# add oil

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/add-oil
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

Synonym of let's go: a cheer of encouragement, support, etc.

## Examples

- 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.

## Origin

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.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.