fast (redirected from fasting)

*at a good clip and *at a fast clip

rapidly. (*Typically: go ~; move ~; run ~; travel ~.) We were moving along at a good clip when a state trooper stopped us.

See also: clip, good

*in the fast lane

Fig. in a very active or possible risky manner. (See also life in the fast lane. *Typically: be ~; live ~; move~; Stay ~.) Fred lives in the fast lane. It's lucky he's still alive.

See also: lane

Bad news travels fast.

Prov. Information about trouble or misfortune disseminates quickly (more quickly than good news). John: Hi, Andy. I'm sorry to hear you got fired. Andy: How did you know about that already? It only happened this morning. John: Bad news travels fast. I called my mother to tell her about my car accident, but my aunt had already told her. Bad news travels fast.

See also: bad, news, travel

fast and furious

Cliché very rapidly and with unrestrained energy. Her work in the kitchen was fast and furious, and it looked lovely when she finished. Everything was going so fast and furious at the store during the Christmas rush that we never had time to eat lunch.

See also: and

fast friends

good, loyal friends. The two of them had been fast friends since college.

See also: friend

fast one

a clever and devious trick. (Compare this with pull a fast one.) That was a fast one. I didn't know you were so devious. This was the last fast one like that you'll ever catch me with.

See also: one

fast-talk someone into something

to use deceitful talk to get someone to do something. You can't fast-talk me into giving you money. How dumb do you think I am? Max tried to fast-talk Lefty into robbing a bank with him.

fast-talk someone out of something

to use deceitful talk to get someone not to do something or to give something up. Don't try to fast-talk me out of my share.

See also: out

get nowhere fast

Fig. not to make progress; to get nowhere. I can't seem to make any progress. No matter what I do, I'm just getting nowhere fast. Come on. Speed up this car. We're getting nowhere fast.

See also: get, nowhere

He travels fastest who travels alone.

Prov. It is easier to achieve your goals if you do not have a spouse, children, or other connections to consider. Jill: Don't go yet! Wait for me to get ready. Jane: But you always take at least half an hour. No wonder they always say that he travels fastest who travels alone.

See also: alone, travel, who

life in the fast lane

a very active or possible risky way to live. (See also in the fast lane.) Life in the fast lane is too much for me.

See also: lane, life

make a fast buck and make a quick buck

to make money with little effort or in a short time. Tom is always ready to make a fast buck. I made a quick buck selling used cars.

See also: buck, make

make short work of someone or something and make fast work of someone or something

to finish with someone or something quickly. I made short work of Tom so I could leave the office to play golf. Billy made fast work of his dinner so he could go out and play.

See also: make, short, work

on the fast track

Fig. following an expedited procedure; being acted upon sooner or more quickly than is typical. Let's put this project on the fast track and maybe we'll see results sooner.

See also: track

play fast and loose (with someone or something)

Fig. to act carelessly, thoughtlessly, and irresponsibly. I'm tired of your playing fast and loose with me. Leave me alone. Bob got fired for playing fast and loose with the company's money.

See also: and, loose, play

pull a fast one

Inf. to succeed in an act of deception. She was pulling a fast one when she said she had a headache and went home. Don't try to pull a fast one with me! I know what you're doing.

See also: one, pull

thick and fast

in large numbers or amounts and at a rapid rate. The enemy soldiers came thick and fast. New problems seem to come thick and fast.

See also: and, thick

---

a fast talker  (American & Australian informal)

someone who can talk in a clever way in order to persuade people to do or believe something, often something that is not honest or not true Don't trust him Sal, he's a fast talker who's always out for his own good.

a fast track

a very quick way of achieving something or dealing with something (often + to ) Management training offers a fast track to the top of the company. The government has announced that the reforms will be put on the fast track. (= dealt with very quickly)

See also: track

be as [fast/hot/thin etc.] as all get out  (American & Australian informal)

to be extremely fast, hot, thin etc. He's a terrific runner - as fast as all get out.

See also: get, out

fast and furious

if an activity is fast and furious, it is done quickly and with a lot of energy The first half of the game was fast and furious with both teams scoring three goals each.

See also: and

life in the fast lane

a way of living which is full of excitement and activity and often danger

Usage notes: The fast lane is the part of a motorway (= a large road) where drivers go the fastest.

His was a life in the fast lane - parties, drugs, and a constant stream of glamorous women.

See also: lane, life

make a fast/quick buck  (American & Australian informal)

to earn money quickly and often in a way that is not honest

Usage notes: A buck is an informal word for a dollar (= a unit of money in America).

Times are hard - you have to make a fast buck wherever and however you can.

See also: buck, make

make short work of something

to deal with or finish something quickly We made short work of the food that was put in front of us.

See also: make, short, work

no hard and fast rules

if there are no hard and fast rules, there are no clear rules which you must obey There are no hard and fast rules about how much weight you can safely gain in pregnancy.

See also: and, hard, rule

play fast and loose with something/somebody

to treat something or someone without enough care Like many film-makers, he plays fast and loose with the facts to tell his own version of the story.

See also: and, loose, play

pull a fast one  (informal)

to successfully deceive someone (often + on ) I paid him for six bottles of champagne, but he pulled a fast one on me and gave me six bottles of cheap wine.

See make a fast buck

See also: one, pull

---

fast and furious

quickly and with excitement and energy Changes came fast and furious in the early days of the program.

See also: and

in the fast lane

doing things that will lead to success Their purchase of the company put them in the fast lane of the personal computer industry.

Usage notes: often used with put, as in the example

Related vocabulary: on the fast track

Etymology: based on the literal meaning of fast lane (a marked path for vehicles traveling faster)

See also: lane

life in the fast lane

an exciting, active style of living that usually involves great wealth When Ashmead decided that life in the fast lane wasn't much fun anymore, he turned his attention to another kind of business.

Related vocabulary: in the fast lane

Etymology: based on the fast lane of a highway, where cars drive faster than other cars on the road

See also: lane, life

make short work of somebody/something

to deal with someone or something quickly We made short work of the food that was put in front of us. The boxer made short work of his challenger.

See also: make, short, work

on the fast track also on a fast track

advancing quickly and certainly The principal made sure these kids got on a fast track toward graduation and college.

Related vocabulary: in the fast lane

Etymology: based on a fast track in horse racing (a dry, smooth surface that is easy to run on)

See also: track

play fast and loose with something

to treat something without enough care or attention The film is very entertaining even though it plays fast and loose with the historical facts.

See also: and, loose, play

pull a fast one (on somebody)

to deceive or trick someone Most people would never suspect that you'd even think of pulling a fast one on them.

See also: one, pull