AT FULL SPEED, STEAM, TILT, BLAST... IN SPANISH

 

Everybody is in a rush, trying to get somewhere, or do something at full blast, at full tilt, putting the pedal to the metal, at top speed, at full speed, at full blast, going all out, in double time, and at a breakneck speed. Is this the American way of life, or is this a universal human trait that tries to take advantage of the limited time all humans have per day, 24 hours? I have noticed that Spaniards, fancy that, are also in a hurry, and also have various means of explaining the rush: A todo gas (trapo, tren, leche, volumen, marcha, pastilla, pitando, a tope, como una bala).  

Vayamos a todo gas Let’s go at full speed

La policía iba a toda leche tras los ladrones The police were after the thieves at top speed

— “El regimen cubano ha puesto a andar a todo gas su maquinaria electoral…” Diario de las Américas, 11/01/1998. EE.UU. || “Hace calor, hoy música a todo trapo.” La Luna del siglo XXI, 13/02/2003. Esp. || “… nadie sabe dónde, pero vamos a toda leche.” El Mundo, 20/11/1996. Esp. || “De este modo se pretende que el Tren del Vino siga siendo un factor de desarrollo y cultura a toda marcha.” El Mercurio,06/02/2004. Chile. “… venía tequileada y a toda pastilla por la carretera.” Chavela Vargas, Y si quieres saber de mi pasado, 2002. Méx.