pick up steam

IPA/pˈɪk ˌʌp stˈiːm/
IPA/pˈɪk ˌʌp stˈiːm/

pick up steam — 片語動詞

  • pick up steambase form
  • picks up steam3rd person singular
  • picking up steam-ing form
  • picked up steampast simple

1. if an idea, product, or movement picks up steam, a growing number of people begi

1.片語動詞不及物B2
釋義

漸受歡迎

越來越多人喜愛或支持

if an idea, product, or movement picks up steam, a growing number of people begin to like or support it

例句

The recycling campaign picked up steam after Élise shared it across her whole school.

這項回收活動在 Élise 分享給全校之後漸漸受到歡迎。

subject is a campaign or movement gaining supporters

Sales of the new board game picked up steam after shoppers recommended it to friends.

這款新桌遊在顧客推薦給朋友之後，銷售越來越受歡迎。

同義詞
  • catch on

    informal; specifically about becoming fashionable or widely adopted

  • take off

    suggests a sudden, rapid rise in popularity or success

  • gain popularity

    more neutral, formal phrasing of the same idea

反義詞
  • fizzle out

    to gradually lose interest and come to nothing

文法句型

[subject] + pick(s) up steam

用法筆記

Subject is usually an idea, trend, product, or campaign that spreads among people. Distinguish from sense 2, where the subject is a task or process speeding up rather than spreading.

常見錯誤

❌The campaign picked up steams last week.
✅The campaign picked up steam last week.
💡'steam' is uncountable in this phrase; never add -s.

2. if a plan, project, or effort picks up steam, it gradually starts moving forward

2.片語動詞不及物B2
釋義

加速進展

逐漸加快並更有效地推進

if a plan, project, or effort picks up steam, it gradually starts moving forward more quickly and getting more done

例句

After a slow first month, the bridge project finally picked up steam in the spring.

在進度緩慢的第一個月之後，這項橋梁工程終於在春天加速推進。

subject is a project or plan after a slow start

Gabriel's job search picked up steam once he rewrote his résumé and called contacts.

Gabriel 重寫履歷並聯絡人脈後，他的求職進展開始加快。

同義詞
  • gather momentum

    very close synonym; emphasises building speed and force

  • gain traction

    stresses an effort starting to make real, measurable progress

  • gather pace

    British-leaning; focuses on something happening more quickly

反義詞

文法句型

[subject] + pick(s) up steam

用法筆記

Subject is usually a process, project, or effort; the phrase describes building momentum and progress, not popularity. Distinguish from sense 1 (GROW POPULAR).

常見錯誤

❌The project picked steam up after summer.
✅The project picked up steam after summer.
💡keep 'pick up steam' together; don't split the particle 'up'.