Idioms are fun phrases that mean something different from the exact words inside them. People use them to paint a picture with language and make conversations much more interesting. In this article, you will learn fifty different idioms related to Rushing.
In this lesson, we’ll look at idioms that mean moving fast or doing things in a hurry. Let’s get started and explore some of these helpful expressions.
Idioms for Rushing
1. Light a fire under someone
Definition: To make someone hurry up and start working faster.
Used in a Sentence: The coach had to light a fire under the team to get them ready for the game. / We need to light a fire under the builders so the house gets finished on time.
Similar Expressions: Speed them up / Get a move on
2. Put the pedal to the metal
Definition: To drive or move as fast as possible.
Used in a Sentence: Dad put the pedal to the metal so we would not miss the start of the movie. / If we want to win the race, you need to put the pedal to the metal right now.
Similar Expressions: Speed up / Go flat out
3. Shake a leg
Definition: An expression telling someone to hurry up.
Used in a Sentence: Shake a leg or we are going to miss our school bus! / Mom told us to shake a leg so we could leave for the park before it rained.
Similar Expressions: Hurry up / Make haste
4. Beat the clock
Definition: To finish something before time runs out.
Used in a Sentence: We tried to beat the clock and finish the math test before the bell rang. / The firefighters worked hard to beat the clock and save the house.
Similar Expressions: Beat the deadline / Race against time
5. Cut corners
Definition: To do something quickly by skipping steps, often resulting in poor quality.
Used in a Sentence: If you cut corners on your art project, it might fall apart. / It is better to do your homework slowly than to cut corners and make mistakes.
Similar Expressions: Rush through / Take shortcuts
6. Move heaven and earth
Definition: To make a huge effort to do something as quickly as possible.
Used in a Sentence: She will move heaven and earth to get her project done by tomorrow morning. / We had to move heaven and earth to find our lost dog before dark.
SimilarExpressions: Try everything / Push hard
7. Scramble around
Definition: To move or act in a hurried, chaotic way.
Used in a Sentence: I had to scramble around the house looking for my missing shoe. / The students began to scramble around when the teacher announced a surprise quiz.
Similar Expressions: Rush about / Scurry around
8. Like a bat out of hell
Definition: Moving extremely fast in a wild or panicked way.
Used in a Sentence: The stray cat ran out of the yard like a bat out of hell. / When the storm started, everyone ran indoors like a bat out of hell.
Similar Expressions: Like lightning / In a flash
9. Burning daylight
Definition: Wasting time when you should be moving quickly.
Used in a Sentence: Stop playing video games because we are burning daylight! / Pack your bags quickly because we are burning daylight and need to leave.
Similar Expressions: Wasting time / Lying around
10. Tear through
Definition: To move or work through something with great speed.
Used in a Sentence: The puppy managed to tear through the pile of wrapping paper in seconds. / She decided to tear through her chores so she could play outside.
Similar Expressions: Breeze through / Race through
11. Run rings around
Definition: To do something much faster or better than someone else.
Used in a Sentence: Our soccer team can run rings around the visiting team. / He is so fast that he can run rings around everyone else on the track.
Similar Expressions: Outrun them / Leave them behind
12. At breakneck speed
Definition: Moving at a dangerously or shockingly fast pace.
Used in a Sentence: The roller coaster plunged down the track at breakneck speed. / Do not ride your bicycle down that steep hill at breakneck speed.
Similar Expressions: Very fast / At top speed
13. Jump the gun
Definition: To start doing something too soon before you are supposed to.
Used in a Sentence: He jumped the gun and opened his birthday present a day early. / Please wait for instructions and do not jump the gun.
Similar Expressions: Start early / Rush ahead
14. Burn the midnight oil
Definition: To stay up late working or studying in a rush to finish.
Used in a Sentence: I had to burn the midnight oil to study for the history exam. / The writer had to burn the midnight oil to finish the book on time.
Similar Expressions: Stay up late / Work late
15. In full swing
Definition: Operating at a very active and fast pace.
Used in a Sentence: By noon, the school carnival was in full swing with games and music. / The factory was in full swing making toys for the holidays.
Similar Expressions: Fully active / Going strong
16. Fast and furious
Definition: Happening very quickly with a lot of energy and action.
Used in a Sentence: The bidding at the auction was fast and furious until the very end. / The game of tag was fast and furious during recess.
Similar Expressions: Rapid and wild / Quick and busy
17. Hot on the heels
Definition: Following very closely behind someone in a race or pursuit.
Used in a Sentence: The police car was hot on the heels of the speeding truck. / Runner number two was hot on the heels of the leader.
Similar Expressions: Right behind / Close following
18. On the double
Definition: To do something immediately and without wasting any time.
Used in a Sentence: The principal asked us to clean up the spilled milk on the double. / Get your jackets on the double or we will miss the bus.
Similar Expressions: Right now / Immediately
19. Faster than a speeding bullet
Definition: Moving with incredible, superhero-like speed.
Used in a Sentence: The race car zoomed past us faster than a speeding bullet. / My older brother eats his lunch faster than a speeding bullet.
Similar Expressions: Lightning fast / In a heartbeat
20. Whipped through
Definition: Finished a task with great haste and speed.
Used in a Sentence: She whipped through her homework so she could watch her favorite show. / We whipped through the museum tour in under an hour.
Similar Expressions: Quick finish / Speedy work
21. Pressed for time
Definition: Having very little time available and needing to rush.
Used in a Sentence: I could not stop to chat because I was pressed for time. / Since we were pressed for time, we ate our breakfast in the car.
Similar Expressions: Short on time / Rushed
22. Catch you on the fly
Definition: Trying to speak to someone quickly while they are moving fast.
Used in a Sentence: I had to catch the teacher on the fly as she walked to class. / We can talk about your idea on the fly while we walk.
Similar Expressions: Talk quickly / Catch on the run
23. Slip away
Definition: To leave a place quickly and quietly without anyone noticing.
Used in a Sentence: The tired toddler tried to slip away to take a nap. / We managed to slip away from the party before it got too loud.
Similar Expressions: Sneak out / Dart away
24. Zip along
Definition: To move forward very quickly.
Used in a Sentence: Our car began to zip along the highway after the traffic cleared. / The cleaning robot could zip along the floor to clean up dust.
Similar Expressions: Zoom along / Fly past
25. High gear
Definition: Operating at maximum speed and energy.
Used in a Sentence: Our school project went into high gear the night before it was due. / The holiday shopping season is now in high gear.
Similar Expressions: Full speed / Peak activity
26. Make tracks
Definition: To leave a place in a hurry.
Used in a Sentence: It started to rain, so we decided to make tracks for home. / We had to make tracks after the movie ended to catch our ride.
Similar Expressions: Head out / Get going
27. Fleet of foot
Definition: Able to run or move very fast on your feet.
Used in a Sentence: The soccer player was fleet of foot and outran the defenders. / Deer are fleet of foot when escaping from danger.
Similar Expressions: Fast runner / Quick mover
28. Whiz by
Definition: To pass by extremely fast.
Used in a Sentence: The motorcycles seemed to whiz by us on the open road. / Summer vacation always seems to whiz by so fast.
Similar Expressions: Fly by / Zoom past
29. Spurt of energy
Definition: A sudden, brief burst of high-speed activity.
Used in a Sentence: The runner got a sudden spurt of energy near the finish line. / I had a spurt of energy and cleaned my whole room in ten minutes.
Similar Expressions: Burst of speed / Sudden rush
30. Rush job
Definition: A piece of work done too quickly, often resulting in mistakes.
Used in a Sentence: The repair was a rush job, so the chair broke again. / Do not turn in a rush job; take your time to do it right.
Similar Expressions: Quick task / Hasty work
31. Against the clock
Definition: Working as fast as possible because time is running out.
Used in a Sentence: The doctors worked against the clock to help the injured bird. / We were playing against the clock to finish our puzzle before dinner.
Similar Expressions: Racing time / Time trial
32. In a New York minute
Definition: Happening instantly or very quickly.
Used in a Sentence: That delicious pizza disappeared in a New York minute. / He would trade his old bike for a new one in a New York minute.
Similar Expressions: Very quickly / Instantly
33. Cut it close
Definition: To leave very little time to spare before a deadline.
Used in a Sentence: We cut it close by arriving at the gate just as boarding started. / Do not wait until midnight to study or you will cut it close.
Similar Expressions: Cutting it fine / Barely on time
34. Like greased lightning
Definition: Moving with incredible, slippery speed.
Used in a Sentence: The ice skater spun around the rink like greased lightning. / When the bell rang, the students ran out the door like greased lightning.
Similar Expressions: Super fast / Instant speed
35. Storm off
Definition: To leave a room or place quickly and angrily.
Used in a Sentence: He got upset about the game and decided to storm off to his room. / She did not like the answer, so she began to storm off.
Similar Expressions: Walk out / Leave angrily
36. Run rampant
Definition: Spreading or moving quickly out of control.
Used in a Sentence: The rumors began to run rampant through the school hallways. / Wildflowers can run rampant in a garden if you do not pull them.
Similar Expressions: Spread fast / Run wild
37. Stampede
Definition: A sudden rush of a large group of people or animals.
Used in a Sentence: There was a stampede of shoppers trying to buy discounted toys. / The loud noise caused a stampede of cattle in the field.
Similar Expressions: Massive rush / Mad dash
38. Dash off
Definition: To write or leave something in a great hurry.
Used in a Sentence: I had to dash off a quick note to my teacher before class. / She grabbed her coat and had to dash off to catch her train.
Similar Expressions: Hurry away / Write fast
39. Hit the ground running
Definition: To start a new project or task with high speed and energy.
Used in aSentence: The new employee hit the ground running on his very first day. / We need to hit the ground running if we want to finish this fort today.
Similar Expressions: Start fast / Jump right in
40. Barrel through
Definition: To move forward forcefully and quickly without stopping.
Used in a Sentence: The big truck began to barrel through the heavy snowstorm. / The player tried to barrel through the opposing team members.
Similar Expressions: Charge through / Push past
41. Run out the clock
Definition: To use up remaining time as fast as possible to win a game.
Used in a Sentence: Our basketball team tried to run out the clock in the final minute. / We just needed to run out the clock to secure our victory.
Similar Expressions: Kill time / Waste time
42. In a heartbeat
Definition: Happening or decided in an extremely short amount of time.
Used in a Sentence: I would adopt that cute puppy in a heartbeat. / She agreed to help us paint the fence in a heartbeat.
Similar Expressions: Instantly / Immediately
43. Flying colors
Definition: Passing a test or task quickly and with great success.
Used in a Sentence: He passed his spelling test with flying colors after studying hard. / The spaceship completed its test flight with flying colors.
Similar Expressions: Great success / Ace it
44. Rush hour
Definition: The busy time of day when traffic moves slowly due to too many cars.
Used in a Sentence: We got stuck in rush hour traffic on the way to the museum. / Try to leave early to avoid the morning rush hour.
Similar Expressions: Traffic jam / Peak travel time
45. Scurry away
Definition: To run away quickly with short, hurried steps.
Used in a Sentence: The tiny mouse saw us and decided to scurry away. / The children tried to scurry away before their parents saw the mess.
Similar Expressions: Scamper off / Dart away
46. Hustle and bustle
Definition: A lot of noisy activity and hurried movement in a busy place.
Used in a Sentence: We love visiting the city to see the hustle and bustle of the streets. / The holiday market was full of hustle and bustle.
Similar Expressions: Busy activity / Rush and noise
47. Haste makes waste
Definition: Doing things too quickly causes mistakes and wastes materials.
Used in a Sentence: Remember that haste makes waste, so tie your shoes carefully. / Do not rush your painting because haste makes waste.
Similar Expressions: Slow down / Be careful
48. Speed trial
Definition: A test to see how fast someone or something can move.
Used in a Sentence: The engineers ran a speed trial on the new model train. / We held a speed trial for our toy race cars in the driveway.
Similar Expressions: Speed test / Fast run
49. On the run
Definition: Moving quickly from place to place without stopping.
Used in a Sentence: Eating healthy snacks is hard when you are always on the run. / The detective stayed on the run all day to catch the thief.
Similar Expressions: Always moving / On the go
50. Wild goose chase
Definition: A hurried search for something that is hard to find or impossible.
Used in a Sentence: Looking for my lost keys turned into a wild goose chase. / Do not send us on a wild goose chase for items we do not need.
Similar Expressions: Hopeless search / Wasteful hunt
Exercise to Practice
- The coach had to light a fire under the team to get them ready for the game. (True)
- We put the pedal to the metal by walking very slowly to the library. (False)
- Shake a leg or we are going to miss our school bus! (True)
- She decided to cut corners by doing every single math problem twice. (False)
- The stray cat ran out of the yard like a bat out of hell. (True)
- Stop playing video games because we are burning daylight! (True)
- He is so slow that he can run rings around everyone else on the track. (False)
- Get your jackets on the double or we will miss the bus. (True)
- My older brother eats his lunch slower than a turtle. (False)
- I had to burn the midnight oil to study for the history exam. (True)
- By noon, the school carnival was in full swing with games and music. (True)
- The police car was hot on the heels of the speeding truck. (True)
- We cut it close by arriving an hour early before the gates even opened. (False)
- The tiny mouse saw us and decided to scurry away. (True)
- Remember that haste makes waste, so do your project in a big rush. (False)
Answer Key
- True
- False
- True
- False
- True
- True
- False
- True
- False
- True
- True
- True
- False
- True
- False
Conclusion
Learning these idioms helps you understand English better and makes your speaking and writing much more fun. You can impress your friends and teachers by using these colorful phrases when talking about moving fast.
Try picking one new idiom each day and use it in a sentence during class or at home with your family. Before you know it, you will be using these expressions naturally in everyday conversations.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are some common idioms for rushing?
Some popular idioms include shaking a leg, putting the pedal to the metal, and lighting a fire under someone. These fun phrases are used in daily life when someone needs to speed up.
Why do we use idioms in English?
Idioms make our language more colorful and creative instead of just using plain words. They help us express big ideas and feelings in short, memorable phrases.
How can children learn these idioms easily?
Kids can learn idioms best by reading them in stories, matching them with their meanings, and using them in fun sentences. Practicing with real life examples makes the phrases stick in your memory.
Are idioms used in formal writing?
Idioms are usually best for casual conversations, stories, and friendly letters rather than strict school reports. Using them keeps your tone warm, friendly, and engaging.
Can an idiom have more than one meaning?
Most idioms have one specific meaning, but how people use them can vary slightly depending on the context. Checking definitions and examples helps ensure you use each phrase correctly.
