move through the gears

verb

To gradually increase speed or output.

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Meanings

verbmove through the gears (third-person singular simple present moves through the gears, present participle moving through the gears, simple past and past participle moved through the gears)

present singular third person moves through the gears · participle present moving through the gears · participle past moved through the gears · past moved through the gears

  1. idiomaticTo gradually increase speed or output.

    Spain failed to move through the gears despite exerting control for lengthy spells and a measure of perspective must be applied immediately to the outcome.

    2011 November 12, “International friendly: England 1-0 Spain”, in BBC Sport
Cite this entry
APA

move through the gears. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/move%20through%20the%20gears

MLA

“move through the gears.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/move%20through%20the%20gears. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “move through the gears,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/move%20through%20the%20gears.

Source: move through the gears on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.