steam (redirected from steams)

full steam ahead

Fig. onward with determination. We started moving full steam ahead on the project. Full steam ahead! Let's see how fast this will go!

See also: ahead, full

get (some) steam up 

1. Lit. [for a steam engine] to build up steam pressure and become more powerful. As the engine got up steam, it began to move faster.

2. Fig. to begin to be stronger and more powerful. The movement to cut taxes is getting up some steam. Our little organization just couldn't get up enough steam to become effective.

See also: get, up

get up a (full) head of steam 

1. Lit. [for a steam engine] to build steam pressure in order to start operating. It took nearly thirty minutes to get up a full head of steam so that the locomotive could start moving.

2. Fig. to develop sufficient energy, enthusiasm, commitment, or determination to undertake something. It's nearly noon before I can get up a full head of steam and accomplish something.

See also: get, head, up

let off (some) steam and blow off (some) steam 

1. Lit. [for something] to release steam. The locomotive let off some steam after it came to a halt. With a great hiss, it let off steam and frightened the children.

2. Fig. to work or play off excess energy. Those boys need to get out and let off some steam. Go out and let off steam!

3. Fig. to release one's pent-up emotions, such as anger, usually verbally. I'm sorry I yelled at you. I guess I needed to let off some steam. She's not that mad. She's just letting off steam.

See also: let

run out of steam

Fig. to lose momentum and fail. Toward the end of the lecture, he seemed to run out of steam, leaving us with no summary or conclusion.

See also: out, run

steam someone's beam

Sl. to make someone angry. Being stood up really steams my beam! Come on, don't steam your beam. Remember how hard times are now.

See also: beam

steam someone up 

1. Sl. to get someone excited. steam yourselves up and get in there and win this game! The coach can really steam up those guys.

2. si to get someone angry. This whole mess steamed me up but good. The long critical statement simply steamed up my opponent in the debate.

See also: up

steam something off (of) something and steam something

to loosen and remove something by an application of steam. (Of is usually retained before pronouns.) Toby steamed the old paper off the wall. Toby steamed off the old wallpaper.

steam something out of something and steam something out

to remove something embedded, through an application of steam. The cleaner was not able to steam the wrinkles out of my jacket. I tried to steam out the gum.

See also: out

steam something up

to cause something to be covered with water vapor due to the presence of steam. Our breaths steamed the windows up. The hot shower steamed up the mirror.

See also: up

steam across something

[for a ship] to cross a body of water under power. (Originally referred to steam engines, but now can be any sort of engine.) How long does it take to steam across the Atlantic these days? We steamed across the bay in less than an hour.

See also: across

steam in (something) and steam into something

[for a vehicle, usually a ship] to enter something under power. (Originally referred to steam engines, but now can be any sort of engine.) The ship steamed into the harbor and headed for the pier. Right on time, the ship steamed in.

steam out (of some place)

[for a conveyance, usually a ship] to exit something under power. (Originally referred to steam engines, but now can be any sort of engine.) The huge diesel engines began to labor, and the ship steamed out of its berth. It shuddered a couple of times and steamed out.

See also: out

steam up 

1. Lit. to become covered with a film of steam or water vapor. The windows steamed up and we had to wipe them so we could see out. The window has steamed up, and I can't see.

2. to drink heavily; to get drunk. Fred and Mike were steaming up in the back room.

See also: up

steamed (up) 

1. angry. Now, now, don't get so steamed up! She is really massively steamed.

2. Sl. intoxicated and fighting. He was really steamed—and could hardly stand up. By midnight, Larry was too steamed to drive home, and he had to spend the night.

steaming (mad)

Fig. very angry; very mad; very upset. The steaming coach yelled at the clumsy players. The principal was steaming mad when he found that his office had been vandalized.

under one's own steam

Fig. by one's own power or effort. I missed my ride to class, so I had to get there under my own steam. John will need some help with this project. He can't do it under his own steam.

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(at) full pelt/steam/tilt  (informal)

as fast as possible He was going full pelt down the motorway but he still didn't make it to the airport in time.

See also: full, pelt

build/get/work up a head of steam

to get enough energy, support, or enthusiasm to do something effectively

Usage notes: A head of steam is the pressure that is needed in the engine of an old-fashioned steam train to make it start moving.

In the last three months the campaign has built up a good head of steam.

See also: build, head, up

full steam ahead

with all possible energy and enthusiasm We're going full steam ahead to expand the business. Now we've solved a few problems it's full steam ahead.

See also: ahead, full

let off steam  (British, American & Australian) also blow off steam (American & Australian)

to do or say something that helps you to get rid of strong feelings or energy Meetings give people the chance to let off steam if something has been bothering them for a long time. After a long journey, the kids need to run around a bit and let off steam. I've told her she can call me and talk any time she wants to blow off steam.

See also: let

pick up steam  (American)

to start to be much more effective or successful In the third month the campaign really started to pick up steam. There are signs that the economy is picking up steam.

See also: pick, up

run out of steam  (British informal) also run out of gas (American & Australian informal)

to suddenly lose the energy or interest to continue doing what you are doing She'd been talking for two hours and was just starting to run out of steam. I worked really well for two months of the project then I suddenly ran out of gas.

See also: out, run

under your own steam

without help from anyone else Don't bother sending a car for us - we can get there under our own steam.

See run out of steam, pick up steam

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(all) steamed up

angry or upset She got all steamed up because he arrived over an hour late.

See also: up

a head of steam

energy to quickly make progress There's no question, though, that the drive to stop capital punishment has picked up a head of steam.

Etymology: based on the literal meaning of a head of steam (the pressure that is needed in the engine of an old-fashioned steam train to make it start moving)

See also: head

blow off steam also let off steam

to do or say something that helps you get rid of strong feelings or energy I've told her she can call me and talk any time she wants to blow off some steam. After a long car trip, the kids need to run around a bit and let off steam.

Etymology: based on the steam engine (a machine that uses steam), which would explode if steam were not allowed to escape into the air

See also: blow

full steam ahead

with all possible energy and enthusiasm full speed ahead The real estate market has heated up, and building is going full steam ahead.

Usage notes: sometimes used in the form it's full steam ahead: It's full steam ahead for Internet service providers today.

Etymology: based on the literal use of full steam in ships, which makes them go at their top speed

See also: ahead, full

pick up steam

to improve at a quicker rate In the third month the campaign really started to pick up steam.

See also: pick, up

run out of steam

to lose the energy or interest to continue run out of gas She'd been talking for two hours and was just starting to run out of steam.

See also: out, run

steam up something also steam something up

to become covered with a thin layer of small water drops Going into the warm room steamed my glasses up. They were sitting in the back seat of the car and the windows were all steamed up.

See also: up

under your own steam

without help from anyone else Don't bother organizing a ride for us - we can get there under our own steam.