hell for leather

Very quickly or as quickly as possible. When her ex-boyfriend walked into the party, Patty went hell for leather to get out of there. The political candidates have been going hell for leather trying to get last-minute support from voters ahead of Friday's election. Once we set off the building's security alarm, we went hell for leather to get out before the cops showed up.

See also: for, hell, leather

hell for leather

mainly BRITISH

1. If you go hell for leather, you move very quickly, and often recklessly. They ran hell for leather to catch up. We bought a map, filled up and drove hell for leather to Lisbon. Note: You can also use hell-for-leather before a noun. There was a hell-for-leather dash to get the train.

2. If you do something hell for leather, you do it very quickly and energetically. Once I decide to write a play, I go for it hell for leather. Note: This expression may originally have related to horse riding. `Leather' would refer to a saddle.

See also: for, hell, leather

Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed. © HarperCollins Publishers 2012

hell for leather

as fast as possible.

This phrase dates from the late 19th century, and originally referred to riding a horse at reckless speed.

See also: for, hell, leather

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017

hell for ˈleather

(old-fashioned, British English, informal) with the greatest possible speed, energy, etc: I saw a man going hell for leather down the street, with two policemen running after him.This is from horse riding. A rider can hit a horse with a strip of leather to make it run faster.

See also: for, hell, leather

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017

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References in periodicals archive

But Test cricket is a brutal sport, it's a sport where countries go hell for leather against each other "I'm sure when Steve comes in Jofra will be in Joe Root's ear wanting the ball, no doubt about that.

Broad keen for another Smith battle

On the high street, retailers have really run with the trend, but there are a few style notes you need before you go hell for leather.

ALWAYS TAKE THE LEATHER WITH YOU

A newly blonde Selena Gomez, 25, (far left) earned her dollars as the face of fashion label Coach, donning a leather biker dress from the brand, while 20-year-old actress and singer Hailee Steinfeld also went hell for leather in open blazer and bralet combo by Mugler, teamed with slicked back hair.

dressed to impress

Kourtney Kardashian Going hell for leather (literally), this Kardashian's red carpet style is short-lived.

Groomed&Doomed shorts; The stars are wearing shorts this week - but whose outfit got the short end of the stick?

The Scot has made the hard courts of Australia his home since he went hell for leather with then world No.2 Rafael Nadal in a five-set thriller in 2007.

4-TIME LOSER HAS HISTORY ON HIS SIDE

She's seen here with World Touring Car Championship driver Tom Chilton gong hell for leather doing two laps at Brands Hatch.

TV's Denise shows she's a racy lady

Team Laced In Love's nude fit and flare dress, PS42, Dorothy Perkins with Wallis' cream T-bars, were PS35, now PS26 MAIN IMAGE: Getty Model |Jourdan Dunn goes hell for leather. So can you in these Topshop Unique black leather shorts, PS195, River Island leather biker jacket, PS100 and Peacocks boots, PS15 MAIN IMAGE: Getty Like the look of TV |presenter Susanna Reid's evening gown?

Steal her style; Whether it's full-on glamour or cool and casual, EMMA JOHNSON knows how you can get the celebs' looks for less

That equaliser stirred things up a bit and once again we had the hell for leather stuff.

CAMPBELL THOMSON'S

HELL FOR LEATHER: Fringed |leather jacket PS269, Biba at House of Fraser

Coat check

Suit up like Gwyneth Paltrow in Ted Baker's crepe jacket (PS209) and trousers (PS125) | Be a pink lady like Elizabeth Hurley in this lace dress PS26, Alice & You at Debenhams and nude shoes, Gemini courts, PS46, Topshop | Go hell for leather like Rita Ora in this Girls On Film leather-look dress, now PS20 at dorothyperkins.com and these DKNY Rita strappy sandals, PS86.70 shopbop.com | Liz McClarnon makes |a ravishing lady in red.

Steal her STYLE; EMMA JOHNSON shows you how to get the celebrities' looks for less and, ahead of the party season, it's an eveningwear special

REDCAR: 1.55 Hell For Leather, 2.25 Hemi Bossena, 2.55 Qatar Princess, 3.25 Dream Walker, 3.55 Deep Resolve, 4.30 Captain Royale, 5.05 Where's Tiger.

TIPS

HELL FOR LEATHER: Leather jacket, pounds 350, jeans, pounds 65, top, pounds 35, ring, pounds 18, all from French Connection.

TIME CAPSULE WARDROBES; Must-have classics for perfect style

He insists a "hell for leather" attitude could spell disaster.

Football: Fired-up Scotland happy to suffer 'cup final' fever