head of steam

Meanings

1. 1nounsingular

   Strong momentum or energy that builds up behind an effort, plan or movement.

   Grammar: Used with an and often with build, gather or lose: gather a head of steam.

   Patterns

   • build up a head of steam
   • gather a head of steam
   • lose its head of steam

   The campaign has built up a head of steam.

   The project lost its head of steam when funding ended.

   Once the team gathered a head of steam, nothing could stop them.

2. 2nounsingulartechnical

   The pressure of steam in a boiler or steam engine, enough to make it work.

   Grammar: Technical and literal; usually appears with build up or raise.

   Patterns

   • raise a head of steam

   The driver waited for the engine to build up a head of steam.

   It takes an hour to raise a head of steam in the old locomotive.

   The boiler had lost its head of steam.

Common combinations

build up a head of steam

The team built up a head of steam late in the season.

gather a head of steam

The protest gathered a head of steam.

lose a head of steam

The plan lost its head of steam.

pick up a head of steam

The economy is picking up a head of steam.

Synonyms and how they differ

momentum

Momentum is the usual neutral word, while head of steam is more vivid and suggests power building gradually.

impetus

Impetus is formal and refers to the force that starts or sustains something.

drive

Drive is a general word for energy and ambition, without the idea of growing force.

traction

Traction means gaining support or progress, with less idea of speed.

Opposites

Word family

steam noun

vapor from boiling water

steamroll verb

to crush opposition

steamy adjective

full of steam or passion

run out of steam phrase

to lose energy

Commonly confused: head of steam or run out of steam?

Practice

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Write a sentence using “head of steam”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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