[have] a lead foot
1
to have a tendency to drive very fast
The idiom "have a lead foot" originated from the literal sense of lead, a dense and heavy metal, used to describe someone who tends to press the accelerator pedal of a vehicle heavily, leading to excessive speed. The phrase is a colloquial way of expressing a tendency to drive fast or recklessly. Over time, it has become a figurative expression, conveying a person's inclination toward speeding or a lack of restraint when operating a vehicle.
- Watch out for the driver in the fast lane; he's known to have a lead foot.
- She tends to have a lead foot when running late for appointments.
- The police officer pulled him over for speeding, noting that he appeared to have a lead foot.
- My friend claims to be a cautious driver, but he can't deny he has a lead foot when he's on the open highway.
- The racing enthusiast admitted he has a lead foot on the track but is mindful of speed limits on regular roads.