add oil
Synonym of let's go: a cheer of encouragement, support, etc.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“You can do this, add oil!”
“Your exams start next week, so add oil.”
“Add oil, you are almost at the top of the hill.”
“I believe in your talent, so add oil during your piano performance.”
“The team needs to finish this project by tonight, so add oil everyone.”
“I know you are nervous about your job interview tomorrow, but just be yourself and add oil.”
“If we want to win the game in the second half, we really need to add oil.”
“Learning a new language is a long journey, but if you keep practicing every day and add oil, you will eventually become fluent.”
“As the marathon runners approached the final mile, the crowd shouted loudly to add oil and keep them moving forward.”
A calque of the Chinese 加油 (jiāyóu), the expression is associated with Hong Kong contexts via the Cantonese pronunciation gaa1 jau4-2. The term is sometimes credited to shouts of support recorded during the Macau Grand Prix. It functions as a linguistic parallel to the English cooking with gas or fuel up, though it retains the specific phrasing of the original Chinese metaphor.
- 01
add fuel to the fire
To worsen a conflict between people; to inflame an already tense situation.
- 02
add insult to injury
To further a loss with mockery or indignity; to worsen an already unfavorable situation.
- 03
add up
To make sense; to be reasonable or consistent.
- 04
added value
The positive value difference produced by someone who adds value.
- 05
burn the midnight oil
To work studiously, especially late into the night.
- 06
oil and water
Two things which are incapable of mixing or coexisting harmoniously with each other.
- 07
oil burner
A device whose operation causes apparent combustion of lubricating oil.
- 08
oil trash
An uncultured, rowdy roughneck employed in the petroleum industry, especially a "white trash" person if used negatively.
Last updated August 10, 2026