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Idioms are fun phrases where the words together mean something totally different from what they say one by one. People use them to make talking and writing more colorful, exciting, and full of life. Today, you are going to learn a bunch of helpful idioms that all have to do with being very fast and moving at high speed.
In this lesson, we’ll look at idioms for very fast that mean moving quickly, rushing, and traveling at high speed. Let’s get started and explore some of these helpful expressions.
Idioms for Very Fast
1. Like a bat out of hell
Meaning: Moving away or traveling at an extremely fast, frantic speed.
For Example: When the school bell rang, he ran out the door like a bat out of hell. / The startled rabbit dashed across the yard like a bat out of hell.
Other Ways to Say: Very fast / Rushing away
2. Like greased lightning
Meaning: Moving with incredible, lightning-fast speed.
For Example: He cleaned up his art supplies like greased lightning so he could go outside. / The sprinter zoomed down the race track like greased lightning.
Other Ways to Say: Extremely fast / In a flash
3. In a flash
Meaning: Happening instantly or passing in an extremely brief moment.
For Example: Summer vacation went by in a flash before school started again. / The shooting star crossed the night sky in a flash.
Other Ways to Say: Instantly / Very quickly
4. In the blink of an eye
Meaning: Happening so fast that you barely notice it occur.
For Example: The magician made the coin disappear in the blink of an eye. / Time flies by in the blink of an eye during weekends.
Other Ways to Say: Instantly / Very fast
5. At breakneck speed
Meaning: Moving or working at an dangerously fast and rapid pace.
For Example: The bicycle riders went at breakneck speed down the hill track. / Cleaning the room at breakneck speed helped finish early.
Other Ways to Say: Very fast / Rushing
6. Like the wind
Meaning: Running or moving with great speed and lightness.
For Example: The cheetah raced across the open grassland like the wind. / He zipped past his friends on his scooter like the wind.
Other Ways to Say: Very fast / Swiftly
7. Speed demon
Meaning: Someone who moves, drives, or works at a very fast pace.
For Example: On his new bicycle, he rode like a real speed demon down the path. / She finished her worksheet so fast she was a regular speed demon.
Other Ways to Say: Fast worker / Rapid mover
8. Full tilt
Meaning: Moving or operating with maximum speed and energy.
For Example: The puppy ran full tilt across the lawn toward the thrown ball. / The toy race car zoomed around the track full tilt.
Other Ways to Say: Maximum speed / Fast pace
9. Burning rubber
Meaning: Driving or running away so fast that wheels spin or shoes rush.
For Example: As soon as the race started, the go-karts were burning rubber. / He grabbed his backpack and was burning rubber out the door.
Other Ways to Say: Rushing away / Fast start
10. Flying high and fast Meaning: Moving through the air or tasks with incredible speed.
Meaning: Moving through the air or tasks with incredible speed.
For Example: The model airplane zoomed across the gym, flying high and fast. / She completed her homework, flying high and fast through questions.
Other Ways to Say: Moving swiftly / Rapid progress
11. Quick as a wink Meaning: Happening in an instant with zero delay.
Meaning: Happening in an instant with zero delay.
For Example: He zipped up his jacket quick as a wink before stepping outside. / The puzzle piece was put into place quick as a wink.
Other Ways to Say: Instantly / Very fast
12. Quick as lightning Meaning: Moving with the speed of a sudden flash of light.
Meaning: Moving with the speed of a sudden flash of light.
For Example: She caught the falling pencil quick as lightning. / The basketball player dodged past defenders quick as lightning.
Other Ways to Say: Extremely fast / Swift
13. Fast lane Meaning: A lifestyle or pace focused on rapid progress and action.
Meaning: A lifestyle or pace focused on rapid progress and action.
For Example: Completing his homework in ten minutes put him in the fast lane to play time. / Learning computer coding felt like zooming down the fast lane.
Other Ways to Say: Quick progress / Fast track
14. Fast track Meaning: A quick, direct route to rapid success or completion.
Meaning: A quick, direct route to rapid success or completion.
For Example: Memorizing multiplication tables put her on the fast track in math. / Following the checklist puts your chores on the fast track.
Other Ways to Say: Quick route / Fast lane
15. On the double Meaning: Moving or working with extreme speed and urgency.
Meaning: Moving or working with extreme speed and urgency.
For Example: The coach told the team to pack up their gear on the double. / Finish your cleanup on the double so we can go outside.
Other Ways to Say: Quickly / Fast
16. Making tracks Meaning: Moving quickly and hurriedly toward a destination.
Meaning: Moving quickly and hurriedly toward a destination.
For Example: It started to rain, so we started making tracks for home. / Make sure you are making tracks if you want to catch the bus.
Other Ways to Say: Hurrying / Moving fast
17. Moving at lightning speed Meaning: Working or traveling extremely fast.
Meaning: Working or traveling extremely fast.
For Example: The digital files transferred across the computer at lightning speed. / He solved the math quiz at lightning speed.
Other Ways to Say: Very fast / Rapidly
18. At a rapid pace Meaning: Moving or progressing with great speed.
Meaning: Moving or progressing with great speed.
For Example: The construction workers built the fence at a rapid pace. / She read through the library book at a rapid pace.
Other Ways to Say: Fast pace / Quickly
19. In a mad dash Meaning: Running somewhere quickly in a panicked, fast rush.
Meaning: Running somewhere quickly in a panicked, fast rush.
For Example: He made a mad dash for the door when the school bell rang. / She was in a mad dash to catch the morning bus.
Other Ways to Say: Quick run / Panic rush
20. Flying down the track Meaning: Racing or running with great speed.
Meaning: Racing or running with great speed.
For Example: The athletes were flying down the track during the relay race. / His toy train was flying down the track.
Other Ways to Say: Racing fast / Swift movement
21. Whizzing past Meaning: Passing by someone with a fast, rushing sound.
Meaning: Passing by someone with a fast, rushing sound.
For Example: The red sports car went whizzing past on the highway. / Bicycles kept whizzing past us on the bike path.
Other Ways to Say: Zooming by / Racing past
22. Zooming along Meaning: Traveling or progressing forward at high speed.
Meaning: Traveling or progressing forward at high speed.
For Example: The skateboarder was zooming along the paved path. / Once we got the computer running, it was zooming along.
Other Ways to Say: Moving fast / Progressing swiftly
23. Zipping through Meaning: Completing a task or trip with great speed.
Meaning: Completing a task or trip with great speed.
For Example: He finished his math worksheet quickly, zipping through the questions. / She was zipping through her reading assignments.
Other Ways to Say: Breezing through / Working fast
24. Racing against time Meaning: Trying to finish a task with extreme speed before a deadline.
Meaning: Trying to finish a task with extreme speed before a deadline.
For Example: Cleaning the messy room before guests arrived was a race against time. / Answering the final test questions felt like a race against time.
Other Ways to Say: Urgent race / Beating the clock
25. Beating the clock Meaning: Finishing a task successfully before time runs out.
Meaning: Finishing a task successfully before time runs out.
For Example: He submitted his science worksheet just seconds before beating the clock. / Working fast helped the group in beating the clock.
Other Ways to Say: Finish on time / Beat deadline
26. Putting pedal to the metal Meaning: Driving forward or working on a task with maximum speed.
Meaning: Driving forward or working on a task with maximum speed.
For Example: We needed to finish our posters, so we put pedal to the metal after lunch. / Put pedal to the metal if you want to finish homework before dinner.
Other Ways to Say: Work fast / Speed up
27. Full steam ahead Meaning: Moving forward with maximum power and speed.
Meaning: Moving forward with maximum power and speed.
For Example: With our project plan approved, it was full steam ahead for building. / Pack your bags because it is full steam ahead for vacation.
Other Ways to Say: Proceed rapidly / Push forward
28. Like a streak of lightning Meaning: Moving so fast that you look like a bright streak.
Meaning: Moving so fast that you look like a bright streak.
For Example: The runner dashed across the field like a streak of lightning. / The kitten leaped across the room like a streak of lightning.
Other Ways to Say: Extremely fast / Swift blur
29. Fast as a bullet Meaning: Traveling with incredible, weapon-like speed.
Meaning: Traveling with incredible, weapon-like speed.
For Example: The tennis ball flew across the net fast as a bullet. / The model rocket shot into the sky fast as a bullet.
Other Ways to Say: Extremely fast / Swift
30. Swift as an arrow Meaning: Moving straight and rapidly toward a target.
Meaning: Moving straight and rapidly toward a target.
For Example: The soccer ball flew toward the goal swift as an arrow. / He ran across the playground swift as an arrow.
Other Ways to Say: Very fast / Direct and quick
31. Quick as a cricket Meaning: Moving with lively and agile speed.
Meaning: Moving with lively and agile speed.
For Example: The toddler picked up all the scattered blocks quick as a cricket. / She hopped out of bed quick as a cricket in the morning.
Other Ways to Say: Agile and fast / Quick mover
32. Spanking pace Meaning: Moving at a lively, fast, and energetic speed.
Meaning: Moving at a lively, fast, and energetic speed.
For Example: They walked along the hiking trail at a spanking pace. / The cyclists kept a spanking pace all afternoon.
Other Ways to Say: Fast pace / Lively speed
33. Going great guns Meaning: Moving or progressing with rapid speed and success.
Meaning: Moving or progressing with rapid speed and success.
For Example: Once the group project started, they were going great guns. / The bakery business was going great guns on Saturday.
Other Ways to Say: Moving fast / Succeeding rapidly
34. Hitting top gear Meaning: Reaching the highest possible speed in work or travel.
Meaning: Reaching the highest possible speed in work or travel.
For Example: After the warmup lap, the race car hit top gear. / The students hit top gear when the timer had one minute left.
Other Ways to Say: Maximum speed / Full throttle
35. Full throttle Meaning: Operating at maximum speed and power.
Meaning: Operating at maximum speed and power.
For Example: The boat engine roared as it traveled full throttle across the lake. / He worked full throttle to finish building his project.
Other Ways to Say: Maximum speed / Full speed
36. High speed Meaning: Operating or traveling at a rate much faster than normal.
Meaning: Operating or traveling at a rate much faster than normal.
For Example: The bullet train traveled at high speed between cities. / Data downloaded at high speed over the network.
Other Ways to Say: Fast pace / Rapid movement
37. Warp speed Meaning: A fictional term used to describe impossible, extreme speed.
Meaning: A fictional term used to describe impossible, extreme speed.
For Example: He cleaned his bedroom at warp speed so he could play games. / The computer processed the large video file at warp speed.
Other Ways to Say: Extremely fast / Maximum speed
38. Sound barrier Meaning: Traveling so fast that you reach the speed of sound.
Meaning: Traveling so fast that you reach the speed of sound.
For Example: The jet fighter flew fast enough to break the sound barrier. / In science fiction stories, spaceships break the sound barrier.
Other Ways to Say: Extreme speed / Sonic pace
39. Speed through Meaning: Completing a task or journey with rapid speed.
Meaning: Completing a task or journey with rapid speed.
For Example: He managed to speed through his homework before dinner. / We tried to speed through the museum exhibits.
Other Ways to Say: Finish quickly / Rushing through
40. Flying colors finish Meaning: Completing a fast task with great success.
Meaning: Completing a fast task with great success.
For Example: She finished the race in record time with a flying colors finish. / The project crossed the finish line with flying colors.
Other Ways to Say: Fast success / Great finish
41. Swift action Meaning: Responding or moving to a problem immediately and quickly.
Meaning: Responding or moving to a problem immediately and quickly.
For Example: The lifeguard took swift action when someone needed help. / Swift action stopped the water leak quickly.
Other Ways to Say: Quick response / Fast work
42. Rapid fire Meaning: Happening in quick, continuous, and fast succession.
Meaning: Happening in quick, continuous, and fast succession.
For Example: The teacher asked rapid fire questions during the review game. / The comedian delivered jokes in a rapid fire style.
Other Ways to Say: Fast succession / Quick series
43. Quick march Meaning: A military command to start walking at a brisk, fast pace.
Meaning: A military command to start walking at a brisk, fast pace.
For Example: The marching band stepped forward on the command of quick march. / We began our hike with a quick march down the trail.
Other Ways to Say: Fast walk / Brisk pace
44. Brisk pace Meaning: Moving at a lively, energetic, and fairly fast speed.
Meaning: Moving at a lively, energetic, and fairly fast speed.
For Example: They kept a brisk pace while walking around the lake loop. / Morning exercises were done at a brisk pace.
Other Ways to Say: Fast walk / Lively speed
45. Sprinter’s speed Meaning: Running short distances with maximum explosive power.
Meaning: Running short distances with maximum explosive power.
For Example: He dashed across the gym floor with sprinter’s speed. / The puppy moved with sprinter’s speed toward the toy.
Other Ways to Say: Fast dash / Explosive speed
46. Blazing trail Meaning: Moving or working so fast that you leave others behind.
Meaning: Moving or working so fast that you leave others behind.
For Example: She was blazing trail through her math homework problems. / The lead cyclist was blazing trail ahead of the pack.
Other Ways to Say: Leading fast / Moving rapidly
47. Hitting the gas Meaning: Pressing a vehicle pedal to increase speed immediately.
Meaning: Pressing a vehicle pedal to increase speed immediately.
For Example: The go-kart driver started hitting the gas around the curve. / Hit the gas if you want to win the race.
Other Ways to Say: Accelerate / Speed up
48. Stepping on it Meaning: An informal phrase telling someone to drive or move faster.
Meaning: An informal phrase telling someone to drive or move faster.
For Example: Hurry up and start stepping on it or we will miss the bus. / Dad was stepping on it to arrive at the park before dark.
Other Ways to Say: Move faster / Speed up
49. Putting the hammer down Meaning: Pressing down hard on a vehicle accelerator for high speed.
Meaning: Pressing down hard on a vehicle accelerator for high speed.
For Example: The truck driver was putting the hammer down on the open highway. / Put the hammer down if you want to win the game.
Other Ways to Say: Accelerate / Speed up
50. Zoom Meaning: Moving very quickly through a space with a buzzing sound.
Meaning: Moving very quickly through a space with a buzzing sound.
For Example: The toy helicopter began to zoom across the living room. / He watched the jet fighter zoom across the sky.
Other Ways to Say: Move fast / Rush
51. Darting Meaning: Moving suddenly and rapidly in a quick direction change.
Meaning: Moving suddenly and rapidly in a quick direction change.
For Example: The little fish kept darting around the clear pond water. / A rabbit was darting across the garden patch.
Other Ways to Say: Moving swiftly / Quick dash
52. Dashing Meaning: Running or moving forward quickly with sudden energy.
Meaning: Running or moving forward quickly with sudden energy.
For Example: He was dashing across the street before the light changed. / She went dashing to answer the front door knock.
Other Ways to Say: Running fast / Rushing
53. Bolting Meaning: Running away suddenly and very fast out of fear or energy.
Meaning: Running suddenly and very fast out of fear or energy.
For Example: The frightened horse started bolting across the open field. / The dog began bolting toward the open gate.
Other Ways to Say: Running away fast / Sudden dash
54. Sprinting Meaning: Running at top speed over a short distance.
Meaning: Running at top speed over a short distance.
For Example: He was sprinting toward the finish line of the race. / The athletes practice sprinting during track training.
Other Ways to Say: Running fast / Top speed dash
55. Galloping Meaning: Running fast with large, springing strides like a horse.
Meaning: Running fast with large, springing strides like a horse.
For Example: The playful pony came galloping across the green meadow. / The children pretended to go galloping around the playground.
Other Ways to Say: Running fast / Bounding
56. Careening Meaning: Moving swiftly in an uncontrolled or fast manner.
Meaning: Moving swiftly in an uncontrolled or fast manner.
For Example: The runaway shopping cart went careening down the slope. / The toy truck went careening into the sofa.
Other Ways to Say: Moving fast / Rushing wildly
57. Whizzing Meaning: Moving rapidly while making a soft rushing sound in air.
Meaning: Moving rapidly while making a soft rushing sound in air.
For Example: The tennis ball went whizzing past my ear. / Arrows kept whizzing toward the target board.
Other Ways to Say: Flying fast / Zooming
58. Flashing past Meaning: Moving so fast that you appear only as a quick visual flash.
Meaning: Moving so fast that you appear only as a quick visual flash.
For Example: The scenery was flashing past the train window. / The race cars kept flashing past the grandstands.
Other Ways to Say: Zooming by / Moving swiftly
59. Sweeping along Meaning: Moving rapidly and smoothly with strong momentum.
Meaning: Moving rapidly and smoothly with strong momentum.
For Example: The wind was sweeping along the fallen leaves across the street. / The sailboat went sweeping along the coastal breeze.
Other Ways to Say: Moving fast / Rushing smoothly
60. Pure velocity Meaning: The absolute peak state of traveling at extreme speed.
Meaning: The absolute peak state of traveling at extreme speed.
For Example: The rocket launched into orbit with incredible pure velocity. / Physics class studied the pure velocity of falling objects.
Other Ways to Say: Extreme speed / Maximum motion
Exercise to Practice
- When the school bell rang, he ran out the door like a bat out of ________.
- He cleaned up his art supplies like greased ________ so he could go outside.
- Summer vacation went by in a ________ before school started again.
- The magician made the coin disappear in the ________ of an eye.
- The bicycle riders went at breakneck ________ down the hill track.
- The cheetah raced across the open grassland like the ________.
- On his new bicycle, he rode like a real speed ________.
- The puppy ran ________ tilt across the lawn toward the thrown ball.
- As soon as the race started, the go-karts were burning ________.
- The model airplane zoomed across the gym, flying high and ________.
- He zipped up his jacket quick as a ________ before stepping outside.
- She caught the falling pencil quick as ________.
- Completing his homework in ten minutes put him in the fast ________ to play time.
- Memorizing multiplication tables put her on the fast ________ in math.
- The coach told the team to pack up their gear on the ________.
Answer Key
- hell
- lightning
- flash
- blink
- speed
- wind
- demon
- full
- rubber
- fast
- wink
- lightning
- lane
- track
- double
Conclusion
Learning idioms for being very fast helps you understand action stories, sports reports, and everyday expressions of speed much better. When you know what these colorful phrases mean, you can use them to describe quick actions and fast races in your own writing.
Try using a few of these expressions the next time you finish a task quickly or watch a fast sport. Practicing them out loud is a great way to remember them and make your communication sound awesome.
