{"id":357,"date":"2019-09-23T13:28:37","date_gmt":"2019-09-23T11:28:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.realspanish.eu\/?p=357"},"modified":"2021-02-11T14:27:53","modified_gmt":"2021-02-11T14:27:53","slug":"at-top-speed","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.realspanish.eu\/en\/blog\/useful-vocabulary-and-expressions\/at-top-speed\/","title":{"rendered":"At top speed!"},"content":{"rendered":"<\/p>\n

Co-author: Gema Ben\u00edtez S\u00e1nchez<\/em><\/p>\n

\n

There are so many interesting expressions that you can use to make your Spanish sound more colloquial and more natural! We\u2019ll bring you some of them in this blog, as well as in all our lessons based on movies and TV programmes.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Today, we\u2019ll introduce you to some expressions about speed. Did you catch the expression a toda pastilla<\/em> in the home page video? A toda pastilla<\/em>: at top speed, flat out, full throttle, full pelt, foot down, pedal to the metal\u2026 depending on context. Of course you can say a toda velocidad<\/em>, or muy r\u00e1pido<\/em>, but your speech will be more expressive (and impressive) if you can use some of the expressions below.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Expression<\/th>\nPossible origin of the phrase<\/th>\nExample in context<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
a toda pastilla<\/strong><\/em>\"A<\/td>\nPastillas<\/em> are used in electric musical instruments to create sound. A toda pastilla<\/em> is at maximum volume.<\/td>\n\u00a1Qu\u00e9 cansada estoy! Llevo todo el d\u00eda a toda pastilla, corriendo de un lado a otro sin parar.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
a toda mecha<\/strong><\/em>\"A<\/td>\nUna mecha<\/em> is a fast-burning fuse used to ignite something quickly (such as dynamite).<\/td>\n\u00a1Qu\u00e9 cansada estoy! Llevo todo el d\u00eda a toda mecha, corriendo de un lado a otro sin parar.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
a toda m\u00e1quina<\/strong><\/em>\"Speed\"<\/td>\nMachines work much faster than human beings.<\/td>\nEstos empleados trabajan a toda m\u00e1quina para que los clientes reciban sus compras en casa a tiempo.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
a toda marcha<\/strong><\/em>\"Expressions\"<\/td>\nMarcha<\/em> is march, or pace, so a toda marcha is at full speed (\u201cQuick march!\u201d)<\/td>\nLa nueva campa\u00f1a publicitaria va a toda marcha, muy pronto estar\u00e1 terminada.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
a la velocidad del rayo<\/strong><\/em>\"Lessons<\/td>\nAs in English, at lightning speed<\/td>\nEsa mujer ha cruzado la calle a la velocidad del rayo, parece que tiene mucha prisa.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
a toda ca\u00f1a<\/strong><\/em>\"interesting<\/td>\nThis expression comes from dar ca\u00f1a<\/em>, which comes from the world of horse racing: to flog or whip (the horse). In this case la ca\u00f1a<\/em> is a whip.<\/td>\nVan conduciendo sus motos a toda ca\u00f1a, es un peligro para todos.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Co-author: Gema Ben\u00edtez S\u00e1nchez There are so many interesting expressions that you can use to make your Spanish sound more …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":5300,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_vibebp_attr":"","_vibebp_dimensions":"","_vibebp_responsive_height":"","_vibebp_accordion_ie_support":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[425],"tags":[577],"class_list":["post-357","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-useful-vocabulary-and-expressions","tag-expresiones-interesantes-en"],"yoast_head":"\nAt top speed! - Real Spanish<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"There are so many interesting expressions that you can use to make your Spanish sound more natural! 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