head of steam
A significant amount of energy, vigour or momentum, sufficient to make progress or succeed in a task.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“The team has a head of steam and will finish the project today.”
“He builds up a head of steam when he works on his hobby.”
“After a slow start, the campaign gained a head of steam and reached thousands of new voters.”
“The new restaurant picked up a head of steam after a famous food critic shared a positive review on social media.”
“I finally have a head of steam with my studies, so I want to finish two more chapters before I take a break.”
“Once the movement gathered a sufficient head of steam, it became impossible for the local authorities to ignore the growing public demand for reform.”
The term originates as a metaphor for the literal requirements of the steam locomotive. It denotes the accumulation of internal pressure within a boiler, which was required to reach a specific threshold before the engine could achieve movement. The figurative application followed this mechanical necessity, equating the build-up of physical vapour with the gathering of momentum.
- 01
bang one's head against a brick wall
To waste effort on a futile project.
- 02
bang some heads together
Attempt to get results from a previously ineffectual or argumentative group, typically by coercion or force.
- 03
bash someone's head
To beat up someone violently.
- 04
big head
An inflated ego, an exaggerated belief in one's own importance.
- 05
bite someone's head off
To severely berate someone.
- 06
blow off steam
To vent; to talk or take action (especially in a ranting or unrestrained way) so as to relieve stress.
- 07
blow someone's head off
To shoot someone in the head.
- 08
bury one's head in the sand
To deliberately ignore the reality of a situation; to pretend a problem does not exist.
Last updated August 10, 2026