They make our speech lively, and when it comes to speed, idioms truly rev up the excitement. In this article, we’re going to explore some idioms that convey the essence of rapidity.
So, fasten your seatbelts, and let’s dive into the world of idioms for speed!
What is an idiom for speed?
An idiom is a group of words that, when put together, has a meaning that’s different from the individual words. Idioms are used to express ideas or concepts in a way that’s unique and often figurative.
When it comes to speed, English has an array of idioms that paint vivid pictures of swiftness.
Let’s break down the meaning of each idiom and use them in sentences to see how they work.
| Idiom | Meaning | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| Fast as lightning | Extremely quick or rapid | He finished the race as fast as lightning, leaving his competitors far behind. |
| Quick as a wink | Very fast, almost instantaneously | She responded to the question quick as a wink, showing her deep knowledge. |
| Speed of light | As fast as possible; at the maximum speed | The delivery service promised to get the package to its destination at the speed of light. |
| Like a bat out of hell | To move extremely fast, often with a sense of urgency | When the fire alarm went off, people evacuated the building like a bat out of hell. |
| In the fast lane | Living or working in a high-paced, energetic manner | She’s always in the fast lane, juggling multiple projects at once. |
| Burn rubber | To accelerate quickly, often with squealing tires | The sports car burned rubber as it sped away from the traffic light. |
| Zooming along | Moving swiftly and smoothly | The skateboarder was zooming along the sidewalk, showing off impressive tricks. |
| Racing against time | Trying to accomplish something quickly before a deadline or time constraint | We were racing against time to finish the project before the client’s meeting. |
| Running like the wind | Running at an incredibly fast pace | The track star was running like the wind, breaking records left and right. |
| Greased lightning | Exceptionally fast and smooth | His fingers on the piano keys were like greased lightning, creating beautiful music effortlessly. |
| Swift as a deer | Moving with grace and incredible speed | The gazelle darted through the savannah, swift as a deer, escaping from a predator. |
| Pedal to the metal | Accelerating a vehicle to its maximum speed | He pushed the pedal to the metal and raced down the highway. |
| Warp speed | Moving at an extremely high velocity, often used in a sci-fi context | The spaceship traveled at warp speed, exploring distant galaxies. |
| A whirlwind pace | A hectic and fast-paced way of doing things | Our vacation was a whirlwind pace, visiting multiple cities in just a week. |
| At breakneck speed | Dangerously fast; so fast it feels reckless | The roller coaster descended at breakneck speed, thrilling the riders. |
| Like a bullet train | Moving as quickly as a high-speed train | The project progressed like a bullet train, reaching milestones ahead of schedule. |
| Flying like a rocket | Moving rapidly and with great force, like a rocket taking off | The car sped down the straightaway, flying like a rocket. |
| Running a mile a minute | Running or moving very fast | She was running a mile a minute to catch up with her friends. |
| Like a streak of lightning | Extremely fast, with a sudden and swift movement | The cat darted across the room like a streak of lightning, chasing a toy. |
| Rushing headlong | Moving forward quickly and recklessly, often without thinking | He was rushing headlong into the project without a clear plan. |
| Hitting the gas | Accelerating a vehicle by pressing the gas pedal | He hit the gas and sped away from the traffic jam. |
| Full throttle | Moving or operating at maximum speed or intensity | The band played their music at full throttle, energizing the crowd. |
| Time is of the essence | It’s crucial to act quickly because there’s limited time | We need to finish the repairs now; time is of the essence before the storm hits. |
| Like a tornado | Moving swiftly and destructively, like a tornado | The kids cleaned their room like a tornado, leaving everything in disarray. |
| Speed demon | Someone who loves to drive fast or is exceptionally skilled at it | He’s a speed demon on the racetrack, winning championship after championship. |
| Faster than a cheetah | Incredibly swift, like the fastest land animal | She finished the race faster than a cheetah, setting a new world record. |
| Racing the clock | Trying to complete a task or reach a destination before a specified time | We were racing the clock to make it to the airport before our flight departed. |
Speed is like an arrow released from a bow, hurtling through the air with unstoppable force and velocity. For more comparisons to describe speed, you can check this link: Similes for speed. And for a variety of metaphors related to speed, you can explore this link: Metaphors for speed.
Idioms for Speed
1. Fast as lightning
Meaning: Extremely quick or rapid.
In a Sentence: He finished the race as fast as lightning, leaving his competitors far behind.
2. Quick as a wink
Meaning: Very fast, almost instantaneously.
In a Sentence: She responded to the question quick as a wink, showing her deep knowledge.
3. Speed of light
Meaning: As fast as possible; at the maximum speed.
In a Sentence: The delivery service promised to get the package to its destination at the speed of light.
4. Like a bat out of hell
Meaning: To move extremely fast, often with a sense of urgency.
In a Sentence: When the fire alarm went off, people evacuated the building like a bat out of hell.
5. In the fast lane
Meaning: Living or working in a high-paced, energetic manner.
In a Sentence: She’s always in the fast lane, juggling multiple projects at once.
6. Burn rubber
Meaning: To accelerate quickly, often with squealing tires.
In a Sentence: The sports car burned rubber as it sped away from the traffic light.
7. Zooming along
Meaning: Moving swiftly and smoothly.
In a Sentence: The skateboarder was zooming along the sidewalk, showing off impressive tricks.
8. Racing against time
Meaning: Trying to accomplish something quickly before a deadline or time constraint.
In a Sentence: We were racing against time to finish the project before the client’s meeting.
9. Running like the wind
Meaning: Running at an incredibly fast pace.
In a Sentence: The track star was running like the wind, breaking records left and right.
10. Greased lightning
Meaning: Exceptionally fast and smooth.
In a Sentence: His fingers on the piano keys were like greased lightning, creating beautiful music effortlessly.
11. Swift as a deer
Meaning: Moving with grace and incredible speed.
In a Sentence: The gazelle darted through the savannah, swift as a deer, escaping from a predator.
12. Pedal to the metal
Meaning: Accelerating a vehicle to its maximum speed.
In a Sentence: He pushed the pedal to the metal and raced down the highway.
13. Warp speed
Meaning: Moving at an extremely high velocity, often used in a sci-fi context.
In a Sentence: The spaceship traveled at warp speed, exploring distant galaxies.
14. A whirlwind pace
Meaning: A hectic and fast-paced way of doing things.
In a Sentence: Our vacation was a whirlwind pace, visiting multiple cities in just a week.
15. At breakneck speed
Meaning: Dangerously fast; so fast it feels reckless.
In a Sentence: The roller coaster descended at breakneck speed, thrilling the riders.
16. Like a bullet train
Meaning: Moving as quickly as a high-speed train.
In a Sentence: The project progressed like a bullet train, reaching milestones ahead of schedule.
17. Flying like a rocket
Meaning: Moving rapidly and with great force, like a rocket taking off.
In a Sentence: The car sped down the straightaway, flying like a rocket.
18. Running a mile a minute
Meaning: Running or moving very fast.
In a Sentence: She was running a mile a minute to catch up with her friends.
19. Like a streak of lightning
Meaning: Extremely fast, with a sudden and swift movement.
In a Sentence: The cat darted across the room like a streak of lightning, chasing a toy.
20. Rushing headlong
Meaning: Moving forward quickly and recklessly, often without thinking.
In a Sentence: He was rushing headlong into the project without a clear plan.
21. Hitting the gas
Meaning: Accelerating a vehicle by pressing the gas pedal.
In a Sentence: He hit the gas and sped away from the traffic jam.
22. Full throttle
Meaning: Moving or operating at maximum speed or intensity.
In a Sentence: The band played their music at full throttle, energizing the crowd.
23. Time is of the essence
Meaning: It’s crucial to act quickly because there’s limited time.
In a Sentence: We need to finish the repairs now; time is of the essence before the storm hits.
24. Like a tornado
Meaning: Moving swiftly and destructively, like a tornado.
In a Sentence: The kids cleaned their room like a tornado, leaving everything in disarray.
25. Speed demon
Meaning: Someone who loves to drive fast or is exceptionally skilled at it.
In a Sentence: He’s a speed demon on the racetrack, winning championship after championship.
26. Faster than a cheetah
Meaning: Incredibly swift, like the fastest land animal.
In a Sentence: She finished the race faster than a cheetah, setting a new world record.
27. Racing the clock
Meaning: Trying to complete a task or reach a destination before a specified time.
In a Sentence: We were racing the clock to make it to the airport before our flight departed.
Quizzes About The Idioms in The Article
- What does the idiom “Quick as a wink” mean?
a) Extremely slow
b) Very fast, almost instantaneously
c) Slow and steady - Which idiom means “Moving swiftly and destructively, like a tornado”?
a) Racing against time
b) Like a tornado
c) Hitting the gas - What is the meaning of “In the fast lane”?
a) Taking your time
b) Living or working in a high-paced, energetic manner
c) Being cautious - Which idiom describes someone who loves to drive fast or is exceptionally skilled at it?
a) Full throttle
b) Speed demon
c) Greased lightning - What does “Pedal to the metal” mean?
a) Driving slowly
b) Accelerating a vehicle to its maximum speed
c) Applying the brakes - What does the idiom “Running like the wind” convey?
a) Running slowly
b) Running at an incredibly fast pace
c) Running in circles - Which idiom means “Dangerously fast; so fast it feels reckless”?
a) Like a bullet train
b) At breakneck speed
c) Racing the clock - What does the expression “A whirlwind pace” signify?
a) A leisurely pace
b) A hectic and fast-paced way of doing things
c) A slow and steady progress - Which idiom means “Moving with grace and incredible speed”?
a) Swift as a deer
b) Time is of the essence
c) Warp speed - What is the meaning of “Like a streak of lightning”?
a) Extremely slow
b) Extremely fast, with a sudden and swift movement
c) Moving at a moderate pace
Answers:
- b) Very fast, almost instantaneously
- b) Like a tornado
- b) Living or working in a high-paced, energetic manner
- b) Speed demon
- b) Accelerating a vehicle to its maximum speed
- b) Running at an incredibly fast pace
- b) At breakneck speed
- b) A hectic and fast-paced way of doing things
- a) Swift as a deer
- b) Extremely fast, with a sudden and swift movement
Conclusion
English is full of colorful expressions that vividly convey the concept of speed. These idioms bring life to our conversations, allowing us to describe swiftness in imaginative ways.
