at a rate of knots

at a rate of knots

Rapidly. (A boat's speed is measured in knots.) Primarily heard in UK, Australia. We're going to have to move at a rate of knots to have any hope of getting there on time.
See also: knot, of, rate
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

at a rate of knots

BRITISH
If someone does something at a rate of knots, they do it very quickly. The band worked at a rate of knots on the LP, often flying back to Dublin after a European show, working all night on the album. By 1935, Blyton was publishing at a rate of knots — adventures, fairy tales, mysteries. Note: The speed of ships is measured in knots. A knot is one nautical mile per hour, equivalent to 1.15 land miles per hour.
See also: knot, of, rate
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.

at a rate of knots

very fast. British informal
A knot here is a nautical unit of speed, equal to one nautical mile per hour.
See also: knot, of, rate
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

at a rate of ˈknots

(British English, informal) very fast: You must have been going at a rate of knots to have finished so soon. OPPOSITE: at a snail’s pace
The speed of a boat or ship is measured in knots.
See also: knot, of, rate
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
See also:
  • rate
  • chip
  • chips
  • up on (one's) ear
  • tie the knot
  • tie the knot, to
  • Two Bob
  • dead as mutton
  • mutton
  • (as) dead as mutton