A: Have you turned in the paper for the sociology course?

    B: Yes, I have. I put the pedal to the metal and finished my essay a week ahead of the deadline.

    Note: This idiom literally means “to go full speed, especially while driving a vehicle.” Of course, you can use the phrase metaphorically to indicate that something is being pushed forward as fast as possible. It’s a reference to driving, especially cars from the 1950s. The throttle is wide open when the gas pedal is fully depressed. With really old cars the floorboards are metal, so with the “pedal to the metal” you are accelerating as quickly as possible.