pour on the coal

Slang definitions & phrases for pour on the coal

pour on the coal

verb phrase

To travel very fast; speed up; step on it: The pilot apparently decided to go around again and poured on the coal (1937+)


Idioms and Phrases with pour on the coal

pour on the coal

Speed up, as in They keep passing us so pour on the coal, Mom! or We can get this issue of the paper out on time if we pour on the coal. This slangy expression originated in aviation in the 1930s but must have been an allusion to the coal-burning engines of trains and ships, since aircraft were never so powered. It has since been transferred to other vehicles and other endeavors.