high gear

1. A state of maximum activity, energy, or force. For example, His mind was in high gear as he studied for the medical exam, or The political campaign is finally moving into high gear. This expression alludes to the high gear of an engine transmission, used at the fastest speeds.

Example Sentences

The series also resists the temptation to show Gacy dressed up as Pogo the Clown, the image that helped kick several generations’ claims of coulrophobia into high gear.

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The competition for AI talent kicked into high gear when Mark Zuckerberg began poaching top AI workers from rivals, offering multimillion-dollar pay packages.

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This week, as the government shutdown continues into its second week, earnings season kicks into high gear, giving investors something to chew on, absent economic data from the federal government.

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This week, as the government shutdown continues into its second week, earnings season kicks into high gear, giving investors something to chew on, absent economic data from the federal government.

Read more on Barron's

With three minutes remaining in the half — and Michigan set to receive the third-quarter kick — USC finally kicked into high gear.

Read more on Los Angeles Times