hit the gas

idiom

US
: to push down on the accelerator in a vehicle in a sudden and forceful way
She suddenly hit the gas and sped away.

Examples of hit the gas in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
During the drive to the hospital, Alyce's contractions grew in pain and intensity, prompting her worried husband to hit the gas pedal. Erin Clack, People.com, 31 Aug. 2025 In nearby San Bernardino, masked US Customs and Border Protection officers carrying out an immigration enforcement operation bashed in a vehicle’s window and fired multiple shots at the car as the people inside hit the gas. Eric Levenson, CNN Money, 25 Aug. 2025 When officers tried to pull him over with lights and sirens, Iversen allegedly hit the gas instead, reaching speeds of more than 100 mph. Kristi Miller, Twin Cities, 12 Aug. 2025 As the clash escalated, the driver got into his SUV, hit the gas and jumped the curb, hitting three women, ages 40, 31 and 27, before driving off. Rocco Parascandola, New York Daily News, 21 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for hit the gas

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Cite this Entry

“Hit the gas.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hit%20the%20gas. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.

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