The Archive

Etymology Journal ยท W

We're cooking with gas now

Meaning

Things are finally moving along efficiently and successfully. It describes a situation that has gained momentum after a slow start.

Energetic, triumphant

Used in a sentence

  • Once we organized the files, we were cooking with gas now.
  • The project finally has the funding it needs. We're cooking with gas now.
  • Now that the coffee has kicked in, we're cooking with gas now.

The backstory

A marketing campaign from the 1930s promoting gas stoves over electric ones. Gas was fast, and the phrase took on a metaphorical meaning for productivity.

Heard in

Nationwide

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