Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

put the pedal to the metal

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 3.61 in modern English

Syllables: put the pedal -to the met-al
IPA

34

Scrabble Score

21

Letters

3

Syllables

10

Unique Chars

Meaning

verb

To press the gas pedal to the maximum extent.

verb

To exert maximum effort.

Example Sentences

"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”."
"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."

Etymology

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

Inflected Forms

puts the pedal to the metal (present, singular) putting the pedal to the metal (participle, present) put pedal to the metal (alternative) put the pedal to the medal (alternative) put pedal to the medal (alternative)

Phrases

pedal to the metal balls to the wall

Frequently Paired Words

pedal to the metal balls to the wall give it the gun

Synonyms

floor it redline go all out

Questions

What does put the pedal to the metal mean?: To press the gas pedal to the maximum extent.
Where does put the pedal to the metal come from?: First use appears c. 1976. Originated in car racing.

How to pronounce put the pedal to the metal

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