get up steam
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 up steam. Our business really got up steam after that infusion of cash—otherwise, we wouldn't be able to produce at this level. The protests against the corrupt organization got up steam when the national media started covering the story.
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 up steam if we want to win this game! The team was sluggish in the first half, but they've finally started to get up steam. You need to get up steam to clear a hurdle that high.
pick up steam
To gradually grow in strength, momentum, power, influence, etc. Though few believed that the independence campaign would have a chance of succeeding, lately it's been picking up steam. They've been sluggish in the first half, but the team has finally started picking up steam.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
pick up steam
If a process or activity picks up steam, it starts to become stronger, faster, or more active. Note: The following expressions refer to the use of steam to provide power for a machine, especially a steam engine. Hopefully, the economy will pick up steam next year. Just as the presidential campaign was picking up steam, riots exploded in Los Angeles.
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed. © HarperCollins Publishers 2012