overdrive

/ˈəʊvədraɪv/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈəʊvərdraɪv/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈō-vər-ˌdrīv/ (ame, mw)

overdrive — noun

1. a period when people, systems, or machines are working with much more speed, ene

1.名詞B2
釋義

a period when people, systems, or machines are working with much more speed, energy, or focus than usual.

例句

By Friday night, the hospital kitchen was in overdrive before the storm.

phrase: be in overdrive

Once ticket sales opened, Maya's phone went into overdrive all morning.

phrase: go into overdrive

同義詞
  • high gear

    close in meaning, but slightly more informal and often less intense

  • rush

    often suggests a busy period rather than a sustained high level of activity

  • frenzy

    stronger and more emotional, often suggesting less control

反義詞
  • slowdown

    a period when activity becomes slower

  • lull

    a quiet pause between busier periods

文法句型

be in overdrive

go into overdrive

shift into overdrive

用法筆記

Usually appears in phrases such as 'be in overdrive' and 'go into overdrive'. Common for teams, businesses, body systems, and machines becoming extra active under pressure.

常見錯誤

❌The office was on overdrive before tax week.
✅The office was in overdrive before tax week.
💡the usual phrase is 'in overdrive', not 'on overdrive'.
❌She overdrived all night to finish the report.
✅She worked in overdrive all night to finish the report.
💡this sense uses 'overdrive' as a noun, not a verb.

2. a gear setting above the normal top gear, used to keep a vehicle moving fast whi

2.名詞C1
釋義

a gear setting above the normal top gear, used to keep a vehicle moving fast while the engine turns more slowly.

例句

On the highway, Ken shifted the truck into overdrive after the tunnel.

pattern: shift into overdrive

The old van stayed in overdrive for most of the desert road.

pattern: drive in overdrive

同義詞
  • high gear

    a broader everyday term for a fast gear, not always this exact transmission setting

  • top gear

    usually means the highest regular gear, while overdrive can be an extra ratio beyond that

反義詞
  • low gear

    used when more pulling power is needed at lower speed

  • lower gear

    a less technical everyday contrast to overdrive

文法句型

shift into overdrive

drive in overdrive

turn overdrive off

用法筆記

Common in car and truck talk, especially with verbs such as 'shift', 'engage', and 'turn off'. Distinguish from sense 1, which is a figurative state of intense activity outside driving.

常見錯誤

❌Ken drove on overdrive across the bridge.
✅Ken drove in overdrive across the bridge.
💡use 'in overdrive' for the gear setting.
❌The mechanic opened the overdrive at the top of the hill.
✅The mechanic shifted into overdrive at the top of the hill.
💡you usually shift into this gear; you do not 'open' it.