step on it
idiomatic phrase
: to increase one's speed : hurry up
You'd better step on it or we'll be late.
especially
: to accelerate an automobile
The one in the back seat asked me what made me so sure I was having a heart attack. Very polite, I said I had had one before and knew what it was like. My wife, less polite, told them to step on it. —
Marvin Barrett
Marvin Barrett Examples of step on it in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Stringer/Sputnik via AP What To Know Broadly desecration of a flag refers to any action that damages or disrespects it—such as burning it, urinating or defecating on it, defacing it, stepping on it, damaging it with stones or bullets, cutting or ripping it and many others.
—Jasmine Laws, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Aug. 2025
In a hurry to get home before twilight, Zilpha stepped on it.
—Annie Proulx, New Yorker, 10 Aug. 2025
There were these shoe prints on my couch like someone stepped on it after coming through the window.
—Katie Arnold-Ratliff, Curbed, 13 Mar. 2025
Visiting players walking through the tunnel, seeing their opponents’ badge on the floor and then inexplicably taking the scenic route to avoid stepping on it.
—Ali Rampling, The Athletic, 17 Feb. 2025
The big thrill overall was the instant speed when stepping on it, and the handling during short maneuvers.
—Josh Max, Forbes, 10 Jan. 2025
The puppy's leg was crushed after a horse stepped on it.
—Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 5 Dec. 2024
The dog that played Dorothy’s faithful Toto was injured when someone stepped on it.
—Eric Andersson, People.com, 28 Nov. 2024
Passersby step on it with no thought of the name beneath their hurrying feet.
—Tom Gliatto, Peoplemag, 20 Sep. 2024
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Jasmine Laws, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Aug. 2025
In a hurry to get home before twilight, Zilpha stepped on it.
—Annie Proulx, New Yorker, 10 Aug. 2025
There were these shoe prints on my couch like someone stepped on it after coming through the window.
—Katie Arnold-Ratliff, Curbed, 13 Mar. 2025
Visiting players walking through the tunnel, seeing their opponents’ badge on the floor and then inexplicably taking the scenic route to avoid stepping on it.
—Ali Rampling, The Athletic, 17 Feb. 2025
The big thrill overall was the instant speed when stepping on it, and the handling during short maneuvers.
—Josh Max, Forbes, 10 Jan. 2025
The puppy's leg was crushed after a horse stepped on it.
—Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 5 Dec. 2024
The dog that played Dorothy’s faithful Toto was injured when someone stepped on it.
—Eric Andersson, People.com, 28 Nov. 2024
Passersby step on it with no thought of the name beneath their hurrying feet.
—Tom Gliatto, Peoplemag, 20 Sep. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Step on it.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/step%20on%20it. Accessed 8 Sep. 2025.
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