam: It’s a bit frustrating, to be honest. I thought we worked as fast as lightning on the last marketing project, but this one has been quite difficult to get into, hasn’t it?
Emma: Absolutely. But, I really do think we should fast-track this project. I didn’t see what you did yesterday so could you get me up to speed on it?
Liam: Sure no problem. We looked at how to advertise in the Far East market, and also the Oceania market. We haven’t looked at North America yet.
Emma: Thanks, that’s really helpful. Tell me are there any hard and fast rules regarding what kind of advertising we use?
Liam: Not really. I think print advertising is going to be more useful in East Asia. On the other hand, advertising on social media might be more useful in Oceania.
Emma: Got it. Well, I would suggest we get to work right away, otherwise, we won’t be getting anywhere fast.
Liam: Indeed. Let’s begin!
How many fast expressions did you hear or read? Well done if you counted just by listening, as that is hard for many people. There were a total of 5 fast idioms in the above conversation.
Fast Idioms: FAQs
Now let’s look at some commonly asked questions surrounding fast idioms and also the English related to the topic:
What are three meanings for fast?
There are three primary meanings for the word “fast”:
- Quick or rapid: When something is fast, it means that it moves or happens quickly. For example, “The cheetah runs fast” or “He finished the race in record time.”
- Secure or tightly fixed: In this context, fast refers to something being firmly attached or closed. For instance, “Make sure the lid is fast on the jar” or “The door was stuck fast, and I couldn’t open it.”
- Abstaining from food: Fast can also be used as a verb or noun to describe the act of refraining from eating for a certain period of time, often for religious or health purposes. Example sentences: “She decided to fast for 24 hours” or “The doctor advised him to go on a fast to cleanse his system.”
What is the difference between fast and quickly?
Although fast and quickly are often used interchangeably, there is a subtle distinction between the two:
- Fast generally refers to speed or a quick rate of movement or action. It describes how quickly something happens or how swiftly something moves.
- Quickly is more specific and emphasizes the speed with which an action is done. It focuses on the efficiency or promptness of a task being performed.
So, while both words convey a sense of speed, fast is more related to overall speed, while quickly emphasizes the speed of performing a specific action.
Here are a couple of example sentences:
- The cheetah runs fast, covering long distances in no time!
- I need to finish this report quickly, as the deadline is approaching.
What is the idiom for driving fast?
The idiom for driving fast is “to put the pedal to the metal”. This expression originated from the idea of pressing the accelerator pedal in a car equipped with a manual transmission, as far as it could go, to maximize speed. It signifies driving at full speed or accelerating rapidly. Note: It signifies this, but it is just a figure of speech. Please do not actually put the pedal to the metal – it’s dangerous!
Examples:
- “I was running late for the meeting, so I put the pedal to the metal and arrived just in time.”
- “Have you ever put the pedal to the metal while driving on the highway?”
What is the phrasal verb for speed?
The phrasal verb for speed is “to speed up”. This means to increase the rate or velocity of something, to make it go or happen faster. It can refer to various contexts, such as increasing the speed of a vehicle, accelerating a process, or making progress more quickly.
Examples:
- We need to speed up the production process if we want to meet the deadline.
- Have you tried speeding up your computer by installing more RAM?
Fast idioms that can be used to improve our vocabulary
Today we have looked at 13 fast idioms such as get into gear, which means to wake up and be ready to move, and stand fast, which means to remain resolute in your beliefs or position. Another useful addition to our fast idioms is fast track. That is a good one for describing a business situation. The Education First English Proficiency Index shows that English awareness is important for global business. That’s why it’s important to improve our vocabulary by studying these English idioms. Another handy expression we checked out today was up to speed. It is often used in the office. If we “get someone up to speed”, it means we update them on the progress of something.
We have also tried an idiom quiz that can help with listening and English vocabulary. I hope you have found these speed idioms a useful and fun addition to your social and business lexicon!