ENGLISH
REFERENCE

head of steam

idiom
Meaning

A significant amount of energy, vigour or momentum, sufficient to make progress or succeed in a task.


Origin

disputed origin

The figurative sense is by metaphor from the literal one: the need of the boiler of a steam locomotive to exceed a minimum amount of pressure before the locomotive could start moving.

Examples
SIMPLE

The team has a head of steam and will finish the project today.

CONTEXTUAL

After a slow start, the campaign gained a head of steam and reached thousands of new voters.

COMPLEX

Once the movement gathered a sufficient head of steam, it became impossible for the local authorities to ignore the growing public demand for reform.

Anchors to
Related idioms8entries
  1. 01

    bang one's head against a brick wall

    To waste effort on a futile project.

  2. 02

    bash someone's head

    To beat up someone violently.

  3. 03

    big head

    An inflated ego, an exaggerated belief in one's own importance.

  4. 04

    bite someone's head off

    To severely berate someone.

  5. 05

    blow off steam

    To vent; to talk or take action (especially in a ranting or unrestrained way) so as to relieve stress.

  6. 06

    blow someone's head off

    To shoot someone in the head.

  7. 07

    bury one's head in the sand

    To deliberately ignore the reality of a situation; to pretend a problem does not exist.

  8. 08

    come to a head

    To rapidly reach a turning point or climax.

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