There are many railway terms or slang that have been adapted into current common speech. I find it amusing that many of these date way back to the steam days and people are still using them but probably don't realize their railway connection at all!
So I thought this would be a good question for The Gauge -- I just thought of it today when I heard one of these phrases used on the radio.
Here are a few railway terms/slang that many "non-train" people often use in conversation:
-- "fire up" (as in, "I'll fire up the car" or "fire up the computer" meaning to start the car or computer)
-- "full steam ahead"
-- "steam up"
-- "railroaded" as in "he was railroaded into something"
-- "highball"
-- "on the right track"
Can anyone think of others? I'm sure there are lots!
Rob
So I thought this would be a good question for The Gauge -- I just thought of it today when I heard one of these phrases used on the radio.
Here are a few railway terms/slang that many "non-train" people often use in conversation:
-- "fire up" (as in, "I'll fire up the car" or "fire up the computer" meaning to start the car or computer)
-- "full steam ahead"
-- "steam up"
-- "railroaded" as in "he was railroaded into something"
-- "highball"
-- "on the right track"
Can anyone think of others? I'm sure there are lots!
Rob