firing on all cylinders

firing on all cylinders
firing on all cylinders & hitting on all cylinders
1. Lit. [of an internal combustion engine] having all its cylinders working and thus providing the maximum amount of power. •

The old car is firing on all cylinders despite its age.

This thing's not hitting on all cylinders.

2. Fig. working at full strength; making every possible effort. •

The team is firing on all cylinders under the new coach.

The factory is hitting on all cylinders to finish the orders on time.


Dictionary of American idioms. 2013.

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  • firing on all cylinders — phrase putting a lot of energy and effort into doing something The team managed to record a crucial victory without firing on all cylinders. Thesaurus: energetic and livelysynonym Main entry: fire * * * firing on all (four) cylinders …   Useful english dictionary

  • firing on all cylinders — operating as powerfully and effectively as possible. Doctors say Mary will be firing on all cylinders after two months of physical therapy. Usage notes: based on the literal meaning of a car engine using all of its cylinders the parts that… …   New idioms dictionary

  • firing on all cylinders — putting a lot of energy and effort into doing something The team managed to record a crucial victory without firing on all cylinders …   English dictionary

  • firing on all cylinders — ► firing on all (four) cylinders functioning at a peak level. Main Entry: ↑fire …   English terms dictionary

  • be firing on all cylinders — to be operating as powerfully and effectively as possible. Dawson will be firing on all cylinders after 2 months of fitness training …   New idioms dictionary

  • firing on all (four) cylinders — functioning at a peak level. → fire …   English new terms dictionary

  • firing on all four cylinders — ► firing on all (four) cylinders functioning at a peak level. Main Entry: ↑fire …   English terms dictionary

  • fire on all cylinders — If something is firing on all cylinders, it is going as well as it could …   The small dictionary of idiomes

  • working on all cylinders — working/firing on all ˈcylinders idiom (informal) using all your energy to do sth; working as well as possible Main entry: ↑cylinderidiom …   Useful english dictionary

  • fire on all cylinders —    If something is firing on all cylinders, it is going as well as it could.   (Dorking School Dictionary) …   English Idioms & idiomatic expressions

  • Fire on all cylinders —   If something is firing on all cylinders, it is going as well as it could …   Dictionary of English idioms

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