get up steam

Idioms

Prepare to work hard, summon up energy. For example, If we can just get up steam we can finish in no time. This expression alludes to producing enough steam to work an engine. [Early 1800s] Also see under full speed ahead.

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Glanting is finding it hard to get up steam.

From Time Magazine Archive

With the present steamer, it takes from two to five minutes to get up steam.

From Time Magazine Archive

Last week, with the Navy offering to chip in, it looked as if the shipping program was finally ready to get up steam.

From Time Magazine Archive

Too soon to get up steam about Berlin, he told everyone.

From Time Magazine Archive

Archie, who is engineer of this craft, may be called upon at any moment to stir up the banked fires and get up steam.

From Kenneth McAlpine A Tale of Mountain, Moorland and Sea by Stables, Gordon

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023