low gears

Meanings

1. 1nounplural

   The gears in a vehicle or machine that give slow speed but strong turning force, used for starting, climbing, or heavy loads.

   Grammar: Always plural in this fixed expression; for one gear say 'a low gear'.

   Patterns

   • in low gears
   • use low gears
   • change into low gears

   Put the truck in low gears before you drive up the steep hill.

   In low gears the engine turns faster but the wheels move slowly.

   The instructions say to use low gears when towing a trailer.

2. 2nounpluralfigurative

   A state of low activity or slow progress, especially in business or production.

   Grammar: Figurative use; often in the phrase 'shift into low gears'.

   Patterns

   • shift into low gears
   • be in low gears

   After the holiday rush, the factory shifted into low gears.

   The whole project seemed to be running in low gears for months.

Word forms

Common combinations

in low gears

The car is in low gears, so it cannot go fast.

change into low gears

Change into low gears before the road gets steep.

use low gears

You should use low gears when driving on ice.

shift into low gears

The company shifted into low gears after losing its biggest client.

Synonyms and how they differ

first gear

Names one specific low gear; 'low gears' is a general term for the slow, powerful gears as a group.

bottom gear

British and slightly informal; means the lowest gear, while 'low gears' can include the lowest two or three.

Opposites

Word family

gear noun

One of the parts in a vehicle or machine that control speed and power.

gearbox noun

The metal case that holds the gears in a vehicle.

Commonly confused: low gears or low gear?

Practice

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Write a sentence using “low gears”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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