medal
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deserve a medal
To warrant recognition for persevering through a challenging or tedious situation. This phrase is usually used humorously. Our realtor deserves a medal for putting up with all of our questions today.
pedal to the metal
1. Drive as fast as you can; push the accelerator down. We're going to be late—pedal to the metal!
2. Do something with maximum speed or effort. Pedal to the metal, boys—we need to get these packages shipped by the end of the day.
put the pedal to the metal
1. To press down the accelerator (of an automobile) as far as possible; to accelerate to or travel at the maximum speed. It would normally take us three days driving to New York from Colorado, but with my brother putting the pedal to the metal, we made it in two. We're going to be late—put the pedal to the metal!
2. By extension, to do something with maximum speed or effort. Put the pedal to the metal, boys—we need to get these packages shipped by the end of the day.
the reverse of the medal
The opposite, contrary, or differing point of view about or aspect of something. Freelance writers have much greater flexibility in their schedule, as well as in the content they create; the reverse of the medal, of course, is that they rarely have anything resembling job security.
What do you want, a medal?
A sarcastic response to one who is excited about or seeks praise for a minor or insignificant accomplishment. OK, so you hung some Christmas decorations—what do you want, a medal? A: "I'll have you know that J.K. Rowling herself said my short story was pretty cool." B: "Wow, you're amazing. What do you want, a medal?"
See also: what
with the pedal to the metal
1. Pressing down the accelerator (of an automobile) as far as possible in order to accelerate to or travel at the maximum speed. With the pedal to the metal, we peeled away from the bank and sped off onto the highway.
2. By extension, with maximum speed or effort. We packed the last of the shipments with the pedal to the metal so we could get done on time.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2015 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
put the pedal to the metal
Sl. to press a car's accelerator to the floor; to drive very fast. Let's go, man. Put the pedal to the metal. Put the pedal to the metal, and we'll make up some lost time.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
put the pedal to the metal
INFORMALIf you put the pedal to the metal, you do something with as much speed and effort as possible. He is putting the pedal to the metal to deal with his critics. Note: Other verbs such as keep and have are sometimes used instead of put. Our players kept the pedal to the metal all season long. Note: This expression comes from the idea of pressing a car's accelerator (= pedal that makes it go faster).
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed. © HarperCollins Publishers 2012
the reverse of the medal (or shield)
the opposite view of a matter.with the pedal to the metal
with the accelerator of a car pressed to the floor. North American informalFarlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017
he, she, etc. deˌserves a ˈmedal
(spoken) used to say that you admire somebody because they have done something difficult or unpleasant: You deserve a medal for what you’ve done for him over the years.Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017
put the pedal to the metal
tv. to press a car’s accelerator to the floor; to floor it. Put the pedal to the metal, and we’re out of here.
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.