Etymology Journal ยท G
Get the lead out
Meaning
- To hurry up or move faster. It is a command for someone who is lagging behind to pick up the pace.
Urgent, snappy
Used in a sentence
- We are late for the movie, so get the lead out!
- Get the lead out if you want to finish this job before sunset.
- If you do not get the lead out, we are going to miss the start of the game.
The backstory
This refers to the days before mass-produced bullets, when lead was heavy and difficult to carry. If your pockets were full of lead, you would naturally move slowly.
Heard in
Nationwide
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