hot rod

¹ American  

noun

Slang.

1. an automobile specially built or altered for fast acceleration and increased speed.

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hot-rod ² American  

[hot-rod] / ˈhɒtˈrɒd /

verb (used without object)

hot-rodded, hot-rodding

1. to drive a hot rod.

2. to drive very fast.

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verb (used with object)

hot-rodded, hot-rodding

1. to drive (a vehicle) very fast.

2. to adapt (a vehicle or its engine) for increased speed.

hot rod British  

noun

1. a car with an engine that has been radically modified to produce increased power

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hot rod Idioms  

1. An automobile modified to increase its speed and acceleration, as in Kids love to tinker with cars and try to convert them into hot rods. [Mid-1900s] Also see hopped up.

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Etymology

Origin of hot rod¹

An Americanism dating back to 1940–45

Origin of hot-rod¹

First recorded in 1945–50

Example Sentences

The Kia’s air bags didn’t go off, and Rodabaugh, a lifelong mechanic who enjoyed working on hot rods, died from injuries sustained in the crash.

From The Wall Street Journal

“We have 11 landfills across California that have been granted waivers by the government to basically ‘hot rod’ the landfill,” Williams said.

From Los Angeles Times

More recently, Couture has become involved with hot rod racing.

From Los Angeles Times

“We had a good race car and what keeps me alive is driving this hot rod and all these fans,” Force said.

From Seattle Times

Although hot rods were made popular in the 1970s because of movies such as “American Graffiti” and muscle cars became a staple on Southern California streets, lowriders were designed to be low and slow.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• stock car