run on all cylinders

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1. Lit. [for an engine] to run well and smoothly. This car is now running on all cylinders, thanks to the tune-up. You can hear if an engine is not running on all cylinders.

2. Fig. to function well or energetically. Our department seems to be running on all cylinders. Congratulations. I am back at my desk after my illness—running on all cylinders.

See also: cylinder, run

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run low
run mouth
run off
run off at the mouth
run off in all directions
run off with
run on
run on all cylinders
run onto
run out
run out at
run out of
run out of gas
run out of some place
run out of steam

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