cylinder

be firing on all cylinders

To be functioning or operating at the most desirable or greatest possible level of efficiency, speed, or productivity. The automated messaging process is firing on all cylinders now that we've solved the bouncing issue. I'll be firing on all cylinders after I've had my coffee.
See also: all, cylinder, firing, on

be hitting on all cylinders

To be functioning or operating at the most desirable or greatest possible level of efficiency, speed, or productivity. The automated messaging process is hitting on all cylinders now that we've solved the bouncing issue. I'll be hitting on all cylinders after I've had my coffee.
See also: all, cylinder, hit, on

cylinder head

The metal casing that fits onto a cylinder block in an internal-combustion engine. A: "Did dad say what's wrong with the car?" B: "I don't know, something about needing to fix the cylinder head, whatever that means!"
See also: cylinder, head

fire on all cylinders

1. To have all cylinders in an engine functioning. There's something wrong with my car—it's definitely not firing on all cylinders.
2. To function or operate at the most desirable or greatest possible level of efficiency, speed, or productivity. (Usually used in the continuous tense.) The new website will be firing on all cylinders once we get the comments section up and running! I only fire on all cylinders after I've had my coffee.
See also: all, cylinder, fire, on

fire on all four cylinders

To function or operate at the most desirable or greatest possible level of efficiency, speed, or productivity. (Usually used in the continuous tense.) The phrase alludes to the cylinders in an engine. The new website will be firing on all four cylinders once we get the comments section up and running! I only fire on all four cylinders after I've had my coffee.
See also: all, cylinder, fire, four, on

hit on all cylinders

To operate, perform, function, or proceed exceptionally well or at the greatest possible speed or efficiency. We'll be hitting on all cylinders if we get Janet to join our team.
See also: all, cylinder, hit, on

hitting on all cylinders

Functioning or operating at the most desirable or greatest possible level of efficiency, speed, or productivity. The automated messaging process is hitting on all cylinders now that we've solved the bouncing issue. I'll be hitting on all cylinders after I've had my coffee.
See also: all, cylinder, hit, on

run on all cylinders

1. To have all cylinders in an engine functioning. There's something wrong with my car—it's definitely not running on all cylinders.
2. By extension, to function or operate at the most desirable or greatest possible level of efficiency, speed, or productivity. (Usually used in the continuous tense.) The new website will be running on all cylinders once we get the comments section up and running! I only run on all cylinders after I've had my coffee.
See also: all, cylinder, on, run

work on all cylinders

1. To have all cylinders in an engine functioning. There's something wrong with my car—it's definitely not working on all cylinders.
2. By extension, to function or operate at the most desirable or greatest possible level of efficiency, speed, or productivity. (Usually used in the continuous tense.) The new website will be working on all cylinders once we get the comments section up and running! I only work on all cylinders after I've had my coffee.
See also: all, cylinder, on, work
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

firing on all cylinders

 and hitting on all cylinders 
1. Lit.
 [of an internal combustion engine] having all its cylinders working and thus providing the maximum amount of power. The old car is firing on all cylinders despite its age. This thing's not hitting on all cylinders.
2. Fig. working at full strength; making every possible effort. The team is firing on all cylinders under the new coach. The factory is hitting on all cylinders to finish the orders on time.
See also: all, cylinder, firing, on

run on all cylinders

 
1. Lit. [for an engine] to run well and smoothly. This car is now running on all cylinders, thanks to the tune-up. You can hear if an engine is not running on all cylinders.
2. Fig. to function well or energetically. Our department seems to be running on all cylinders. Congratulations. I am back at my desk after my illness—running on all cylinders.
See also: all, cylinder, on, run
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

fire on all cylinders

Also, hit or click on all cylinders . Function very well, as in Once we figured out how to use the new software, the department was firing on all cylinders , or "So the best infielder takes time to fit into the infield of a Big League club and have it hit on all four cylinders again" (Christy Mathewson, Pitching in a Pinch, 1912). This term transfers the functioning of an internal combustion engine, which works best when all its cylinders ignite, to broader use. [Early 1900s]
See also: all, cylinder, fire, on
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.

be firing on all cylinders

COMMON If someone is firing on all cylinders, they are doing a task with great enthusiasm and energy. I saw her a few weeks ago and she was firing on all cylinders. When Wales are firing on all cylinders, they can beat any country in the world. Note: If someone is not doing a task as well as they should be, you can say that they are not firing on all cylinders or are only firing on two cylinders. We were only firing on two cylinders in the first half of the game. Note: This expression refers to the cylinders in an engine. There are usually four of them.
See also: all, cylinder, firing, on
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.

firing on all (four) cylinders

working or functioning at a peak level.
This expression is a metaphor from an internal-combustion engine: a cylinder is said to be firing when the fuel inside it is ignited.
1998 Entertainment Weekly Even when his imagination isn't firing on all cylinders, Amis is still worth picking up, if only to enjoy the jazzy rhythm of his prose.
See also: all, cylinder, firing, on
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

firing/working on all ˈcylinders

(informal) using all your energy to do something; working as well as possible: The 24-year-old player feels that he is not yet firing on all cylinders.
See also: all, cylinder, firing, on, working
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

run on all cylinders

1. in. to run well and smoothly. My plan is now running on all cylinders.
2. in. to operate sensibly and intelligently. Pay attention to what you are doing. Start running on all cylinders.
See also: all, cylinder, on, run
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions

fire on all cylinders

Go all out. The term comes from automobiles, where it means all of a car’s cylinders have been ignited and the engine is fully powered. It has been used figuratively since the second half of the 1900s, as in “That was a great speech; he was really firing on all cylinders.” See also pull out all the stops.
See also: all, cylinder, fire, on
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer
See also:
  • be firing on all cylinders
  • be hitting on all cylinders
  • firing on all cylinders
  • be the best of a bad bunch
  • be the best of a bad lot
  • DYK
  • HRU
  • welp
  • a road to nowhere
  • road to nowhere
References in periodicals archive
Consumers on their part also rarely check the expiry dates of gas cylinders before buying them from distributors.
Illegal cooking gas suppliers to face stringent action
In the proposed laws, there is a clause to address the payment debacle.All debts incurred due to the Cylinder Exchange Pool as at the date of these regulations coming into force shall remain civil debts and shall be liable for payment by the debtors where no physical cylinder is available for exchange, it says.
Pool gas cylinder arrangement faces demise
In present study, the influence of permeable cylinder on the wake flow is experimentally investigated by the PIV technique in deep water.
EXPERIMENTAL INVESTIGATION OF FLOW STRUCTURE DOWNSTREAM OF PERMEABLE CYLINDERS
Cylinder components arrive at the production facility and require machining, heat treating, testing/inspection and special assembly procedures typically using automated machinery.
Cylinder failures: your engine's cylinders can be a weak link in managing risk. But if we learn to operate the engine better, many failures can be prevented
A version of the 3 cylinder engine with the same displacement but without cylinder deactivation technology provided information on component masses which were compared to values predicted by a pre-processor for PROMETS.
The effects of cylinder deactivation on the thermal behaviour and performance of a three cylinder spark ignition engine
When deciding which cylinder to buy, look at the heat-loss figure (how long the cylinder takes to cool down), the reheat time (how long the cylinder takes to reheat after hot water is drawn off) and the insulation thickness.
When it's time for a heating update; If your home's central heating system is in need of an update, a new hot-water cylinder will help. Geoff Egginton from the Hot Water Association has some expert advice
have panels, a twin cylinder If you have solar thermal (water-heating) panels or are thinking of installing them, go for a cylinder with two heat exchanger coilers (twin coil).
Hot property; A new water cylinder could be just the update your central heating needs, says Geoff Egginton from the Hot Water Association
Muscat: More than 44,000 gas cylinders were inspected by authorities in the April to August period to ensure consumer safety standards.
44,000 gas cylinders undergo safety inspection in Oman
Continental is providing an additional warranty for NiC3 cylinders, which covers the cylinder barrel for abnormal wear and corrosion for five years.
Cylinder follow-up: continental's new NiC3: continental scrapped the Nickel+Carbide-coated Titan cylinder line when it bought ECi, but now introduces a Nickel Silicon Carbide option for its own cylinders
After reducing the diameter of the ratchet of cylinder #2 I cold-blued it to protect the exposed metal.
A tale of two cylinders: a conversion cylinder of a different caliber increases the flexibility of a single action revolver
The new large diameter cylinder is also certified according to the American National Standards Institute/Canadian Standards Association NGV2 standard.
Worthington optimizes fuel storage in large diameter Type III cylinder
Until recently, I was assigned to units that had GCEPs supported by post-wide cylinder exchange programs.
Gas cylinder exchange solutions: if your unit manages its own gas cylinder exchange program, you may need some guidance from the Defense Logistics Agency
Irving, TX, August 27, 2014 --(PR.com)-- The global oxygen cylinder market is highly fragmented with more than 50 companies supplying oxygen globally for different purposes.
Lucintel Anticipates APAC to Witness Maximum Growth During Forecast Period in Oxygen Cylinder Market
Depending on the concentration of such components, and the total pressure of the mix, they can be subject to partially condensing in the cylinder if they are subjected to cooler temperatures like 50[degrees]F during transport or storage.
Preservation of calibration gas mixtures having low vapor pressure components
Gather your supplies 55 tabloid-sized newspapers Mod Podge (sealer/glue) 2 belts you'll also need Sticky tape; scissors; extra newspapers; paintbrush; drill; 1 packet 10g x 75mm countersunk ribbed-head chipboard screws; screwdriver; 25 bolt screws (optional) Step 1 Tightly roll 1 newspaper into a cylinder shape.
How to Make Rolled Newspaper Stool