Idioms add flair to everyday language, and when it comes to talking about cars and driving, they can inject humor, relatability, and vivid imagery into our conversations.
In this listicle, we’ll explore popular idioms that are inspired by cars, driving, and road life. Buckle up as we cruise through expressions that rev up your vocabulary and help you steer your conversations with style.
What is an Idiom About Cars?
Car idioms are expressions that use references to vehicles, driving, roads, or travel to describe life situations, behaviors, or feelings in a figurative way.
These idioms are not just about literal driving — they often reflect ideas like moving forward, losing control, facing roadblocks, or speeding through challenges.
Let’s hit the gas and dive into this collection of idioms about cars and driving.
Idioms About Cars
1. Drive Someone Up the Wall
Meaning: To irritate or annoy someone to the point of frustration.
In a Sentence: The constant honking outside the house was driving her up the wall.
2. Hit the Road
Meaning: To leave a place or begin a journey, usually by car or on foot.
In a Sentence: We packed our bags, said goodbye, and hit the road before sunrise.
3. In the Driver’s Seat
Meaning: To be in control or in charge of a situation.
In a Sentence: After getting promoted, she was finally in the driver’s seat at the company.
4. Put the Brakes On
Meaning: To slow down or stop an action or process.
In a Sentence: The manager decided to put the brakes on the new policy until further review.
5. Backseat Driver
Meaning: A person who gives unwanted advice or tries to control things even when they’re not in charge.
In a Sentence: I love my brother, but he’s a total backseat driver whenever I cook dinner.
6. Step on It
Meaning: To hurry up or move faster, especially when driving.
In a Sentence: We were running late, so I told the cab driver to step on it.
7. Run Out of Gas
Meaning: To feel exhausted or lose momentum.
In a Sentence: After working non-stop all day, I completely ran out of gas by evening.
8. Shift Gears
Meaning: To make a change in approach, style, or activity.
In a Sentence: After years in marketing, she decided to shift gears and become a teacher.
9. Like a Deer in Headlights
Meaning: To look stunned or frozen in fear or surprise.
In a Sentence: When he forgot his lines on stage, he stood there like a deer in headlights.
10. Hit the Gas
Meaning: To accelerate or increase speed; to take action quickly.
In a Sentence: Once we got approval, we hit the gas on the product launch.
11. In Overdrive
Meaning: To work very hard or at an extremely fast pace.
In a Sentence: With the deadline approaching, the team was in overdrive to finish the project.
12. Take a Backseat
Meaning: To allow someone else to take control or be more prominent.
In a Sentence: During the event, she chose to take a backseat and let her team shine.
13. On the Right Track
Meaning: To be doing something correctly or making progress toward a goal.
In a Sentence: His grades have improved a lot lately, so he’s clearly on the right track.
14. Pedal to the Metal
Meaning: To go full speed or make maximum effort.
In a Sentence: With only a week left, we put the pedal to the metal to meet the deadline.
15. Run Like a Well-Oiled Machine
Meaning: To operate smoothly and efficiently.
In a Sentence: Their team runs like a well-oiled machine during busy lunch hours.
16. Out of the Fast Lane
Meaning: To slow down in life, often to reduce stress or avoid burnout.
In a Sentence: After years in corporate, he decided to move out of the fast lane and focus on wellness.
17. Miss the Turn
Meaning: To miss an opportunity or make a mistake.
In a Sentence: He missed the turn in negotiations and lost a major client.
18. Bump in the Road
Meaning: A small problem or obstacle.
In a Sentence: There were a few bumps in the road during planning, but the event was still a success.
19. Jump-Start Something
Meaning: To begin or revive something with energy or assistance.
In a Sentence: She took a workshop to jump-start her writing career.
20. At a Crossroads
Meaning: A point where a major decision must be made.
In a Sentence: Graduating college left him at a crossroads between work and travel.
21. Go the Extra Mile
Meaning: To make more effort than is expected.
In a Sentence: The mechanic went the extra mile by checking parts he wasn’t even asked to fix.
22. Blow a Gasket
Meaning: To become very angry or lose one’s temper.
In a Sentence: When he found out the repair was done wrong, he blew a gasket.
23. Put the Pedal to the Metal
Meaning: To speed up and give something full energy or commitment.
In a Sentence: With limited time, we had to put the pedal to the metal to wrap up the project.
24. Grease the Wheels
Meaning: To make a process run more smoothly, often by offering incentives.
In a Sentence: He greased the wheels with a small tip to get his documents processed faster.
25. Blow the Doors Off
Meaning: To outperform or impress significantly.
In a Sentence: Her performance at the car show blew the doors off the competition.
26. Kick Tires
Meaning: To casually inspect or show interest, often without commitment.
In a Sentence: He was just kicking tires at the dealership, not planning to buy anything today.
27. Crash and Burn
Meaning: To fail suddenly and dramatically.
In a Sentence: Their new marketing campaign crashed and burned within the first week.
28. Driven to Success
Meaning: To be highly motivated to achieve goals.
In a Sentence: From a young age, she was driven to success by her passion for design.
29. Sunday Driver
Meaning: A person who drives slowly and leisurely, often annoying others.
In a Sentence: We got stuck behind a Sunday driver on the way to the airport.
30. Hit a Speed Bump
Meaning: To face a small delay or obstacle.
In a Sentence: They hit a speed bump with some supplier issues, but things are back on track now.
31. In Low Gear
Meaning: To operate at a slower pace.
In a Sentence: After the long weekend, the office was still in low gear on Monday.
32. Lost His Steering
Meaning: To lose control of a situation.
In a Sentence: When the discussion turned hostile, he completely lost his steering.
33. Highway Robbery
Meaning: Something that is outrageously overpriced.
In a Sentence: $10 for a cup of coffee? That’s highway robbery!
34. Get the Show on the Road
Meaning: To begin an activity or journey.
In a Sentence: Everyone was ready, so we decided to get the show on the road.
35. Driven Up the Wall
Meaning: To be extremely irritated.
In a Sentence: The car alarm that kept going off all night drove the neighbors up the wall.
36. Burn Rubber
Meaning: To drive away quickly or with great speed.
In a Sentence: When the light turned green, he burned rubber down the street.
37. Ride Shotgun
Meaning: To sit in the front passenger seat of a vehicle.
In a Sentence: She called out, “I ride shotgun!” before anyone else got to the car.
38. Behind the Wheel
Meaning: In control of a car or situation.
In a Sentence: Being behind the wheel of her new car gave her a sense of freedom.
39. Gear Up
Meaning: To prepare or get ready for something.
In a Sentence: They’re gearing up for the launch of their electric vehicle line.
40. Take a Detour
Meaning: To take an alternative or longer route, often unexpected.
In a Sentence: The road was closed, so we had to take a detour through the countryside.
41. In the Shop
Meaning: Being repaired, especially a car.
In a Sentence: My SUV is in the shop this week, so I’m borrowing my dad’s truck.
42. Tailgate
Meaning: To follow another vehicle too closely.
In a Sentence: The driver was tailgating us for miles, which made me nervous.
43. Break Down
Meaning: To stop functioning or collapse emotionally.
In a Sentence: The car broke down right before the toll booth — perfect timing!
44. Cut Someone Off
Meaning: To suddenly move in front of another vehicle.
In a Sentence: That guy cut me off on the highway without even signaling.
45. Run on Fumes
Meaning: To be completely exhausted or nearly out of energy.
In a Sentence: After working two shifts, she was running on fumes by the end of the day.
46. Rev Up
Meaning: To get excited or energized for something.
In a Sentence: The crowd began to rev up as the drivers took their places.
47. Take the Wheel
Meaning: To take control or leadership in a situation.
In a Sentence: When the manager left, she took the wheel and led the meeting.
Quizzes About the Idioms in the Article
Quiz 1: In the Driver’s Seat
What does the idiom “In the driver’s seat” mean?
a) Literally driving a vehicle
b) Being late for a meeting
c) Being in control of a situation
d) Waiting for someone to pick you up
Quiz 2: Pedal to the Metal
What does “Pedal to the metal” suggest?
a) Slowing down the car
b) Taking a coffee break
c) Putting in maximum effort or speed
d) Changing direction suddenly
Quiz 3: At a Crossroads
When someone is “At a crossroads,” what does it mean?
a) They are stuck in traffic
b) They’re about to get into an accident
c) They must make an important decision
d) They are going on a road trip
Quiz 4: Blow a Gasket
What is meant by “Blow a gasket”?
a) To cool down quickly
b) To become very angry
c) To fix an engine
d) To relax after work
Quiz 5: Kick Tires
If someone is “kicking tires,” what are they doing?
a) Checking tire pressure
b) Casually looking at something without real intent
c) Preparing for a race
d) Fixing a flat
Quiz 6: Run Out of Gas
What does “Run out of gas” mean figuratively?
a) Lose energy or motivation
b) Have too much energy
c) Win a race
d) Cook dinner quickly
Quiz 7: Crash and Burn
What does “Crash and burn” refer to?
a) Cooking a meal too fast
b) Going to sleep quickly
c) Failing dramatically
d) Warming up an engine
Quiz 8: Burn Rubber
When someone “burns rubber,” what are they doing?
a) Repairing tires
b) Leaving slowly
c) Accelerating quickly
d) Burning trash
Quiz 9: Ride Shotgun
What does it mean to “ride shotgun”?
a) Sit in the backseat
b) Drive the car
c) Sit in the front passenger seat
d) Hold a shotgun
Quiz 10: Take a Detour
What does “Take a detour” mean?
a) Speed up suddenly
b) Take a different or longer path
c) Stay on the highway
d) Drive on a racetrack
Answers:
- c
- c
- c
- b
- b
- a
- c
- c
- c
- b
Conclusion
Car idioms add richness and imagery to our everyday language, letting us express emotions, ideas, and actions with flair and humor. Whether you’re hitting the road, blowing a gasket, or putting the pedal to the metal, these idioms help you speak more vividly and drive your point home with style. Next time you talk about motivation, frustration, or momentum, try using one of these car-inspired phrases to shift your conversations into high gear.