# second gear

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/second-gear
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

Mediocre, sluggish performance.

## Examples

- The team is only in second gear today.
- The project is falling behind because the developers have been stuck in second gear all week.
- Despite the urgent deadline, the department remained in second gear, producing work that lacked the necessary ambition and focus.

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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.