flooring the accelerator

USAGE SUMMARY

"flooring the accelerator" is a perfectly correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to mean pressing the accelerator to the floor or accelerating rapidly. For example, "We screeched away from the police station, flooring the accelerator."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

But flooring the accelerator produces some undignified noises, and the 3,309-pound 3,309-poundrive model goes nowhere fast.

The New York Times

We pass the Henry Hudson Bridge, then follow the narrow, winding Saw Mill River Parkway to the bucolic Taconic State Parkway, flooring the accelerator at the mere hint of open highway.

The New York Times - Travel

It begins in familiar style with Bond flooring the accelerator of his Aston Martin and looking quite unperturbed as he weaves in and out of the oncoming traffic on a precipitous mountain road.

Independent

Flooring the accelerator, she praises Syriza, the leftwing Greek group that rose from the rubble of the country's ruined economy and is a reference point for her manifesto for a radical approach to building an independent Catalonia.

The Guardian

Flooring the accelerator on that "power of persuasion," Trump pulled out all the stops: According to Reuters, he declared the Freedom Towers design to be "the worst pile of crap architecture I've ever seen in my life".

Forbes

If you're always flooring the accelerator to get from one stop light to the next, and riding the brakes hard to stop in time, this will have a huge effect on your fuel mileage.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

"We've already floored the accelerator.

The New York Times

Terrified, she floored the accelerator.

The New Yorker

Mr. Stanford floored the accelerator until the car reached 170 miles an hour.

The New York Times

Anthony J. Raganella put the cruiser in gear and floored the accelerator.

The New York Times

Each time my father floored the accelerator and swung out to pass, my mother drew frightened breath: "Fffff!

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about driving scenarios, use "flooring the accelerator" to vividly convey a sense of urgency, speed, or even recklessness. It's more impactful than simply saying "accelerated".

Common error

While "flooring the accelerator" is acceptable in news and creative writing, it may be too informal for technical or highly formal documents. Consider using more neutral terms like "accelerated rapidly" or "increased speed" in those situations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "flooring the accelerator" functions primarily as a verb phrase within a sentence, describing the action of forcefully pressing the accelerator pedal. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is grammatically sound and usable.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Science

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "flooring the accelerator" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase that effectively describes the action of pressing a car's accelerator pedal all the way down to rapidly increase speed. Ludwig AI analysis confirms its usability, especially in news and media contexts. While generally neutral in register, it should be used judiciously in highly formal or technical writing. Remember to consider semantically similar alternatives like "stepping on the gas" or "putting the pedal to the metal" to add variety to your writing. The frequency is uncommon.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Stepping on the gas

This alternative is a more informal and common way to describe pressing the accelerator pedal.

Hitting the gas pedal

This alternative is a very similar and direct way to say accelerating the car.

Pressing the accelerator to the floor

This alternative is more descriptive and explicitly states the action of pushing the pedal all the way down.

Putting the pedal to the metal

This alternative is an idiomatic expression that means accelerating to the maximum speed.

Accelerating rapidly

This alternative focuses on the result of pressing the accelerator rather than the action itself.

Speeding up quickly

This alternative is a more general term for increasing speed but captures the essence of rapid acceleration.

Opening up the throttle

This alternative is related to throttle control, the speed can be changed, and is sometimes used in a mechanical context.

Giving it full throttle

This alternative describes applying maximum power to the engine for immediate acceleration.

Maxing out the accelerator

This alternative describes accelerating the car to the maximum.

Gun it

This is an informal, almost slang term for quickly accelerating a vehicle.

FAQs

What does "flooring the accelerator" mean?

Flooring the accelerator means pressing the car's accelerator pedal all the way down to the floor, resulting in a rapid increase in speed. It's often used to describe a sudden or forceful acceleration.

What can I say instead of "flooring the accelerator"?

You can use alternatives like "stepping on the gas", "hitting the gas pedal", or "putting the pedal to the metal" depending on the context.

Is "flooring the accelerator" formal or informal?

The phrase "flooring the accelerator" is generally considered to be neutral to slightly informal. It is commonly used in journalism and narrative writing but may not be suitable for highly formal or technical contexts.

How can I use "flooring the accelerator" in a sentence?

Here's an example: "Terrified, she "floored the accelerator" to escape the approaching danger."