speeding
faster than a speeding bullet
Extremely fast. The phrase was most famously used to describe Superman in the theme song to Adventures of Superman. You're gonna have to run faster than a speeding bullet to beat this girl—she can maintain a pace that is basically superhuman.
See also: bullet, faster, speeding
speed away
To leave or depart (from someone or something) very quickly, especially on or in some kind of vehicle. The kids rode up on their bikes, pelted us with water balloons, then sped away as quickly as they arrived. The bank robbers sped away in the bright red sports car, which the police had little trouble tracking down. I sped away from the area as soon as I saw our teacher approaching.
See also: away, speed
speed by
1. To move, pass, or lapse quickly. Wow, the time has really sped by—I can't believe we're nearly at the end of our trip! I tried to catch the license plate number of the car speeding by, but it was too fast.
2. To move past someone or something very quickly. Followed by a noun or pronoun of the person or thing being passed. It really startled me when the motorcycle sped by our car. I tried to get the teacher's attention, but she sped right by me.
See also: by, speed
speed off
To leave or depart very quickly or hastily, especially by driving. The criminals sped off just before the police arrived. He sped off when he heard the teachers approaching.
See also: off, speed
speed through
1. To move or pass through something with great speed. Luckily, a traffic camera caught the car's license plate as it sped through the red light.
2. To progress or proceed through something with great speed, especially in a hasty, careless, or indifferent manner. I just felt like the pastor sped through the wedding ceremony. If you speed through the material, you're not going to remember it on the day of the exam.
See also: speed, through
speed up
1. To increase in speed; to move or function at a faster or higher rate. Be sure to speed up when you're overtaking a vehicle on the road. The automated process began speeding up once I shut down all the other ancillary systems.
2. To cause someone or something to increase in speed or rate of activity. A noun or pronoun can be used between "speed" and "up." You want an activity that will gradually speed your heartrate up. We are speeding up production now that we know there is such strong demand from consumers.
See also: speed, up
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
speed away (from someone or something)
to move or drive away very fast from someone or something. The taxi sped away from the passenger who had just alighted. The car sped away from the accident. The motorcycle sped away.
See also: away, speed
speed someone or something up
to cause someone or something to move faster. We tried to speed him up, but he is just a very slow person. We sped up the process, but it still took too long.
See also: speed, up
speed up
to go faster. Please speed up. We are late.
See also: speed, up
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
speed up
Accelerate, expedite, increase the rate, as in The car speeded up as it went downhill, or It's difficult to speed up production without new equipment. [Late 1800s]
See also: speed, up
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
speed by
v.
1. To pass quickly, as of a moving object or an interval of time: During vacation, the days sped by.
2. To pass someone or something quickly: The car sped by me.
See also: by, speed
speed off
v.
To leave or drive off rapidly: She hopped in her car and sped off. The ambulance sped off to the hospital.
See also: off, speed
speed through
v.
1. To accomplish or proceed with something swiftly and energetically: The students sped through the easy assignment.
2. To move rapidly through something: The train sped through the countryside.
See also: speed, through
speed up
v.
1. To increase the speed or rate of something; accelerate something: The company sped up production in order to meet the demand for their product. The conveyor belt is moving too slowly—can you speed it up?
2. To move, work, or happen at a faster rate; accelerate: As he hiked uphill, his pulse sped up.
See also: speed, up
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs.
faster than a speeding bullet
and FTASB phr. & comp. abb. Very fast. (From the introduction to the old radio program, The Adventures of Superman. Superman was faster than a speeding bullet.) I’ll be there FTASB. I ordered it on Wednesday, and it was on my doorstep, faster than a speeding bullet, the next day.
See also: bullet, faster, speeding
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions
- faster than a speeding bullet
- FTASB
- up, up, and away
- eggs is eggs
- (as) sure as eggs (is eggs)
- springes to catch woodcocks
- Heinz
- 57
- one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind
- from my cold, dead hands