get (some) steam up
1. To gradually pick up or grow in strength, momentum, power, influence, etc. Though few believed that the independence campaign would have a chance of succeeding, lately it's been getting steam up. If the activists can get some steam up here at home, they might find themselves on the radar in Washington. You need to get some steam up on social media—the more followers you have, the more appealing you will be to companies looking for a spokesperson.
2. To work or prepare to work hard; to draw upon reserves of energy, strength, resolve, etc., for a difficulty or challenge ahead. We're going to have to get some steam up if we want to win this game! We never doubted ourselves, even when we were down in the series. We knew we just had to get steam up in the next game. A: "I'll finish my paper, don't worry." B: "You just can't get steam up without a deadline pressing down on you, huh?"
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
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.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.