# cooking with gas

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/cooking-with-gas
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

Functioning particularly effectively; achieving something substantial.

## Examples

- Now that we have a plan, we are really cooking with gas.
- The team struggled at first, but after they hired a new manager, they started cooking with gas.
- Once the engineers resolved the technical errors in the prototype, the entire project began cooking with gas, moving toward completion at an impressive pace.

## Origin

To cook with natural gas fuel has been occurring since at least the 19th century when the petroleum industry came into being and new products and markets were developed. The idiomatic phrase entered the popular lexicon as part of an advertising slogan in late 1930s or early 1940s, for American Gas Association. The slogan "Now you're cooking with gas!" was coined by Deke Houlgate, an employee of AGA, who worked with Bob Hope to insert the phrase into his comedy routines as subtle product placement. The initial idea was to compete with the increasing popularity of electric stoves in the 1930s. However by 1940 it came to have a broader idiomatic usage and figurative meaning because of the way it was used by Bob Hope, Bing Crosby, Jack Benny and even a Daffy Duck cartoon, eclipsing its original intent as advertising. The slogan was repeated throughout the 1941-1942 radio season by many radio stars. Also used by jazz musicians to praise a performance.

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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.