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Speed: fast and slow A
Going fast These verbs suggest going somewhere very quickly on foot or in a vehicle: dash, fly, race, tear. I dashed into the classroom to pick up my books. She came flying out of her house. I raced/tore to the station and just made it in time for the last train. The verbs nip and pop suggest going a short distance quickly, on foot or in a vehicle: I nipped/ popped into a near by shop to buy a bottle of water. The verb dart suggests a quick, sudden movement, often by an animal: A dragonfly darted past. I darted behind the door to hide. The verbs zip and whizz are often used about vehicles going quickly: The bus whizzed/zipped past me just as I got to the bus stop. The verb bolt also suggests fast movement over a short distance but it also has the added association of running away from something: The thieves bolted when the alarm went off. The verb career suggests that something is moving rapidly and is out of control: The car skidded and careered down a bank. The company seems to be careering into financial ruin. The verbs scamper, scurry, scuttle suggest small rapid steps, often used to describe the way a small animal runs: As we went into the dark shed, we saw mice scampering away and spiders scurrying into corners. Cockroaches scuttled into a crack in the floor. These verbs emphasise the fact that speed is increasing: speed up, accelerate. Accelerate is used only about transport, whereas speed up can also refer to movement on foot. Both verbs can be used figuratively: We’d better speed up if we’re going to get there on time. The growth of the company has accelerated since it started exporting.
B
Going up or down fast These verbs suggest a downward movement, as well as speed: plunge, plummet: He put on a lifejacket and plunged into the icy water. Notice that they are mainly used metaphorically: When export sales began to decline, our hopes of business success plummeted. After the death of his father, he was plunged into despair. These verbs suggest a fast upward movement: rocket, soar. Notice that they are mainly used metaphorically and have strong associations with financial matters such as prices and share values: When our export sales rocketed, our hopes soared. The primary association of soar is with birds, and when it is used about people’s feelings it provides associations of happiness and being carefree: My heart soared when I heard that he was coming home. The opposite of soar and rocket in a financial context would be slump or tumble. Both suggest a rapid downward movement: Share prices slumped (or plummeted) on the stock market yesterday, with telecommunications companies tumbling most dramatically of all.
C
Going slowly These intransitive verbs emphasise that the movement is slow: crawl, creep. They are often used metaphorically: Prices have been creeping up since May. It was rush hour and the traffic was crawling along. Totter also suggests a fairly slow movement, but it is one that is particularly unsteady as well: Mina tottered down the road, laden with parcels and bags. Sidle means to walk anxiously and nervously: Sam sidled up to the boss’s desk and coughed to attract his attention. Dawdle means to move more slowly than is necessary, or to waste time: Don’t dawdle on the way home.
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English Vocabulary in Use Advanced
