Idioms are fun and colorful expressions that make language come alive. Instead of saying something in a plain or boring way, idioms let us add flair and creativity to our conversations. When it comes to describing speed, these phrases can help us explain how fast something happens—whether it’s a race, a decision, or a change in mood. Speed-related idioms are not only useful but also exciting to learn, especially for young learners who want to speak more naturally and expressively.
In this blog post, you’ll find 60 idioms that all relate to speed—moving fast, reacting quickly, or describing something that changes in an instant. Each idiom comes with its meaning, a long example sentence, and other ways to say the same thing in everyday conversations. By learning and practicing these idioms, you’ll boost your vocabulary and become more confident in how you speak and write. So, let’s zoom into this list and learn how to talk about speed like a pro!
Idioms for Speed
1. In the blink of an eye
Meaning: Very quickly; almost instantly.
In a Sentence: The magician made the rabbit disappear in the blink of an eye, so fast that the entire audience gasped in amazement, wondering if they had even seen it at all.
Other Ways to Say: In an instant, In no time
2. Like a bat out of hell
Meaning: Moving very fast and wildly.
In a Sentence: As soon as the school bell rang, Marcus dashed down the hallway like a bat out of hell, weaving between students and barely slowing down to open his locker.
Other Ways to Say: Super fast, Like lightning
3. At lightning speed
Meaning: Extremely fast.
In a Sentence: The athlete ran the 100-meter sprint at lightning speed, finishing so far ahead of the others that the crowd stood up and cheered before the second-place runner even crossed the finish line.
Other Ways to Say: Really fast, Super quick
4. In no time
Meaning: Very soon or quickly.
In a Sentence: My mom whipped up a delicious batch of pancakes in no time at all, flipping them so quickly and efficiently that breakfast was served before I could even finish brushing my teeth.
Other Ways to Say: Instantly, Very soon
5. Quick as a flash
Meaning: Very quickly or suddenly.
In a Sentence: He snatched the phone off the table quick as a flash when it started to ring, not giving anyone else a chance to even reach for it.
Other Ways to Say: Super fast, Swiftly
6. Fast and furious
Meaning: Full of speed, energy, and action.
In a Sentence: The basketball game kicked off fast and furious, with players sprinting across the court, making rapid passes, and scoring points so quickly it was hard to keep track.
Other Ways to Say: Intense and fast, High-speed action
7. In a heartbeat
Meaning: Immediately or without hesitation.
In a Sentence: If my sister needed help with anything important, I’d drop whatever I was doing and be there for her in a heartbeat, no questions asked, because that’s just how close we are.
Other Ways to Say: Right away, Without delay
8. As fast as your legs can carry you
Meaning: Running or moving as fast as physically possible.
In a Sentence: When the rain suddenly started pouring down, we ran toward the bus shelter as fast as our legs could carry us, laughing and slipping on the wet sidewalk all the way there.
Other Ways to Say: As fast as possible, Sprinting
9. At breakneck speed
Meaning: Extremely fast, often dangerously so.
In a Sentence: The roller coaster twisted and turned at breakneck speed, making our stomachs drop and our screams echo across the amusement park before we could even catch our breath.
Other Ways to Say: Very fast, At a wild pace
10. In record time
Meaning: Faster than ever before.
In a Sentence: We cleaned the entire house in record time this morning, finishing all the chores in just two hours because we wanted to catch the early movie showing.
Other Ways to Say: Very quickly, Faster than usual
11. At full throttle
Meaning: As fast as possible or with full energy.
In a Sentence: The racecar zoomed around the final corner at full throttle, engine roaring, tires screeching, and the crowd holding its breath in excitement.
Other Ways to Say: Full speed, At max power
12. Up to speed
Meaning: At the current or required level of performance or knowledge.
In a Sentence: After spending the weekend studying, I finally felt up to speed with all the chapters we’d covered in science class, and I was ready to take the quiz on Monday.
Other Ways to Say: In the loop, Fully caught up
13. Move like lightning
Meaning: To move very quickly.
In a Sentence: The cat moved like lightning across the kitchen counter when it saw the treat bag, leaping over bowls and dodging everything in its path without missing a step.
Other Ways to Say: Super quick, Like a flash
14. In a split second
Meaning: Happening so fast that it’s almost impossible to measure.
In a Sentence: In a split second, the squirrel darted across the road and narrowly avoided getting hit by the car, leaving everyone inside gasping in relief.
Other Ways to Say: Instantly, In a flash
15. Speed demon
Meaning: Someone who drives or moves very fast.
In a Sentence: My cousin is a real speed demon when she’s on the freeway, weaving through traffic like she’s in a race and giving everyone else in the car a mild heart attack.
Other Ways to Say: Fast driver, Road racer
16. Get a move on
Meaning: Hurry up or start moving quickly.
In a Sentence: If we want to catch the last bus home, we really need to get a move on and leave this restaurant right now, even if we haven’t finished our dessert.
Other Ways to Say: Hurry up, Get going
17. Run like the wind
Meaning: Run extremely fast.
In a Sentence: When the dog got loose from the backyard, it ran like the wind down the street, and it took three neighbors and a squeaky toy to finally catch up with it.
Other Ways to Say: Sprint, Dash away
18. As fast as greased lightning
Meaning: Very fast, almost uncontrollably so.
In a Sentence: The toddler was as fast as greased lightning when he spotted the playground, bolting from the car and zooming toward the swings before anyone could even close the door.
Other Ways to Say: Super speedy, Like a blur
19. In a flash
Meaning: Very quickly; almost instantly.
In a Sentence: The power went out in a flash right after the thunder cracked, leaving us in total darkness with only our phone flashlights to guide us.
Other Ways to Say: Instantly, Very fast
20. In the nick of time
Meaning: Just before it’s too late.
In a Sentence: We arrived at the train station in the nick of time, jumping on board just as the conductor blew his whistle and started closing the doors.
Other Ways to Say: Just in time, Barely made it
21. Fast track
Meaning: A quick route to success or progress.
In a Sentence: She landed an internship at a top company that put her on the fast track to becoming a full-time employee before she even graduated college.
Other Ways to Say: Quick route, Shortcut to success
22. Quick on the draw
Meaning: Reacting very fast, especially in making decisions.
In a Sentence: During the quiz competition, Jason was quick on the draw, hitting the buzzer before anyone else and answering the questions with total confidence.
Other Ways to Say: Fast thinker, Swift responder
23. Zip by
Meaning: To pass by quickly.
In a Sentence: The weekend zipped by so fast that Monday morning felt like it showed up uninvited, and I couldn’t even remember where all my free time went.
Other Ways to Say: Whiz by, Fly past
24. Break the sound barrier
Meaning: To go extremely fast, usually faster than expected.
In a Sentence: The new airplane model broke the sound barrier during its test flight, creating a thunderous boom that echoed across the sky and shook the windows below.
Other Ways to Say: Extremely fast, High-speed
25. Whirlwind pace
Meaning: A very fast or hectic pace.
In a Sentence: The first day of high school flew by at a whirlwind pace with so many new faces, classes, and surprises that I barely had time to eat lunch.
Other Ways to Say: Super fast, Busy and quick
26. In overdrive
Meaning: Operating at full speed or effort.
In a Sentence: As the deadline approached, my brain went into overdrive trying to finish the essay, double-check every sentence, and make sure the formatting was perfect.
Other Ways to Say: At full speed, Working intensely
27. Swift as an arrow
Meaning: Extremely fast and direct.
In a Sentence: The eagle dove from the sky as swift as an arrow, aiming straight for its target with such precision and speed that I barely had time to blink.
Other Ways to Say: Very fast, Sharp and quick
28. Pick up the pace
Meaning: Start moving or doing something faster.
In a Sentence: If we want to finish the hike before sunset, we need to pick up the pace because the trail ahead is steeper and will take more time.
Other Ways to Say: Move faster, Speed things up
29. Like a shot
Meaning: Very quickly and suddenly.
In a Sentence: The moment I opened the treat jar, the dog came running like a shot from the backyard, wagging his tail and ready for a snack.
Other Ways to Say: Instantly, In a flash
30. Zoom off
Meaning: To go away very fast.
In a Sentence: As soon as the race began, the cars zoomed off the starting line with engines roaring and tires burning rubber on the track.
Other Ways to Say: Speed off, Race away
31. Make tracks
Meaning: To leave quickly.
In a Sentence: As soon as the movie ended and the credits rolled, we made tracks out of the theater to beat the crowd and catch the last bus home.
Other Ways to Say: Head out fast, Leave quickly
32. Like greased lightning
Meaning: Extremely fast.
In a Sentence: The squirrel ran up the tree like greased lightning when it heard a loud noise, disappearing into the branches before I could take another step.
Other Ways to Say: Super fast, Blazing speed
33. Jump the gun
Meaning: To act too early or before the right time.
In a Sentence: He jumped the gun and submitted his application before the instructions were even fully released, missing some key requirements by accident.
Other Ways to Say: Act too soon, Be impatient
34. Put the pedal to the metal
Meaning: To go faster or try harder.
In a Sentence: When we realized we were running late for the wedding, my dad put the pedal to the metal and sped down the highway like we were in a movie scene.
Other Ways to Say: Go full speed, Accelerate
35. Blaze a trail
Meaning: To lead the way quickly, especially in new territory.
In a Sentence: The startup blazed a trail in the tech world by launching a product that no one had seen before, gaining attention almost overnight.
Other Ways to Say: Lead fast, Pioneer quickly
36. Like a rocket
Meaning: Moving extremely fast.
In a Sentence: When the ball was thrown across the field, the outfielder ran after it like a rocket, diving just in time to make the perfect catch.
Other Ways to Say: Super fast, Like a missile
37. Race against the clock
Meaning: To try to do something very quickly before a deadline.
In a Sentence: We were racing against the clock to finish decorating the room before our guest of honor arrived, scrambling to hang streamers and blow up balloons.
Other Ways to Say: Hurry up, Beat the deadline
38. Hit warp speed
Meaning: To go extremely fast (often used figuratively).
In a Sentence: When the project deadline was pushed up by a week, our team hit warp speed to get everything completed on time without sacrificing quality.
Other Ways to Say: Go super fast, Rush full force
39. Burn rubber
Meaning: To drive away very quickly.
In a Sentence: As soon as the light turned green, the sports car in the front lane burned rubber and sped down the road, leaving behind the smell of tires.
Other Ways to Say: Take off fast, Accelerate quickly
40. Fly off the handle
Meaning: To lose temper suddenly and quickly.
In a Sentence: He flew off the handle when he realized someone had deleted his entire presentation, reacting with so much speed and emotion that it surprised the whole class.
Other Ways to Say: Snap quickly, Get mad fast
41. Whiz past
Meaning: To pass by something quickly.
In a Sentence: The cyclist whizzed past the café so quickly that I only saw a blur of colors before he disappeared around the corner.
Other Ways to Say: Zoom by, Rush past
42. Snap to it
Meaning: To start doing something quickly.
In a Sentence: As soon as our coach clapped his hands, we snapped to it and started our warm-ups with full energy and focus.
Other Ways to Say: Start now, Get moving
43. In a jiffy
Meaning: In a very short time.
In a Sentence: Don’t worry about the wait—I’ll be back with your order in a jiffy, so you can start enjoying your meal almost immediately.
Other Ways to Say: Very soon, Real quick
44. In a rush
Meaning: Doing something quickly, often with urgency.
In a Sentence: I left the house in such a rush this morning that I accidentally wore two different socks and forgot my lunch on the counter.
Other Ways to Say: In a hurry, Pressed for time
45. As quick as a bunny
Meaning: Very fast (often used playfully).
In a Sentence: The little girl darted through the living room as quick as a bunny when her dad came home with a bag of her favorite candy.
Other Ways to Say: Speedy, Fast and playful
46. Hit the gas
Meaning: To start going faster.
In a Sentence: When the rain started falling harder, we hit the gas to make it to the shelter before getting completely soaked.
Other Ways to Say: Accelerate, Move faster
47. A mile a minute
Meaning: Talking or doing something very quickly.
In a Sentence: She talks a mile a minute when she’s excited, barely pausing for breath as she tells you every single detail of her amazing day.
Other Ways to Say: Very fast, Rapid pace
48. Breakneck pace
Meaning: Very fast pace, often overwhelming.
In a Sentence: The schedule for the school trip moved at a breakneck pace, leaving us breathless as we jumped from one activity to the next with barely any time to rest.
Other Ways to Say: Very quick, Non-stop speed
49. Rev up
Meaning: To start moving faster or get more intense.
In a Sentence: The crowd at the concert started cheering louder as the band revved up the music, building the excitement until everyone was on their feet.
Other Ways to Say: Speed up, Kick into gear
50. In the fast lane
Meaning: Living or moving at a fast and exciting pace.
In a Sentence: Ever since she moved to the big city, she’s been living in the fast lane, juggling work, social events, and new adventures every day.
Other Ways to Say: High-paced life, Fast-moving routine
51. Gone in sixty seconds
Meaning: Disappears or finishes very quickly.
In a Sentence: The donuts we brought to the party were gone in sixty seconds, devoured by a hungry crowd who didn’t even stop to ask what flavors they were.
Other Ways to Say: Vanished quickly, Eaten fast
52. Light on your feet
Meaning: Able to move quickly and easily.
In a Sentence: The dancer was so light on her feet that she seemed to float across the stage, twirling and leaping with almost magical speed.
Other Ways to Say: Nimble, Agile
53. Be off in a flash
Meaning: To leave quickly and suddenly.
In a Sentence: As soon as he saw the clock and realized he was late, he grabbed his backpack and was off in a flash without even saying goodbye.
Other Ways to Say: Left quickly, Took off fast
54. Pop up
Meaning: Appear quickly or unexpectedly.
In a Sentence: New challenges seem to pop up every day at school, but I’ve learned to stay flexible and tackle them as soon as they appear.
Other Ways to Say: Show up fast, Appear suddenly
55. As quick as thought
Meaning: Extremely fast, as fast as thinking.
In a Sentence: The clever fox changed direction as quick as thought when it noticed the trap ahead, avoiding danger without missing a beat.
Other Ways to Say: Instantly, Without hesitation
56. Beeline for
Meaning: Go directly and quickly toward something.
In a Sentence: As soon as we entered the store, my little brother made a beeline for the toy aisle and disappeared behind a mountain of stuffed animals.
Other Ways to Say: Head straight for, Go directly
57. Blow by
Meaning: To pass by very quickly, usually unnoticed.
In a Sentence: The summer blew by before we knew it, filled with so many activities and trips that it felt like it ended in just a few sunny blinks.
Other Ways to Say: Go by quickly, Pass fast
58. Take off like a shot
Meaning: To start moving suddenly and very quickly.
In a Sentence: When the fireworks started, the dog took off like a shot, sprinting back to the house faster than I’d ever seen him move.
Other Ways to Say: Bolt, Dash off
59. Make a dash for it
Meaning: To run quickly toward something, especially for safety or to escape.
In a Sentence: When the rain started pouring, we made a dash for it across the parking lot, splashing through puddles and laughing all the way to the car.
Other Ways to Say: Run for it, Rush quickly
60. Get up to speed
Meaning: To reach the normal or required level of knowledge or progress.
In a Sentence: I had to watch three tutorial videos just to get up to speed on how to use the new software before my group presentation began.
Other Ways to Say: Catch up, Learn quickly
Practical Exercise
Fill in the blanks:
- I would help my best friend move across the country _______ a heartbeat if she asked me to.
- The squirrel darted across the yard _______ fast as greased lightning.
- The teacher told us to _______ a move on if we wanted to finish the exam on time.
- That exciting movie ended _______ the blink of an eye.
- We reached the train just _______ the nick of time.
- The kids ran to the ice cream truck _______ a shot.
- I had to _______ up to speed after missing a week of school.
- Our vacation flew by at a _______ pace.
- The toddler disappeared _______ a flash when we opened the front door.
- He burned _______ as he raced to the hospital in a panic.
Answers:
in, as, get, in, in, like, get, breakneck, in, rubber
Conclusion
Speed idioms help us add excitement, urgency, and vivid imagery to the way we speak. Whether you’re describing someone sprinting down a track or a weekend that vanished too quickly, these idioms give your language energy and style. Use them when you’re writing stories, chatting with friends, or simply trying to say something in a fun and expressive way.
Keep practicing these phrases in real life to make them stick. And remember—language doesn’t have to be slow and boring. With the right idiom, your words can move as fast as lightning.