单词	fast
释义	fast1 adjectivefast2 adverbfast3 verbfast4 noun fastfast1 /fɑːst $ fæst/ ●●● S2 W2 adjective Entry menu MENU FOR fastfast1 moving quickly2 in a short time3 clock4 fast track5 fast road6 fast film/lens7 colour8 sports9 fast and furious10 somebody is a fast worker11 fast talker12 woman13 fast friends Word Origin WORD ORIGINfast2 Origin: Old English fæst ‘firm’ Examples EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES Boeing's new plane is faster and more luxurious than anything else they have ever produced. Dean always loved fast cars and expensive clothes. I'm a pretty fast reader. I keep the clock five minutes fast, so I won't be late. Is it really 6:45, or is my watch fast? One man's fast response saved a heart-attack victim's life. Rosa caught the fast train to London. The first pitch was fast and hard. The new convertible is fast and fun to drive. We hope Arlene will make a fast recovery. When I was a kid, I was the fastest boy in my class. EXAMPLES FROM THE CORPUS But I am not as fast as he is. Despite its size, the buffalo is a very fast animal and can run up to thirty-five miles per hour. Nevertheless, when moral considerations made a fast imperative, his body had no veto. Other volunteers want to become fast friends and cultural advisers. Some in disbelief that a car so beautiful, so fast and so downright delicious could cost as little as £27,000. Training for speed must work repeatedly on the fast twitch fibres on a stop - go basis. Thesaurus THESAURUS► fast moving or able to move quickly: · The cheetah is the fastest animal in the world.· a fast car ► quick moving fast or doing something in a short time: · He was much quicker than I was over the first 100 metres.· Do I have time for a quick shower? ► high-speed [only before noun] designed to travel or operate very quickly: · a high-speed train· high-speed Internet access ► rapid especially written happening in a short period of time – used about changes, increases, improvements etc: · a rapid increase in the population· the rapid expansion of the firm’s business in the Middle East· a rapid decline in profits ► swift written moving quickly or happening after only a short time: · The horses ran along the track at a swift trot.· He received a swift response to his letter. ► brisk quick and energetic: · a brisk walk in the countryside· His manner was very brisk. ► speedy [only before noun] happening after only a short time: · Everyone wishes you a speedy recovery.· a speedy resolution to the problem ► hurried done more quickly than usual, because you do not have much time: · She ate a hurried breakfast in the cafe before catching her train.· We made a hurried departure. ► hasty deciding or doing something very quickly, especially when this has bad results: · It was a hasty decision, which he later regretted.· Let’s not be too hasty. Longman Language Activatormoving or travelling fast► fast · Don't drive so fast - there's ice on the road.· The new fighter aircraft flies almost twice as fast as the old one.· She walked faster and faster, then started to run.as fast as you can · He ran home as fast as he could. ► quick spoken use this to tell someone to come or go somewhere quickly: · Come quick, your brother's on TV.· You'll have to walk quicker than that if you want to keep up with me. ► swift written moving fast with a continuous, flowing movement - used especially in literature: · The horses ran along the track at a swift trot.· We had to steer our ship through the swift currents of the Bering Straits. ► at high speed moving or working very fast - use this about cars, trains, machines etc: · Two cars raced past him at high speed.· a metal disk revolving at high speed ► at top speed if a vehicle moves at top speed , it moves as fast as it can go - use this especially when a situation is urgent and someone has to get somewhere very fast: · They headed east at top speed in pursuit of the enemy ship.· At top speed, the Pave Hawk helicopter can travel 221 miles per hour. ► at breakneck speed travelling dangerously fast: · It took us an hour to get there, driving at breakneck speed.· Jenny stepped onto her skis and sped off at breakneck speed down the glistening, white mountain. ► flat out at the fastest speed possible when using all the strength or power there is: · Going flat out, the BMW 325 will reach a speed of 140 miles per hour.· The exercise involved running flat out for two minutes and then resting for one minute. ► like lightning moving extremely fast, often with a single sudden movement: · Somewhere a dog barked and, like lightning, the cat darted into some bushes.· Her foot slipped on the smooth tiles but Mitch moved like lightning and caught her before she fell. ► at speed formal if a car or train is travelling at speed , it is travelling fast: · The train was already travelling at speed when she tried to open the carriage door. fast cars/planes/trains► fast · Dean always loved fast cars and expensive clothes.· Rosa caught the fast train to London.· Boeing's new plane is faster and more luxurious than anything else they have ever produced. ► high-speed : high-speed train/computer/drill etc a train, computer etc that moves or operates very fast: · The era of high-speed jet travel began after the end of World War II.· Journey times have been reduced considerably since the introduction of high-speed trains. ► supersonic : supersonic aircraft/travel/flight etc faster than the speed of sound: · Concorde is capable of travelling at supersonic speeds.· Thanks to supersonic travel, busy executives can attend meetings in New York and be back in London the same day. doing things quickly or happening quickly► quickly doing things quickly or happening quickly , without taking much time: · She undressed quickly and got into bed.· It's important to realize how quickly this disease can spread.· Quickly fry the onions, then add the meat. ► quick a quick movement or action is one that you do quickly or one that only takes a short time: · I'll just take a quick shower.· That was quick -- have you finished already?· I had to make a quick decision.be quick (=use this when you are telling someone to hurry): · You'll have to be quick - we don't have much time. ► fast if you work, talk, or write fast , you do it quickly: · Don't talk so fast - I can't understand what you're saying.· We're working as fast as we can. ► rapid a rapid change, increase, or improvement is one that happens much more quickly than usual: · a rapid increase in the population· She made a rapid recovery after her operation.· Adolescence is a period of great and rapid change. ► swift happening or done very quickly and without any delay: · Punishment of the protesters was swift and severe.· Swift fashion changes mean that the shop has to change its stock every six to eight weeks. ► speedy a speedy return, reply, reaction, etc is one that is done or made successfully, as quickly and efficiently as possible: · We are working to ensure the safe and speedy return of all the refugees to their homes.· Thousands of letters and telegrams arrived wishing Nikolai a speedy recovery from his surgery. ► prompt a prompt action, reply, delivery etc is one that is done without delay because quick action is needed: · A major disaster was prevented by the prompt action of the safety officer.· It is important to ensure prompt delivery of goods that customers order. ► meteoric : meteoric rise/career achieving success extremely quickly and suddenly: · The film tells the story of Lee's meteoric rise from North Dakota radio singer to jazz legend. ► at an alarming rate if something happens at an alarming rate , it happens so quickly that it makes people very worried: · The Amazonian rainforest is disappearing at an alarming rate.· The number of people dying from lung cancer has increased at an alarming rate. ► in a flash use this to say that something happens extremely quickly and suddenly, so that you almost do not notice what is happening: · He was gone in a flash.· In a flash Atticus was up and standing over him.· Joel slipped but was on his feet in a flash. to move very fast in a particular direction► race/tear to go somewhere as fast as you can: race back/up/into etc: · Hearing the children's screams, she raced back to the house.· A police car came racing down the road.tear away/up/across etc: · She tore across the lobby, then up three flights of stairs.· Just before the explosion, a man came tearing across the street. ► rush/dash to go somewhere very quickly because you are in a hurry: rush out/around/into etc: · Everyone rushed out into the street to see what was happening.· People were rushing past me on their way to work.dash into/around/to etc: · Pam dashed into the store just as it was closing.· The boys dashed across the road and disappeared into the woods. ► fly to travel or go somewhere extremely quickly: fly past/up/along etc: · As I slowed down another car flew past me and turned to the left.· The bus was flying along when suddenly the driver slammed on the brakes. ► dart to run, fly, or swim with a sudden quick movement: dart through/back/across etc: · I could see small silvery fish darting through the water.· As the rain began to fall harder, I darted into the first shop I could find. ► streak written if someone or something streaks somewhere, they run or fly there so fast that you can hardly see them: streak across/past/away etc: · Two aircraft streaked across the sky.· I caught a glimpse of a man streaking away into the shadows. ► whizz to move extremely quickly through the air or along a road, making a loud high noise: whizz past/by/through etc: · A bullet whizzed past my ear.· I stared out the window, watching as kids on bicycles and skateboards whizzed by. ► zoom if a car, bus, plane etc zooms somewhere, it moves there extremely fast, making a loud noise with its engine: zoom past/through/over etc: · The plane zoomed low over the airfield.· A fire engine zoomed past us. ► speed to move somewhere very quickly, especially in a vehicle: speed along/by/towards etc: · An ambulance sped by on its way to an accident.· Small patrol boats sped along the shore. ► be really moving use this to say that someone or something is going extremely fast: · That car must have been really moving when it hit the van. to move or work faster► go faster · Could you go a little faster? We don't want to miss our plane.move/work etc faster · You'll have to work a lot faster than this.faster and faster (=more and more quickly) · I could feel my heart beating faster and faster. ► speed up to make something happen more quickly: · Nancy, if you don't speed up we'll be here until midnight.speed something up: · I'll phone the manager and get them to speed things up.speed up something: · The company announced they're speeding up plans to expand the site. ► pick up/gather speed if a vehicle, especially a large vehicle picks up speed or gathers speed , it starts to gradually move faster: · Francis leaned back in his seat as the plane picked up speed.· The truck was already moving, gathering speed with a deep-throated roar. ► accelerate if a vehicle or driver accelerates , they go faster, especially suddenly: · The Ferrari Mondial can accelerate from zero to 60 mph in 6.3 seconds.· The truck's wheels skidded on the snow as the driver accelerated forward. ► quicken your pace written to begin to walk faster - use this especially in stories or descriptions of events: · Suddenly realizing he was late, he quickened his pace towards the hotel.· "I have some questions to ask you, Mr Murray,'' said the reporter, quickening his pace to keep up with me. ► gain/gather momentum if something gains or gathers momentum , it travels faster and faster, especially going down a hill, because it is pushed forward by the force of its own weight: · Gradually the train gathered momentum, and within seconds it was moving at top speed.· The slope was getting steeper and their sledge was gaining momentum all the time. to move as fast as someone else► catch up to move forward fast enough to reach someone who was in front of you going in the same direction: · We need to start cycling faster or we'll never catch up.catch up with: · Go on ahead. I'll catch up with you later.· The police car caught up with the stolen van after a long chase. ► be gaining on to be getting closer and closer to someone that you are chasing or trying to pass, because you are moving faster than they are: · Run faster -- they're gaining on us!· Seeing the van was gaining on him, he turned suddenly onto a dirt road. ► keep up to succeed in moving as fast as someone else, when they are moving very quickly: · Maggie had a stone in her shoe and was finding it hard to keep up.keep up with: · Slow down! I can't keep up with you.· She had difficulty keeping up with J.D.'s long, quick strides. to move faster than someone or something else► pull ahead to pass another vehicle on the road and move in front of it because you are going faster: · I turned around and saw that, out of the dust and the crowd, another car was pulling ahead to join us.pull ahead of: · With the finish line in sight, Wallace pulled ahead of the pack and drove to victory. ► leave somebody behind to move far in front of someone who cannot run, walk, drive etc as fast as you: · We were all running to catch the bus, but the others had longer legs and gradually left me behind.leave somebody way behind (=a long way behind): · Dinah urged her horse on until she had left all the other riders way behind. ► leave somebody standing informal to move very far in front of someone, especially in a race, because you are much faster than them: · Collins accelerated around the final turn and left the other runners standing. a course of study that you do quickly► rapid · The college offers a rapid programme of training for librarians.· Rapid learning: Learn to speak a new language in 12 weeks! ► intensive an intensive course of study is one in which you are taught a lot in a short time: · Before moving to Paris, Michael went on an intensive course to improve his French.· After a brief period of intensive training, I was allowed to make my first parachute jump. ► crash course a course of study in which you learn a particular skill in a very short time in order to prepare yourself for a job: crash course in: · We offer crash courses in word processing.crash course: · Students lacking math and science skills take a seven-week crash course during the summer. WORD SETS► Sport ace, nounace, verbacrobat, nounacrobatic, adjectiveacrobatics, nounaction replay, nounaerobic, adjectiveaim, nounaim, verball-American, adjectiveall-seater, adjectivearena, nounAstroTurf, nounattack, verbaway, adverbaway, adjectiveback, nounbackhand, nounbackhanded, adjectivebackhander, nounbackspin, nounball, nounball game, nounbaseline, nounbat, nounbench, verbbleachers, nounblock, nounbobble, verbbout, nounbowl, nounbowl, verbbowling alley, nounbowling ball, nounbowling green, nounbox, nounbox, verbboxer, nounbronze, nounbronze medal, nounbye, nouncall, verbcall, nouncap, verbcaptain, nouncaptain, verbcaptaincy, nounchange, verbchanging room, nouncheer, nouncheerleader, nouncheerleading, nounchip, nounchip, verbcircuit training, nounclose season, nounclubhouse, nouncoach, nounconference, nouncontender, nouncourse, nouncourse, verbcourt, nouncover, verbcross, verbcross, nouncross-country, adjectivecrown, nouncup, nouncup final, nouncup tie, nouncurve, noundead, adjectivedecider, noundefence, noundefend, verbdefender, noundefensive, adjectivederby, noundisallow, verbdisqualify, verbdivision, noundivot, noundown, adverbdraft, noundraw, verbdraw, noundribble, verbdribble, noundrive, noundrop, verbdrop goal, noundropkick, noundrop shot, noundrubbing, noundugout, nouneleven, numberequalize, verbequalizer, nouneven, adjectiveevent, nounface, nounfast, adjectivefavourite, nounfeint, nounfield, verbfielder, nounfieldsman, nounfield sports, nounfight, verbfight, nounfighter, nounfinalist, nounfirst half, nounfirst-string, adjectivefixture, nounflat, adjectiveflip, nounfollow-through, nounfootball, nounfootwork, nounform, nounfoul, nounfoul line, nounfriendly, adjectivefull-court press, nounfull time, nounfumble, verbgala, noungame, noungame point, noungate, noungoal, noungoalie, noungoalkeeper, noungoalless, adjectivegoal line, noungoalmouth, noungoalpost, noungoaltender, noungold, noungold medal, noungrand slam, noungrandstand, nounground staff, noungym shoe, noungymslip, nounhalf, nounhalfback, nounhalf nelson, nounhalf-time, nounhammer, nounhandball, nounhand-eye co-ordination, nounhandicap, nounhandspring, nounhandstand, nounhat trick, nounhead start, nounheat, nounheavy, adjectivehiding, nounhome, adjectivein, adverbinfield, nouninjury time, nouninterference, nouninternational, nounjersey, nounjock, nounjockstrap, nounjogging suit, nounjump, nounjump ball, nounjumper, nounjumping jack, nounjump shot, nounjunior varsity, nounlane, nounleague table, nounletter, nounletter, verblevel, verblineman, nounlinesman, nounline-up, nounlocker, nounlocker room, nounluge, nounmallet, nounmanager, nounmark, verbmassacre, nounmassacre, verbmatch, nounmedal, nounmedallist, nounmeeting, nounMexican wave, nounmidfield, nounmisfield, verbmixed doubles, nounmotocross, nounmotor racing, nounmuff, verbmusclebound, adjectivemuscleman, nounnet, nounnet, verbnetball, nounnil, nounno ball, nounoarsman, nounoarswoman, nounobstruction, nounoffense, nounoffensive, adjectiveoffside, adjectiveOlympiad, nounOlympic, adjectiveOlympic Games, the, onside, adjectiveopener, nounopponent, nounout, adverbout, nounoutdistance, verboutsider, nounoverarm, adjectiveoverhand, adjectiveown goal, nounpacesetter, nounpass, verbpass, nounPE, nounpenalty, nounpep rally, nounperiod, nounphoto finish, nounphysical education, nounpitch, nounplace kick, nounplayable, adjectiveplay-by-play, nounplayer, nounplaying field, nounplay-off, nounpoint, nounpole, verbposition, nounpossession, nounpost, nounpreliminary, nounpro-am, nounprofessionalism, nounpromote, verbpromotion, nounPT, nounpull, verbpull-up, nounpummel, verbpunchbag, nounqualifier, nounqualify, verbquarter-final, nounrace, verbracetrack, nounracing, adjectiveracket, nounrain check, nounrally, nounrecord, nounrecord-holder, nounrecreation ground, nounref, nounreferee, nounreferee, verbregatta, nounrelay, nounrelay race, nounrelegate, verbreplay, verbreplay, nounrerun, verbreserve, nounretire, verbreturn, verbrevenge, nounringside, nounroll, nounrookie, nounround, nounround robin, nounrunner, nounrunner-up, nounrun-up, nounsave, verbsave, nounscore, nounscore, verbscorer, nounscratch, verbscratch, adjectivescreen, nounscrimmage, nounselector, nounsemi, nounsemi-final, nounsemi-finalist, nounsemi-professional, adjectiveserve, verbserve, nounserver, nounservice, nounset, nounshoot, verbshoot, nounshot, nounsideline, nounsilver, nounsilver medal, nounskate, nounskipper, nounslaughter, verbslice, verbslick, nounslump, nounsnowmobile, nounsnowshoe, nounsomersault, nounsouthpaw, nounspar, verbsparring partner, nounspectate, verbspectator, nounspectator sport, nounspin, nounsports centre, nounsports day, nounsportsmanship, nounsporty, adjectivespot, verbsprint, verbsquad, nounstadium, nounstagger, verbstart, nounstarter, nounstarting blocks, nounstayer, nounstick, nounstraight, nounstrip, nounstroke, nounstud, nounsub, nounsudden death, nounsweatband, nounsweatpants, nounsweat suit, nountackle, verbtackle, nountalent scout, nountarget, nounteam-mate, nounthree-legged race, nounthrow, nounthrust, verbtie, nountiebreaker, nountight, adjectivetime, verbtimekeeper, nountime out, nountitle, nountitle holder, nountopspin, nountoreador, nountour, nountournament, nountrack, nountrain, verbtransfer fee, nountrophy, nountryout, nounumpire, nounumpire, verbunbeatable, adjectiveundecided, adjectiveunderarm, adverbunderhand, adverbunplaced, adjectiveuppercut, nounvarsity, nounvolley, nounvolley, verbwalking, nounwarm-up, nounwet suit, nounwhippet, nounwhistle, verbwhistle, nounwin, nounwing, nounwinger, nounworkout, nounwristband, noun Collocations COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY► five minutes/an hour etc fast  I always keep my watch 15 minutes fast. COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES► fast approaching  The time is fast approaching when we will have to make a decision. ► fast/sound asleep (=sleeping deeply) ► breathe fast/rapidly (=breathe quickly because of illness, fear etc)· He closed his eyes, breathing fast under the fever. ► make a fast/quick buck (=make some money quickly, often dishonestly) ► a fast-food chain · the fast-food chain, Burger King ► a clock is fast/slow (=shows a later or earlier time than the real time)· There’s no need to hurry – that clock’s fast. ► fast/fast-flowing · Fast-flowing currents made the rescue job even harder. ► a quick/fast exit (=done more quickly than usual)· I made a quick exit before the speeches began. ► life in the fast lane  Brenda is a lady who loves life in the fast lane. ► fast and furious  The action is fast and furious. ► fast/slow etc grower  Bamboo is a very vigorous grower. ► hard-and-fast rules  It is impossible to give hard-and-fast rules, but here are some points to consider. ► the fast/slow lane  Cars in the fast lane were travelling at over 80 miles an hour. ► a quick/fast learner (=someone who learns things quickly)· She was a quick learner, and her English got better day by day. ► move fast/quickly/swiftly  You’ll have to move fast if you want to get a place on the course. ► fast/slow moving etc  Be careful when changing lanes in fast-moving traffic. ► getting ... nowhere fast  I soon realized that being tough was getting me nowhere fast (=was not helping me achieve anything). ► rapid/fast pace · The rapid pace of change creates uncertainty. ► pull a fast one  He was trying to pull a fast one (=deceive you) when he told you he’d paid. ► rapid/fast pulse · Symptoms include a rapid pulse and dry skin. ► a faster/slower rate · The urban population has grown at a faster rate than the rural population. ► a slow/fast reader · Her son was quite a slow reader. ► a fast-food restaurant (=where food that can be prepared quickly is served or available to take away)· The High Street is full of fast-food restaurants. ► rapidly/quickly/fast rise · House prices rose rapidly last year. ► fast-flowing · The child fell into a fast-flowing river. ► a shade too big/hot/fast etc  Matt’s clothes were just a shade too big for me. ► a shade better/quicker/faster etc  The results were a shade better than we expected. ► sinking fast  The doctor said that the boy was sinking fast (=getting weaker and about to die). ► stuck fast  The wheels stuck fast (=stuck completely) in the mud. ► an express train/a fast train (=one that does not stop at many places)· He boarded the express train to London. ► somebody’s watch is fast/runs fast (=it shows a later time)· No, it’s only 12.15 – your watch must be fast. COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADVERB► extremely · This machine is extremely fast on disk-intensive tasks, but the video card is less impressive.· Fast is thus the semantic head of extremely fast.· This extremely fast disk duplicator uses Extended Memory if present to hold an image of the disk being copied.· John was also extremely fast and nimble, and he possessed a remarkable body-swerve which could prove most disconcerting to opposing defenders.· They were animate, versatile, and extremely fast.· They are, in effect, extremely fast dot matrix printers.· At extremely fast tempos this lilt is lost and they even out as they would in a funk or fusion context.· The referee has to see and correctly interpret extremely fast actions. ► how · But how fast and far is it rising?· It is a measure of how fast and far events have moved that I do so now.· They watched how fast people walk and talk.· It is a gradual, continuously varying effect on how far you can walk, and how fast.· Even small changes in how fast and how far the contraction spreads can have profound effects on form.· All trainee managers follow the same route; how fast and how far they develop depends entirely on their individual performance.· In Czechoslovakia's Civic Forum, there are doubts about how fast reform should go.· There is no clear consensus about how fast or slowly dinosaurs moved. ► really · He managed to get the cab in gear and then he was away, really fast.· When you move in, you must move in fast - really fast.· We have to go really fast.· Ben got away to a really fast start and there was no heading him.· Hawaii wasn't like that at all; we were just pure metal wildness played really fast and with a lot of chops.· If they are really fast, the bowler may have a chance to hit the wicket before the batter returns.· You said it came out really fast.· You must have predominantly fast-twitch, white fibres in your muscles to generate really fast, explosive action. NOUN► bowler · The man Kelly was more a fast bowler than a darts player.· One of the keenest spectators was Gloucestershire fast bowler David Lawrence.· McDermott finished with 4-66, while fellow fast bowler Merv Hughes took 3-51.· I am already one down to Imran, having declared that Waqar did not have the action of a genuine fast bowler.· Read in studio Cricket ... Gloucestershire fast bowler Courtney Walsh has taken his fiftieth wicket of the season. ► bowling · He never gives in and that's half the battle in fast bowling.· The fast bowling tactic has worked.· He is currently undertaking research into batting techniques against fast bowling.· This is a favoured technique with many great players of fast bowling, not least West Indies' Gordon Greenidge. ► break · They were Francis pushing the ball ahead to Mobley to finish off a fast break with a one-handed jam.· He has filled the lanes on the fast break with Kevin Garnett in what looks like a greyhound race.· She needs to do something to get in the game: a steal, a fast break, anything.· The thing about the fast break is, well, you were fast today. ► breeder · The largest fast breeder reactor in the world is the Superphenix plant at Creys-Malville on the French/Swiss border.· More recently, the demand for fast breeder reactors has seemed less urgent as worldwide supplies of uranium have become more plentiful.· We would also have to discuss the development of fast breeder reactors, a necessity for all countries with limited uranium resources.· No branch of nuclear technology is more detested and feared by the anti-nuclear and green lobbies than fast breeders.· Additionally the controversial fast breeder and high temperature reactor projects are being re-examined.· Protests reached their peak in 1977 with the decision to build the 1200 MWe fast breeder reactor at Creys-Malville. ► buck · I think people go out to make a fast buck without worrying about the consequences.· All you had to do was write about it afterwards, and you could make a real fast buck.· We are not in this for a fast buck.· A fast buck Henry Rix 12.45:IT is hard to envisage anything but the front two in the market winning this Grade Two contest. ► car · The occasional very expensive, very fast car.· I would be the one who got creamed by a fast car.· First, there are those juveniles who steal and wreck fast cars.· It's a very fast car, so it shouldn't take too long.· Last year his father gave him a new car - a very fast car.· It's like putting a blind man in a fast car and telling him to drive where and how he likes.· He liked yachts, fast cars and horses.· The insurance industry also provides some blocks to teenagers driving fast cars. ► food · This boom in fast food is providing strong competition for both staff restaurants and school meal services.· Knutson frequently uses the slow cooker and oven for food pre tion instead of the microwave and fast foods.· Obviously, the type of leadership qualities required for a fast food establishment are not the same as for an insurance company.· Competitions are the fast food of the music business.· Some fast food restaurants will be obliged to install costly emission-control vents.· And it was wolfed down like fast food, digested with a raucous burp.· Wendy's rejoined the fast food market in Great Britain after an absence of nearly six years.· Go to fast food places at peak hours, when extra cooks and cashiers are working. ► friend · They never, however, became hard and fast friends and there was an unspoken rivalry between them.· The two of them immediately became fast friends.· The two become fast friends and Herbert gently and tactfully instructs Pip in social behaviour appropriate for a gentleman.· Other volunteers want to become fast friends and cultural advisers.· Within a few years they had become fast friends. ► grower · They fry were fed on baby brineshrimp and although not fast growers they seemed to do well.· The Memphis company is a fast grower, with profits increasing more than 20 % in each of the past two years.· It is also a very fast grower.· It cuts well, and splits beautifully, an burns even when it is green; and it is a fast grower. ► growth · The fast growth of private trading and corruption associated with it could best be checked by individuals familiar with their localities.· The second stage is a set of interviews with those managing the fast growth businesses to investigate the process of managerial recruitment. ► lane · It overturned in the fast lane on the twin-track road on the other side of Stowerton.· They want to make life in the fast lane even faster.· I pictured a man taking leave of his motor; wobbling from the fast lane towards the hard shoulder.· One thing about driving a truck: it really is the fast lane into old age.· Change tack immediately and take urgent action to get some talented protégés into your fast lane.· Many gay men rejected these connections and found long-term partners, often away from the hubbub of the emerging gay fast lane.· Next time some one cuts you up on the fast lane, pity him.· For swimmers in the fast lane, it was 600 meters. ► pace · Terry Hands's direction whips all this along at a fast pace.· That in itself was a risk and imposed a fast pace on the designers and builders.· Wide roads lead to a new bridge crossing the water and traffic can proceed at a fast pace without a halt.· Technological developments have been at a fast pace since the 1950s.· The overweight people in this experiment, however, kept eating at the same fast pace throughout the meal.· Unemployment has reached post-war records, and government schemes for the unemployed have replaced each other at a very fast pace.· The intensity of instruction is a combination of fast pace and close focus.· The traffic moves at a fast pace and averaging a speed of over one hundred kilometres an hour is not difficult. ► road · Gone is the wide fast road and its dangerous crossing, where the stripes gave walkers a false sense of security.· But at the summit there's a fast road down if you take yourself too seriously.· Wear a helmet, especially if using fast roads. ► rule · As long as you are comfortable, there are no hard and fast rules about clothing.· However, this is not a hard and fast rule and there are numerous exceptions.· The official departmental view is that no case is exactly like another, and hard and fast rules can not be applied.· There are no hard and fast rules.· But there are no hard and fast rules about the physique of a racing cyclist.· It's difficult to give a hard and fast rule. ► track · Now Chairman Jack Strowger is banking on a bumper Christmas to get profits back on the fast track.· But Huckelberry has also supported Bronson on many pro-environmental moves, including the fast track for incorporating Tortolita.· People in Great Groups are never insiders or corporate types on the fast track: They are always on their own track.· Courtney was a traditionalist, besides which Jack's career had finally begun to hit the fast track.· But if you go with her, it means withdrawing from the fast track at Hopkins and entering a standard graduate curriculum.· And the benefit of either the fast track remortgage service, or a £250 cashback.· A genius who chucked the academic fast track for a tar paper cabin with no outhouse? Phrases PHRASES FROM THE ENTRY► fast and furious The following round of questions for the President was fast and furious. With elections about a year away, proposals for tax cuts are coming fast and furious. From that point on, the primaries come fast and furious. Gatien won a fast and furious men's final over 17-21 21-14 17-21 21-18. Inside the fence on the main court, the atmosphere is fast and furious and hot and colorful. New labels and executive changes are coming fast and furious, including a new indie formed by Neil Young and his manager. Play around the centre spot was fast and furious, though the ground was in total darkness everywhere else. The drive from Dundalk was fast and furious, largely because Jessica was late. The work was fast and furious; working up in the top of buildings in January and February made this easy. Word of what he done would spread fast and furious among that club. ► somebody is a fast worker► fast talker Lenny Clarke is a fast talker, which might explain why he was torn between politics and comedy. ► fast friends Ishmael and Queequeg become fast friends. Other volunteers want to become fast friends and cultural advisers. The two become fast friends and Herbert gently and tactfully instructs Pip in social behaviour appropriate for a gentleman. The two of them immediately became fast friends. They never, however, became hard and fast friends and there was an unspoken rivalry between them. Within a few years they had become fast friends. ► fast track The agency is looking at a fast track for approving drugs for life-threatening illnesses. And the benefit of either the fast track remortgage service, or a £250 cashback. But Huckelberry has also supported Bronson on many pro-environmental moves, including the fast track for incorporating Tortolita. But if you go with her, it means withdrawing from the fast track at Hopkins and entering a standard graduate curriculum. Hamilton's career has galloped along the fast track. Now Chairman Jack Strowger is banking on a bumper Christmas to get profits back on the fast track. Once on the fast track, the momentum will be relentless. Uphill task: The drivers on the fast track to the top. ► fast road But at the summit there's a fast road down if you take yourself too seriously. Gone is the wide fast road and its dangerous crossing, where the stripes gave walkers a false sense of security. Wear a helmet, especially if using fast roads. ► fast film/lens Minerals giving very low intensity emission, such as quartz grains, required many minutes or even hours of exposure with fast films. PHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES► a fast/good/long etc ball A bit like Dorigo ie he can cross a good ball when necessary. Anyway he is 24, is a good ball winner and throws himself around a bit. Jackson will supplant Charlie Ward as the starting point guard, giving the team a better ball distributor. Leeds do play a lot of football, but they hit a long ball as well. Phillips seized on a long ball and found himself with only Manninger to beat. Pow, Janir hit a long ball into the blackberry bushes beside the creek. Root threw me a fast ball. ► trouble with a capital T, fast with a capital F etc► as fast as his/her legs could carry him/her She ran to her mother as fast as her legs could carry her. ► at a good/rapid/fast etc clip He was walking along at a good clip, his eyes idly panning the facades of the brownstone houses. Up ahead, a thoroughfare Traffic was going across the intersection at a good clip in both directions. ► the fast lane Cars in the fast lane were traveling at over 80 miles an hour. ► hold fast (to something) Bush urged the party to hold fast to its traditions. But ever since the day when she had faced her own fears she had held fast to her principles. Difficult to hold fast to time. He kept his head, how-ever, and held fast to his golden apples. I am like a shipwrecked survivor holding fast to the debris, awaiting the arrival of the scheduled liner. If the Court holds fast to its abnegation of this traditional role, it could mark a sea change in federal-state relations. Jeffries was trying to cut him to ribbons; and here was Gordon trying to hold fast to Jeffries' coattails. Mr Buie held fast to his ground. She tried to struggle, but she was held fast. ► play fast and loose with something And there is his willingness to play fast and loose with the facts. Besides, it is playing fast and loose with the statistics to take 1981 as the baseline for the Government's claims. In what follows, I shall play fast and loose with these words and the subtle distinctions between them. They probably see it as a place where government plays fast and loose with tax dollars. To say that the Wattersons had played fast and loose with their investors' capital was an understatement. ► plenty big/fast/warm etc enough► the best/biggest/fastest etc possible Any successful entrepreneurial venture starts with making sure that the entrepreneur is in the best possible mental and physical health. But the psychologist was never confident that he had obtained the best possible scores from Nelson. For a moment, I imagined the best possible to the worst possible reply. Obviously, the purpose is to ensure that the best possible pensions arrangements are reached. That way it will have the best possible start in life. The additional value farmers receive is the best possible free advice on both inputs and marketing. The horrifying news sent the Ciprianos on a nationwide search to find the best possible treatment for their daughter. This at once enhances the contribution which the court or parents can make towards reaching the best possible decision in all the circumstances. ► stand firm/stand fast► thick and fast At first no one was interested in the job but now applications are coming in thick and fast. Rumors flew thick and fast that the government would close the newspaper. Rumours flew thick and fast that the company was going to be sold. Callers, suitably and sombrely attired, came thick and fast. Finally, may reactions to the paper come thick and fast from all quarters! Official recognition of the change came thick and fast during the presidency of Ronald Reagan. The export market has not taken up the slack, so redundancies are coming thick and fast. The form for Swindon can only get better; the games are coming thick and fast. The invitations came thick and fast. The rumours are growing thick and fast as weeds and de Craon must be their sower. They are falling thick and fast, some of them upon our dead, and some upon their own.. ► a touch disappointed/faster/impatient etc He was fond of the man who fretted beside him, and a touch impatient with him too. ► a fast/slow etc walker 1moving quickly moving or able to move quickly:  a fast car He’s one of the fastest runners in the world.2in a short time doing something or happening in a short time:  The subway is the fastest way to get downtown. The company must give a faster response to clients’ requests. The rain forests are being chopped down at an alarmingly fast rate. I’m a fast learner.3clock [not before noun] a clock that is fast shows a later time than the real time:  That can’t be the time – my watch must be fast.five minutes/an hour etc fast I always keep my watch 15 minutes fast.4fast track a way of achieving something more quickly than is normally doneon the fast track a young actress on the fast track to fame and success5fast road a road on which vehicles can travel very quickly6fast film/lens a film or lens(2) that can be used when there is little light, or when photographing something that is moving very quickly7colour a colour that is fast will not change when clothes are washed → colourfast8sports a fast surface is one on which a ball moves very quickly9fast and furious done very quickly with a lot of effort and energy, or happening very quickly with a lot of sudden changes:  Arsenal’s opening attack was fast and furious.10somebody is a fast worker informal used to say that someone can get what they want very quickly, especially in starting a sexual relationship with another person11fast talker someone who talks quickly and easily but is often not honest or sincere12woman old-fashioned becoming involved quickly in sexual relationships with men:  fast cars and fast women13fast friends literary two people who are very friendly for a long time → fast food, fast-forward, fast lane, → make a fast buck at buck1(1), → pull a fast one at pull1(10)THESAURUSfast moving or able to move quickly: · The cheetah is the fastest animal in the world.· a fast carquick moving fast or doing something in a short time: · He was much quicker than I was over the first 100 metres.· Do I have time for a quick shower?high-speed [only before noun] designed to travel or operate very quickly: · a high-speed train· high-speed Internet accessrapid especially written happening in a short period of time – used about changes, increases, improvements etc: · a rapid increase in the population· the rapid expansion of the firm’s business in the Middle East· a rapid decline in profitsswift written moving quickly or happening after only a short time: · The horses ran along the track at a swift trot.· He received a swift response to his letter.brisk quick and energetic: · a brisk walk in the countryside· His manner was very brisk.speedy [only before noun] happening after only a short time: · Everyone wishes you a speedy recovery.· a speedy resolution to the problemhurried done more quickly than usual, because you do not have much time: · She ate a hurried breakfast in the cafe before catching her train.· We made a hurried departure.hasty deciding or doing something very quickly, especially when this has bad results: · It was a hasty decision, which he later regretted.· Let’s not be too hasty. fast1 adjectivefast2 adverbfast3 verbfast4 noun fastfast2 ●●● S2 W3 adverb Entry menu MENU FOR fastfast1 moving quickly2 in a short time3 fast asleep4 be stuck/held fast5 be getting/be going nowhere fast6 not so fast7 make something fast8 fast by something Examples EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES a fast-growing community Burglars work fast. Don't drive so fast - there's ice on the road. Don't talk so fast - I can't understand what you're saying. He ran home as fast as he could. Prices aren't rising as fast as they were a year ago. She walked faster and faster, then started to run. The car was going pretty fast when it went off the road. The front of the boat was stuck fast in the mud. The new fighter aircraft flies almost twice as fast as the old one. The spare tyre on the back of the Jeep was held fast by three strong bolts. We're working as fast as we can. EXAMPLES FROM THE CORPUS At which Stour realised suddenly that he was the one who must act, and fast. He must complete his mission and leave as fast as possible. It felt too fast for me. The growth of the plants from tubercles treated in this manner is then very fast. The tiny device shocks the heart into normal rhythm when it beats too fast. They ran off as fast as their legs would carry them. Thesaurus THESAURUS► quickly at a high speed or without taking much time: · The stream was flowing quite quickly.· They quickly became friends. ► fast at a high speed – used especially when talking about how something moves: · You're driving too fast!· He ran home as fast as he could. ► quick spoken quickly – used in exclamations or in comparatives: · Quick! There’s a mouse! ► swiftly written quickly: · The government acted swiftly.· She was surprised that he agreed so swiftly. ► rapidly quickly – used especially about changes, increases, improvements etc: · The population is growing rapidly.· a rapidly changing world ► speedily quickly and therefore efficiently: · All problems were speedily dealt with. ► briskly quickly and energetically: · He walked briskly back along the path. ► at high/great speed at a very fast speed – used especially in technical descriptions: · The molecules are travelling at great speed. ► at a rapid rate especially written quickly – used about changes, increases, improvements etc: · Internet shopping is growing at a rapid rate. ► as quick as a flash/in a flash extremely quickly: · As quick as a flash, I was back in my bed and under the covers. ► like lightning moving extremely quickly: · Like lightning, the cat darted under the bushes. ► flat out especially British English at the fastest speed possible: · The car was going flat out.· He was running flat out. Longman Language Activatormoving or travelling fast► fast · Don't drive so fast - there's ice on the road.· The new fighter aircraft flies almost twice as fast as the old one.· She walked faster and faster, then started to run.as fast as you can · He ran home as fast as he could. ► quick spoken use this to tell someone to come or go somewhere quickly: · Come quick, your brother's on TV.· You'll have to walk quicker than that if you want to keep up with me. ► swift written moving fast with a continuous, flowing movement - used especially in literature: · The horses ran along the track at a swift trot.· We had to steer our ship through the swift currents of the Bering Straits. ► at high speed moving or working very fast - use this about cars, trains, machines etc: · Two cars raced past him at high speed.· a metal disk revolving at high speed ► at top speed if a vehicle moves at top speed , it moves as fast as it can go - use this especially when a situation is urgent and someone has to get somewhere very fast: · They headed east at top speed in pursuit of the enemy ship.· At top speed, the Pave Hawk helicopter can travel 221 miles per hour. ► at breakneck speed travelling dangerously fast: · It took us an hour to get there, driving at breakneck speed.· Jenny stepped onto her skis and sped off at breakneck speed down the glistening, white mountain. ► flat out at the fastest speed possible when using all the strength or power there is: · Going flat out, the BMW 325 will reach a speed of 140 miles per hour.· The exercise involved running flat out for two minutes and then resting for one minute. ► like lightning moving extremely fast, often with a single sudden movement: · Somewhere a dog barked and, like lightning, the cat darted into some bushes.· Her foot slipped on the smooth tiles but Mitch moved like lightning and caught her before she fell. ► at speed formal if a car or train is travelling at speed , it is travelling fast: · The train was already travelling at speed when she tried to open the carriage door. fast cars/planes/trains► fast · Dean always loved fast cars and expensive clothes.· Rosa caught the fast train to London.· Boeing's new plane is faster and more luxurious than anything else they have ever produced. ► high-speed : high-speed train/computer/drill etc a train, computer etc that moves or operates very fast: · The era of high-speed jet travel began after the end of World War II.· Journey times have been reduced considerably since the introduction of high-speed trains. ► supersonic : supersonic aircraft/travel/flight etc faster than the speed of sound: · Concorde is capable of travelling at supersonic speeds.· Thanks to supersonic travel, busy executives can attend meetings in New York and be back in London the same day. doing things quickly or happening quickly► quickly doing things quickly or happening quickly , without taking much time: · She undressed quickly and got into bed.· It's important to realize how quickly this disease can spread.· Quickly fry the onions, then add the meat. ► quick a quick movement or action is one that you do quickly or one that only takes a short time: · I'll just take a quick shower.· That was quick -- have you finished already?· I had to make a quick decision.be quick (=use this when you are telling someone to hurry): · You'll have to be quick - we don't have much time. ► fast if you work, talk, or write fast , you do it quickly: · Don't talk so fast - I can't understand what you're saying.· We're working as fast as we can. ► rapid a rapid change, increase, or improvement is one that happens much more quickly than usual: · a rapid increase in the population· She made a rapid recovery after her operation.· Adolescence is a period of great and rapid change. ► swift happening or done very quickly and without any delay: · Punishment of the protesters was swift and severe.· Swift fashion changes mean that the shop has to change its stock every six to eight weeks. ► speedy a speedy return, reply, reaction, etc is one that is done or made successfully, as quickly and efficiently as possible: · We are working to ensure the safe and speedy return of all the refugees to their homes.· Thousands of letters and telegrams arrived wishing Nikolai a speedy recovery from his surgery. ► prompt a prompt action, reply, delivery etc is one that is done without delay because quick action is needed: · A major disaster was prevented by the prompt action of the safety officer.· It is important to ensure prompt delivery of goods that customers order. ► meteoric : meteoric rise/career achieving success extremely quickly and suddenly: · The film tells the story of Lee's meteoric rise from North Dakota radio singer to jazz legend. ► at an alarming rate if something happens at an alarming rate , it happens so quickly that it makes people very worried: · The Amazonian rainforest is disappearing at an alarming rate.· The number of people dying from lung cancer has increased at an alarming rate. ► in a flash use this to say that something happens extremely quickly and suddenly, so that you almost do not notice what is happening: · He was gone in a flash.· In a flash Atticus was up and standing over him.· Joel slipped but was on his feet in a flash. to move very fast in a particular direction► race/tear to go somewhere as fast as you can: race back/up/into etc: · Hearing the children's screams, she raced back to the house.· A police car came racing down the road.tear away/up/across etc: · She tore across the lobby, then up three flights of stairs.· Just before the explosion, a man came tearing across the street. ► rush/dash to go somewhere very quickly because you are in a hurry: rush out/around/into etc: · Everyone rushed out into the street to see what was happening.· People were rushing past me on their way to work.dash into/around/to etc: · Pam dashed into the store just as it was closing.· The boys dashed across the road and disappeared into the woods. ► fly to travel or go somewhere extremely quickly: fly past/up/along etc: · As I slowed down another car flew past me and turned to the left.· The bus was flying along when suddenly the driver slammed on the brakes. ► dart to run, fly, or swim with a sudden quick movement: dart through/back/across etc: · I could see small silvery fish darting through the water.· As the rain began to fall harder, I darted into the first shop I could find. ► streak written if someone or something streaks somewhere, they run or fly there so fast that you can hardly see them: streak across/past/away etc: · Two aircraft streaked across the sky.· I caught a glimpse of a man streaking away into the shadows. ► whizz to move extremely quickly through the air or along a road, making a loud high noise: whizz past/by/through etc: · A bullet whizzed past my ear.· I stared out the window, watching as kids on bicycles and skateboards whizzed by. ► zoom if a car, bus, plane etc zooms somewhere, it moves there extremely fast, making a loud noise with its engine: zoom past/through/over etc: · The plane zoomed low over the airfield.· A fire engine zoomed past us. ► speed to move somewhere very quickly, especially in a vehicle: speed along/by/towards etc: · An ambulance sped by on its way to an accident.· Small patrol boats sped along the shore. ► be really moving use this to say that someone or something is going extremely fast: · That car must have been really moving when it hit the van. to move or work faster► go faster · Could you go a little faster? We don't want to miss our plane.move/work etc faster · You'll have to work a lot faster than this.faster and faster (=more and more quickly) · I could feel my heart beating faster and faster. ► speed up to make something happen more quickly: · Nancy, if you don't speed up we'll be here until midnight.speed something up: · I'll phone the manager and get them to speed things up.speed up something: · The company announced they're speeding up plans to expand the site. ► pick up/gather speed if a vehicle, especially a large vehicle picks up speed or gathers speed , it starts to gradually move faster: · Francis leaned back in his seat as the plane picked up speed.· The truck was already moving, gathering speed with a deep-throated roar. ► accelerate if a vehicle or driver accelerates , they go faster, especially suddenly: · The Ferrari Mondial can accelerate from zero to 60 mph in 6.3 seconds.· The truck's wheels skidded on the snow as the driver accelerated forward. ► quicken your pace written to begin to walk faster - use this especially in stories or descriptions of events: · Suddenly realizing he was late, he quickened his pace towards the hotel.· "I have some questions to ask you, Mr Murray,'' said the reporter, quickening his pace to keep up with me. ► gain/gather momentum if something gains or gathers momentum , it travels faster and faster, especially going down a hill, because it is pushed forward by the force of its own weight: · Gradually the train gathered momentum, and within seconds it was moving at top speed.· The slope was getting steeper and their sledge was gaining momentum all the time. to move as fast as someone else► catch up to move forward fast enough to reach someone who was in front of you going in the same direction: · We need to start cycling faster or we'll never catch up.catch up with: · Go on ahead. I'll catch up with you later.· The police car caught up with the stolen van after a long chase. ► be gaining on to be getting closer and closer to someone that you are chasing or trying to pass, because you are moving faster than they are: · Run faster -- they're gaining on us!· Seeing the van was gaining on him, he turned suddenly onto a dirt road. ► keep up to succeed in moving as fast as someone else, when they are moving very quickly: · Maggie had a stone in her shoe and was finding it hard to keep up.keep up with: · Slow down! I can't keep up with you.· She had difficulty keeping up with J.D.'s long, quick strides. to move faster than someone or something else► pull ahead to pass another vehicle on the road and move in front of it because you are going faster: · I turned around and saw that, out of the dust and the crowd, another car was pulling ahead to join us.pull ahead of: · With the finish line in sight, Wallace pulled ahead of the pack and drove to victory. ► leave somebody behind to move far in front of someone who cannot run, walk, drive etc as fast as you: · We were all running to catch the bus, but the others had longer legs and gradually left me behind.leave somebody way behind (=a long way behind): · Dinah urged her horse on until she had left all the other riders way behind. ► leave somebody standing informal to move very far in front of someone, especially in a race, because you are much faster than them: · Collins accelerated around the final turn and left the other runners standing. a course of study that you do quickly► rapid · The college offers a rapid programme of training for librarians.· Rapid learning: Learn to speak a new language in 12 weeks! ► intensive an intensive course of study is one in which you are taught a lot in a short time: · Before moving to Paris, Michael went on an intensive course to improve his French.· After a brief period of intensive training, I was allowed to make my first parachute jump. ► crash course a course of study in which you learn a particular skill in a very short time in order to prepare yourself for a job: crash course in: · We offer crash courses in word processing.crash course: · Students lacking math and science skills take a seven-week crash course during the summer. when a lot of people or things do something at the same time► in large numbers use this to say that a lot of people or things do something, or go or appear somewhere all at the same time: · During the dry season animals gather in large numbers around the water holes.· Young people are leaving the countryside and moving to the city in large numbers. ► in droves if people go somewhere in droves , they go in large numbers especially when this surprises you: · Nurses are leaving the profession in droves.· People came in droves to watch the fireworks display. ► in force/strength if people go somewhere in force or in strength a lot of them go together so that there is a large number of them in a particular place: · The police arrived in force to break up the crowd of demonstrators.· If Latino voters turn out in strength for the next election, results could be very different. ► by the hundreds/thousands if people do something by the hundreds or by the thousands very large groups of them are doing it at the same time: · People in the drought-stricken region are dying by the hundreds.· From all over the country, people came by the thousands to pay respect to their dead leader. ► thick and fast if messages, events etc come thick and fast , a lot of them suddenly come or happen in a short time: · At first no one was interested in the job but now applications are coming in thick and fast.· Rumours flew thick and fast that the company was going to be sold. ► be dying/dropping like flies to be dying or suddenly becoming ill in large numbers: · In the middle of the cholera epidemic, people were dropping like flies.· When Sam reached 70, it seemed his friends started dying like flies. fastened tight► tight a screw, lid, cover etc that is tight has been firmly fixed and is difficult to move: · Check that the screws are tight.· Cover with a tight lid and refrigerate. ► firmly if something is firmly closed or fixed, it has been closed or fixed so that it cannot move: · The posts must be fixed firmly in the ground.· When leaving the house, check that all doors and windows are firmly closed and locked. ► securely if something is securely fastened or fixed, it has been carefully fastened or fixed so that it will not move or open and cause an accident: · We made sure that our bags were securely fastened to the roof of the car.· A large safety screen, securely fixed to the wall, will prevent a child coming into contact with a fire. ► fast if something is held, stuck, or tied fast it is held, stuck, or tied so tightly that it cannot be moved at all: · The front of the boat was stuck fast in the mud. · The spare tyre on the back of the Jeep was held fast by three strong bolts. time passes quickly► go fast/quickly · The rest of the weekend went too quickly -- he wanted it to last forever.· Today can't go fast enough for me.· The summer seems to have come and gone so quickly.make something go faster/more quickly (=to make work, a journey etc seem to take less time than it really does) · Reading on the train makes the journey go more quickly.· It's great having you to talk to. It makes the time go faster. ► fly by if a period of time flies by , it seems to pass very quickly, especially when you have been very busy or enjoying yourself: · The afternoon flew by as they went through the next scene together.· Hours can fly by as I write, and I don't even notice.· Time is flying by quickly now and it seems impossible that there are only three months left. ► time flies use this when you are surprised at how quickly the time has passed, especially when you have been enjoying yourself: · Is Richard eight already? Doesn't time fly?· "Hasn't the afternoon passed quickly?" said Carol. "Time flies when you're having fun." ► tick away if the minutes, the hours, time etc tick away , it passes, especially when you must do something before a particular time or when you are frightened or nervous: · He had to watch the minutes tick away while the emergency services tried to locate him. · Aware of how the minutes were ticking away, Julia desperately scribbled down the last few answers. Collocations COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY► fast-moving  a fast-moving river ► as fast as ... legs could carry  Johnny ran off as fast as his legs could carry him (=running as quickly as he could). ► fast becoming/disappearing/approaching etc  Access to the Internet is fast becoming a necessity. ► It ... happened so fast  It all happened so fast I didn’t even notice I was bleeding. COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES► fast approaching  The time is fast approaching when we will have to make a decision. ► fast/sound asleep (=sleeping deeply) ► breathe fast/rapidly (=breathe quickly because of illness, fear etc)· He closed his eyes, breathing fast under the fever. ► make a fast/quick buck (=make some money quickly, often dishonestly) ► a fast-food chain · the fast-food chain, Burger King ► a clock is fast/slow (=shows a later or earlier time than the real time)· There’s no need to hurry – that clock’s fast. ► fast/fast-flowing · Fast-flowing currents made the rescue job even harder. ► a quick/fast exit (=done more quickly than usual)· I made a quick exit before the speeches began. ► life in the fast lane  Brenda is a lady who loves life in the fast lane. ► fast and furious  The action is fast and furious. ► fast/slow etc grower  Bamboo is a very vigorous grower. ► hard-and-fast rules  It is impossible to give hard-and-fast rules, but here are some points to consider. ► the fast/slow lane  Cars in the fast lane were travelling at over 80 miles an hour. ► a quick/fast learner (=someone who learns things quickly)· She was a quick learner, and her English got better day by day. ► move fast/quickly/swiftly  You’ll have to move fast if you want to get a place on the course. ► fast/slow moving etc  Be careful when changing lanes in fast-moving traffic. ► getting ... nowhere fast  I soon realized that being tough was getting me nowhere fast (=was not helping me achieve anything). ► rapid/fast pace · The rapid pace of change creates uncertainty. ► pull a fast one  He was trying to pull a fast one (=deceive you) when he told you he’d paid. ► rapid/fast pulse · Symptoms include a rapid pulse and dry skin. ► a faster/slower rate · The urban population has grown at a faster rate than the rural population. ► a slow/fast reader · Her son was quite a slow reader. ► a fast-food restaurant (=where food that can be prepared quickly is served or available to take away)· The High Street is full of fast-food restaurants. ► rapidly/quickly/fast rise · House prices rose rapidly last year. ► fast-flowing · The child fell into a fast-flowing river. ► a shade too big/hot/fast etc  Matt’s clothes were just a shade too big for me. ► a shade better/quicker/faster etc  The results were a shade better than we expected. ► sinking fast  The doctor said that the boy was sinking fast (=getting weaker and about to die). ► stuck fast  The wheels stuck fast (=stuck completely) in the mud. ► an express train/a fast train (=one that does not stop at many places)· He boarded the express train to London. ► somebody’s watch is fast/runs fast (=it shows a later time)· No, it’s only 12.15 – your watch must be fast. COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADJECTIVE► asleep · From the sound of his rhythmic breathing, Loretta could tell he was fast asleep.· When her husband was fast asleep she must leave the bed, light the lamp, and get the knife.· Quite at home in my bed, he fell fast asleep until dawn.· Heather turned it slightly and saw that he was fast asleep.· Bless him, he was fast asleep on the sofa.· Mum is fast asleep in her chair.· She went back as she had come, fast asleep and docile, her face expressionless.· He lay fast asleep, surrounded by flames and smoke. VERB► approach · That deadline is fast approaching, and from the end of December Jubilee 2000 will be no more.· It's hard to believe, but we're fast approaching the dessert hour.· They made love as though tomorrow was fast approaching, and with it imminent departure.· She was, of course, keenly interested in cinema, and her White House film festival was fast approaching.· That said, the 1995 World Cup is fast approaching.· The time was fast approaching when Earth, like all mothers, must say farewell to her children. ► become · The sport which is fast becoming a popular competitive alternative to the more traditional sports like eventing and hunter trials.· Ishmael and Queequeg become fast friends.· Should this happen, then our lives, and the quality of living, will fast become Utopian.· Yet the public art programs can make only a small difference in the visual mess that Tucson is fast becoming.· Snapshots and consumer imagery were fast becoming two sides of the same coin.· The leader board was fast becoming a memory.· It takes an intellectually open environment and an entrepreneurial edge to produce the kind of place that Bangalore is fast becoming. ► drive · He sent for his carriage and jumped in, and after telling his coachman to drive fast he ordered him to stop.· So they drive fast, sleeping a few hours a night, then move on to the next job and paycheck.· When they set off for church he set off for London, driving fast.· He was driving fast, too fast for these streets.· Jean drove fast, and was at the hospital in just under fifteen minutes.· And I drove fast because I was scared.· It pitches and bobbles on some roads, and bounces over the potholes driven fast.· Raoul drove fast through back streets. ► fade · Read in studio Swindon Town's hopes of promotion are fading fast, after another defeat last night.· It is just a little smile, and it fades fast.· It was thin, fading fast like all horses in this bitter land.· He was happy but was fading fast.· Wet air blows in from the river, and the light is fading fast.· The Raiders, sole occupants of last place in the West, are fading fast.· Any expectations he may have had of inheriting a larger share of the Angevin Empire were fading fast.· But the next half-century witnessed the general settlement of California, and by 1900 the condor was fading fast. ► fall · Quite at home in my bed, he fell fast asleep until dawn.· When Mrs Thatcher left office, they were down to £455 million and falling fast.· They kissed, and Felicity fell fast asleep, tired from her journey.· When I looked again, he had fallen fast asleep.· He had curled up on to his bed at the first opportunity and fallen fast asleep.· But this time on their return to the car he fell fast asleep within minutes.· The temperature inside ... minus twelve and falling fast. ► go · It wasn't going fast but it was going fast enough for what I wanted to do.· Nature is preparing for autumn, and the front-row seats are going fast.· The rabbits in front went fast and Hazel had little time to sniff about as he followed.· The cars, by the sound, were going fast.· In a touring boat we want long powerful strokes to go fast over long distances.· Lithographs of the drawings have gone fast at $ 300 to $ 500.· He could not go fast enough now to satisfy him. ► grow · The economically less powerful sections of the middle classes were growing fast both in numbers and in political consciousness.· Children grow fast in this low gravity.· The goat's milk helped the children to survive but Boris, who grew fast, suffered.· This is an acceptable mode of adaptability for micro-organisms since these are fast growing.· Smaller organisations have also grown fast.· Savings and loans could not grow fast enough to make the required loans.· The number of older people is growing fast, and will on average reach 12 % by 2025.· Another fast growing category is the indigent elderly population in nursing homes. ► happen · In the summer of 1989 things began to happen fast.· Things started to happen fast after that.· It may not be happening fast enough, but the winds of societal change take a while to get up to speed. ► learn · And you're going to learn fast.· Joe was the forerunner and mentor in foreign reporting, but Stewartaided by abundant letters of introduction from Joewas learning fast.· The fledglings have grown and are learning fast, though still keep within the bounds of their parents' territory.· They learn fast, believe me.· Daine might be a novice Dreamer, but he was learning fast. ► move · The next he knew there was a shape in the sky to his left, moving fast towards him a little from below.· Or some one driving north toward Lake of the Woods, moving fast, coming to her rescue.· However, it is not moving fast enough to totally escape the pull of the Earth's gravitational field.· San Diego is an international city and we are growing fast and we are moving fast.· They had one at least of their number wounded, and they needed to move fast.· When Ted was out of the bathroom and thumping around in the bedroom, I moved fast.· He was angry with the hijackers and he was angry with himself because he had not moved fast enough to help Harald.· The salamander, who now barely moved, could never have moved fast. ► run · Blondel, it seemed, could run fast.· Did you kick the ball and then run fast?· These things can be had by any animal that really needs to run fast, but they must be bought.· He was one of the younger bearers and ran fast.· Sime found it difficult to run fast round a bend because his abductor muscles underwent too much strain.· What happens if you run fast forward in vision?· Mr Straw's particular problem, however, is that the situation is fast running out of control.· She ran fast along a path until she bumped into her brother. ► sink · As it is, our reputation is sinking fast in the west.· I was sinking fast in the mire of soft money.· Despite pulling the elevator back and the aeroplane changing attitude, it carried on, sinking fast.· With his credit card statements no longer cushioned by company expenses, John found himself sinking fast in financial quicksand.· Mary is also sinking fast, now at the stage of complete alienation from her family. ► walk · Then I walked fast on to the dark lonely marshes.· Captain Samphan was walking fast across the road in the middle distance, ordering some of the troops into the paddy field.· If he walked fast he was too aware of trying to distract himself.· They shook hands with Oliver and went away, walking fast.· He took long strides and he walked fast but he walked easily too and without great exertion.· She was easy to keep in sight, but she walked fast.· He walked fast, with his head down, taking little notice of where they were going.· Now a line of Masai warriors appears, walking fast. ► work · They must have worked fast to get it together, Charles thought.· We would have to work fast.· Sloth and bad organisation seem to be to blame, even though the builders are on high wages to work fast.· He always was in a rush, working fast.· Some of my men think you don't work fast enough down there.· They worked fast, connecting tubes, hooking up monitors, measuring blood pressure. Phrases PHRASES FROM THE ENTRY► not so fast Not so fast! You'll scrape the paint! Not so fast, guys. One win doesn't make a championship season. Both were expanding their departments as well, though not so fast as Ranieri. But not so fast, or so the town of Oro Valley decided August 30. It's also big, but not so fast or user-friendly despite its curious system of organizing bits into folders. ► make something fast► fast by something We stood on a rock, fast by the river. ► fast asleep Most of the household was still fast asleep. Bless him, he was fast asleep on the sofa. He had intended to visit Meryl, who was probably fast asleep by now. He lay fast asleep, surrounded by flames and smoke. Midnight approaches, and those not on duty are fast asleep. She went back as she had come, fast asleep and docile, her face expressionless. She would have been fast asleep already, but for the Admiral's early-morning call. The second time around, Stafford was fast asleep, wedged in between two large blond businessmen. When her husband was fast asleep she must leave the bed, light the lamp, and get the knife. ► be stuck/held fast A character who is held fast can not move or fight, and is treated as prone. Balor was struggling and writhing, but his limbs were held fast and only his thick, shapeless body could move. Persephone sprang into her arms and was held fast there. She tried to pull her hand free, but it was held fast. She tried to struggle, but she was held fast. ► be getting/be going nowhere fastPHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES► a fast/good/long etc ball A bit like Dorigo ie he can cross a good ball when necessary. Anyway he is 24, is a good ball winner and throws himself around a bit. Jackson will supplant Charlie Ward as the starting point guard, giving the team a better ball distributor. Leeds do play a lot of football, but they hit a long ball as well. Phillips seized on a long ball and found himself with only Manninger to beat. Pow, Janir hit a long ball into the blackberry bushes beside the creek. Root threw me a fast ball. ► trouble with a capital T, fast with a capital F etc► as fast as his/her legs could carry him/her She ran to her mother as fast as her legs could carry her. ► at a good/rapid/fast etc clip He was walking along at a good clip, his eyes idly panning the facades of the brownstone houses. Up ahead, a thoroughfare Traffic was going across the intersection at a good clip in both directions. ► the fast lane Cars in the fast lane were traveling at over 80 miles an hour. ► hold fast (to something) Bush urged the party to hold fast to its traditions. But ever since the day when she had faced her own fears she had held fast to her principles. Difficult to hold fast to time. He kept his head, how-ever, and held fast to his golden apples. I am like a shipwrecked survivor holding fast to the debris, awaiting the arrival of the scheduled liner. If the Court holds fast to its abnegation of this traditional role, it could mark a sea change in federal-state relations. Jeffries was trying to cut him to ribbons; and here was Gordon trying to hold fast to Jeffries' coattails. Mr Buie held fast to his ground. She tried to struggle, but she was held fast. ► play fast and loose with something And there is his willingness to play fast and loose with the facts. Besides, it is playing fast and loose with the statistics to take 1981 as the baseline for the Government's claims. In what follows, I shall play fast and loose with these words and the subtle distinctions between them. They probably see it as a place where government plays fast and loose with tax dollars. To say that the Wattersons had played fast and loose with their investors' capital was an understatement. ► plenty big/fast/warm etc enough► the best/biggest/fastest etc possible Any successful entrepreneurial venture starts with making sure that the entrepreneur is in the best possible mental and physical health. But the psychologist was never confident that he had obtained the best possible scores from Nelson. For a moment, I imagined the best possible to the worst possible reply. Obviously, the purpose is to ensure that the best possible pensions arrangements are reached. That way it will have the best possible start in life. The additional value farmers receive is the best possible free advice on both inputs and marketing. The horrifying news sent the Ciprianos on a nationwide search to find the best possible treatment for their daughter. This at once enhances the contribution which the court or parents can make towards reaching the best possible decision in all the circumstances. ► stand firm/stand fast► thick and fast At first no one was interested in the job but now applications are coming in thick and fast. Rumors flew thick and fast that the government would close the newspaper. Rumours flew thick and fast that the company was going to be sold. Callers, suitably and sombrely attired, came thick and fast. Finally, may reactions to the paper come thick and fast from all quarters! Official recognition of the change came thick and fast during the presidency of Ronald Reagan. The export market has not taken up the slack, so redundancies are coming thick and fast. The form for Swindon can only get better; the games are coming thick and fast. The invitations came thick and fast. The rumours are growing thick and fast as weeds and de Craon must be their sower. They are falling thick and fast, some of them upon our dead, and some upon their own.. ► a touch disappointed/faster/impatient etc He was fond of the man who fretted beside him, and a touch impatient with him too. ► a fast/slow etc walker 1moving quickly moving quickly:  Slow down – you’re driving too fast. a fast-moving river Johnny ran off as fast as his legs could carry him (=running as quickly as he could).► see thesaurus at quickly2in a short time happening in a short time:  Kids grow up fast these days. The survivors needed help fast. How fast can you get the job done?fast becoming/disappearing/approaching etc Access to the Internet is fast becoming a necessity. It all happened so fast I didn’t even notice I was bleeding.3fast asleep sleeping very deeply:  Nick was lying on the sofa, fast asleep.4be stuck/held fast to become or be firmly fixed and unable to move:  The boat was stuck fast in the mud. She tried to pull her hand free, but it was held fast.5be getting/be going nowhere fast informal to not succeed in making progress or achieving something:  I kept asking her the same question, but I was getting nowhere fast.6not so fast spoken used to tell someone not to be too eager to do or believe something:  Not so fast. We’ve got to prove it first, haven’t we?7make something fast to tie something such as a boat or tent firmly to something else8fast by something literary very close to something:  fast by the river → play fast and loose with somebody at play1(32), → stand fast at stand1(25), → thick and fast at thick2(2) fast1 adjectivefast2 adverbfast3 verbfast4 noun fastfast3 verb [intransitive] Word Origin WORD ORIGINfast3 Origin: Old English fæstan Verb Table VERB TABLE fast Simple Form Present I, you, we, they fast he, she, it fasts Past I, you, he, she, it, we, they fasted Present perfect I, you, we, they have fasted he, she, it has fasted Past perfect I, you, he, she, it, we, they had fasted Future I, you, he, she, it, we, they will fast Future perfect I, you, he, she, it, we, they will have fasted Continuous Form Present I am fasting he, she, it is fasting you, we, they are fasting Past I, he, she, it was fasting you, we, they were fasting Present perfect I, you, we, they have been fasting he, she, it has been fasting Past perfect I, you, he, she, it, we, they had been fasting Future I, you, he, she, it, we, they will be fasting Future perfect I, you, he, she, it, we, they will have been fasting Examples EXAMPLES FROM THE CORPUS He would need to fast, to recuperate, to change, before he would be ready to take her. They fasted for a further 2 hours, after which they were allowed normal food and fluid intake. Thesaurus THESAURUSto eat less food or stop eating► be on a diet to be eating less or different food than normal in order to become thinner: · No cake thanks – I’m on a diet. ► fast to not eat for a period of time, often for religious reasons: · Muslim people fast during the month of Ramadan. Longman Language Activatormoving or travelling fast► fast · Don't drive so fast - there's ice on the road.· The new fighter aircraft flies almost twice as fast as the old one.· She walked faster and faster, then started to run.as fast as you can · He ran home as fast as he could. ► quick spoken use this to tell someone to come or go somewhere quickly: · Come quick, your brother's on TV.· You'll have to walk quicker than that if you want to keep up with me. ► swift written moving fast with a continuous, flowing movement - used especially in literature: · The horses ran along the track at a swift trot.· We had to steer our ship through the swift currents of the Bering Straits. ► at high speed moving or working very fast - use this about cars, trains, machines etc: · Two cars raced past him at high speed.· a metal disk revolving at high speed ► at top speed if a vehicle moves at top speed , it moves as fast as it can go - use this especially when a situation is urgent and someone has to get somewhere very fast: · They headed east at top speed in pursuit of the enemy ship.· At top speed, the Pave Hawk helicopter can travel 221 miles per hour. ► at breakneck speed travelling dangerously fast: · It took us an hour to get there, driving at breakneck speed.· Jenny stepped onto her skis and sped off at breakneck speed down the glistening, white mountain. ► flat out at the fastest speed possible when using all the strength or power there is: · Going flat out, the BMW 325 will reach a speed of 140 miles per hour.· The exercise involved running flat out for two minutes and then resting for one minute. ► like lightning moving extremely fast, often with a single sudden movement: · Somewhere a dog barked and, like lightning, the cat darted into some bushes.· Her foot slipped on the smooth tiles but Mitch moved like lightning and caught her before she fell. ► at speed formal if a car or train is travelling at speed , it is travelling fast: · The train was already travelling at speed when she tried to open the carriage door. fast cars/planes/trains► fast · Dean always loved fast cars and expensive clothes.· Rosa caught the fast train to London.· Boeing's new plane is faster and more luxurious than anything else they have ever produced. ► high-speed : high-speed train/computer/drill etc a train, computer etc that moves or operates very fast: · The era of high-speed jet travel began after the end of World War II.· Journey times have been reduced considerably since the introduction of high-speed trains. ► supersonic : supersonic aircraft/travel/flight etc faster than the speed of sound: · Concorde is capable of travelling at supersonic speeds.· Thanks to supersonic travel, busy executives can attend meetings in New York and be back in London the same day. doing things quickly or happening quickly► quickly doing things quickly or happening quickly , without taking much time: · She undressed quickly and got into bed.· It's important to realize how quickly this disease can spread.· Quickly fry the onions, then add the meat. ► quick a quick movement or action is one that you do quickly or one that only takes a short time: · I'll just take a quick shower.· That was quick -- have you finished already?· I had to make a quick decision.be quick (=use this when you are telling someone to hurry): · You'll have to be quick - we don't have much time. ► fast if you work, talk, or write fast , you do it quickly: · Don't talk so fast - I can't understand what you're saying.· We're working as fast as we can. ► rapid a rapid change, increase, or improvement is one that happens much more quickly than usual: · a rapid increase in the population· She made a rapid recovery after her operation.· Adolescence is a period of great and rapid change. ► swift happening or done very quickly and without any delay: · Punishment of the protesters was swift and severe.· Swift fashion changes mean that the shop has to change its stock every six to eight weeks. ► speedy a speedy return, reply, reaction, etc is one that is done or made successfully, as quickly and efficiently as possible: · We are working to ensure the safe and speedy return of all the refugees to their homes.· Thousands of letters and telegrams arrived wishing Nikolai a speedy recovery from his surgery. ► prompt a prompt action, reply, delivery etc is one that is done without delay because quick action is needed: · A major disaster was prevented by the prompt action of the safety officer.· It is important to ensure prompt delivery of goods that customers order. ► meteoric : meteoric rise/career achieving success extremely quickly and suddenly: · The film tells the story of Lee's meteoric rise from North Dakota radio singer to jazz legend. ► at an alarming rate if something happens at an alarming rate , it happens so quickly that it makes people very worried: · The Amazonian rainforest is disappearing at an alarming rate.· The number of people dying from lung cancer has increased at an alarming rate. ► in a flash use this to say that something happens extremely quickly and suddenly, so that you almost do not notice what is happening: · He was gone in a flash.· In a flash Atticus was up and standing over him.· Joel slipped but was on his feet in a flash. to move very fast in a particular direction► race/tear to go somewhere as fast as you can: race back/up/into etc: · Hearing the children's screams, she raced back to the house.· A police car came racing down the road.tear away/up/across etc: · She tore across the lobby, then up three flights of stairs.· Just before the explosion, a man came tearing across the street. ► rush/dash to go somewhere very quickly because you are in a hurry: rush out/around/into etc: · Everyone rushed out into the street to see what was happening.· People were rushing past me on their way to work.dash into/around/to etc: · Pam dashed into the store just as it was closing.· The boys dashed across the road and disappeared into the woods. ► fly to travel or go somewhere extremely quickly: fly past/up/along etc: · As I slowed down another car flew past me and turned to the left.· The bus was flying along when suddenly the driver slammed on the brakes. ► dart to run, fly, or swim with a sudden quick movement: dart through/back/across etc: · I could see small silvery fish darting through the water.· As the rain began to fall harder, I darted into the first shop I could find. ► streak written if someone or something streaks somewhere, they run or fly there so fast that you can hardly see them: streak across/past/away etc: · Two aircraft streaked across the sky.· I caught a glimpse of a man streaking away into the shadows. ► whizz to move extremely quickly through the air or along a road, making a loud high noise: whizz past/by/through etc: · A bullet whizzed past my ear.· I stared out the window, watching as kids on bicycles and skateboards whizzed by. ► zoom if a car, bus, plane etc zooms somewhere, it moves there extremely fast, making a loud noise with its engine: zoom past/through/over etc: · The plane zoomed low over the airfield.· A fire engine zoomed past us. ► speed to move somewhere very quickly, especially in a vehicle: speed along/by/towards etc: · An ambulance sped by on its way to an accident.· Small patrol boats sped along the shore. ► be really moving use this to say that someone or something is going extremely fast: · That car must have been really moving when it hit the van. to move or work faster► go faster · Could you go a little faster? We don't want to miss our plane.move/work etc faster · You'll have to work a lot faster than this.faster and faster (=more and more quickly) · I could feel my heart beating faster and faster. ► speed up to make something happen more quickly: · Nancy, if you don't speed up we'll be here until midnight.speed something up: · I'll phone the manager and get them to speed things up.speed up something: · The company announced they're speeding up plans to expand the site. ► pick up/gather speed if a vehicle, especially a large vehicle picks up speed or gathers speed , it starts to gradually move faster: · Francis leaned back in his seat as the plane picked up speed.· The truck was already moving, gathering speed with a deep-throated roar. ► accelerate if a vehicle or driver accelerates , they go faster, especially suddenly: · The Ferrari Mondial can accelerate from zero to 60 mph in 6.3 seconds.· The truck's wheels skidded on the snow as the driver accelerated forward. ► quicken your pace written to begin to walk faster - use this especially in stories or descriptions of events: · Suddenly realizing he was late, he quickened his pace towards the hotel.· "I have some questions to ask you, Mr Murray,'' said the reporter, quickening his pace to keep up with me. ► gain/gather momentum if something gains or gathers momentum , it travels faster and faster, especially going down a hill, because it is pushed forward by the force of its own weight: · Gradually the train gathered momentum, and within seconds it was moving at top speed.· The slope was getting steeper and their sledge was gaining momentum all the time. to move as fast as someone else► catch up to move forward fast enough to reach someone who was in front of you going in the same direction: · We need to start cycling faster or we'll never catch up.catch up with: · Go on ahead. I'll catch up with you later.· The police car caught up with the stolen van after a long chase. ► be gaining on to be getting closer and closer to someone that you are chasing or trying to pass, because you are moving faster than they are: · Run faster -- they're gaining on us!· Seeing the van was gaining on him, he turned suddenly onto a dirt road. ► keep up to succeed in moving as fast as someone else, when they are moving very quickly: · Maggie had a stone in her shoe and was finding it hard to keep up.keep up with: · Slow down! I can't keep up with you.· She had difficulty keeping up with J.D.'s long, quick strides. to move faster than someone or something else► pull ahead to pass another vehicle on the road and move in front of it because you are going faster: · I turned around and saw that, out of the dust and the crowd, another car was pulling ahead to join us.pull ahead of: · With the finish line in sight, Wallace pulled ahead of the pack and drove to victory. ► leave somebody behind to move far in front of someone who cannot run, walk, drive etc as fast as you: · We were all running to catch the bus, but the others had longer legs and gradually left me behind.leave somebody way behind (=a long way behind): · Dinah urged her horse on until she had left all the other riders way behind. ► leave somebody standing informal to move very far in front of someone, especially in a race, because you are much faster than them: · Collins accelerated around the final turn and left the other runners standing. a course of study that you do quickly► rapid · The college offers a rapid programme of training for librarians.· Rapid learning: Learn to speak a new language in 12 weeks! ► intensive an intensive course of study is one in which you are taught a lot in a short time: · Before moving to Paris, Michael went on an intensive course to improve his French.· After a brief period of intensive training, I was allowed to make my first parachute jump. ► crash course a course of study in which you learn a particular skill in a very short time in order to prepare yourself for a job: crash course in: · We offer crash courses in word processing.crash course: · Students lacking math and science skills take a seven-week crash course during the summer. to stop eating or refuse to eat► fast to stop eating food for a fixed period of time, especially for religious reasons: · Muslims fast during Ramadan. ► go on (a) hunger strike if someone goes on a hunger strike , they refuse to eat for days or weeks in order to protest about something or bring public attention to a political problem: · More than 300 prisoners went on hunger strike in February in protest against the living conditions.be on (a) hunger strike: · 67 men had been on hunger strike since August 13th. ► be off your food British especially spoken if someone is off their food , they do not want to eat, for example because they feel sick or ill: · What's wrong with Billy? He seems to be off his food. Collocations COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES► fast approaching  The time is fast approaching when we will have to make a decision. ► fast/sound asleep (=sleeping deeply) ► breathe fast/rapidly (=breathe quickly because of illness, fear etc)· He closed his eyes, breathing fast under the fever. ► make a fast/quick buck (=make some money quickly, often dishonestly) ► a fast-food chain · the fast-food chain, Burger King ► a clock is fast/slow (=shows a later or earlier time than the real time)· There’s no need to hurry – that clock’s fast. ► fast/fast-flowing · Fast-flowing currents made the rescue job even harder. ► a quick/fast exit (=done more quickly than usual)· I made a quick exit before the speeches began. ► life in the fast lane  Brenda is a lady who loves life in the fast lane. ► fast and furious  The action is fast and furious. ► fast/slow etc grower  Bamboo is a very vigorous grower. ► hard-and-fast rules  It is impossible to give hard-and-fast rules, but here are some points to consider. ► the fast/slow lane  Cars in the fast lane were travelling at over 80 miles an hour. ► a quick/fast learner (=someone who learns things quickly)· She was a quick learner, and her English got better day by day. ► move fast/quickly/swiftly  You’ll have to move fast if you want to get a place on the course. ► fast/slow moving etc  Be careful when changing lanes in fast-moving traffic. ► getting ... nowhere fast  I soon realized that being tough was getting me nowhere fast (=was not helping me achieve anything). ► rapid/fast pace · The rapid pace of change creates uncertainty. ► pull a fast one  He was trying to pull a fast one (=deceive you) when he told you he’d paid. ► rapid/fast pulse · Symptoms include a rapid pulse and dry skin. ► a faster/slower rate · The urban population has grown at a faster rate than the rural population. ► a slow/fast reader · Her son was quite a slow reader. ► a fast-food restaurant (=where food that can be prepared quickly is served or available to take away)· The High Street is full of fast-food restaurants. ► rapidly/quickly/fast rise · House prices rose rapidly last year. ► fast-flowing · The child fell into a fast-flowing river. ► a shade too big/hot/fast etc  Matt’s clothes were just a shade too big for me. ► a shade better/quicker/faster etc  The results were a shade better than we expected. ► sinking fast  The doctor said that the boy was sinking fast (=getting weaker and about to die). ► stuck fast  The wheels stuck fast (=stuck completely) in the mud. ► an express train/a fast train (=one that does not stop at many places)· He boarded the express train to London. ► somebody’s watch is fast/runs fast (=it shows a later time)· No, it’s only 12.15 – your watch must be fast. Phrases PHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES► a fast/good/long etc ball A bit like Dorigo ie he can cross a good ball when necessary. Anyway he is 24, is a good ball winner and throws himself around a bit. Jackson will supplant Charlie Ward as the starting point guard, giving the team a better ball distributor. Leeds do play a lot of football, but they hit a long ball as well. Phillips seized on a long ball and found himself with only Manninger to beat. Pow, Janir hit a long ball into the blackberry bushes beside the creek. Root threw me a fast ball. ► trouble with a capital T, fast with a capital F etc► as fast as his/her legs could carry him/her She ran to her mother as fast as her legs could carry her. ► at a good/rapid/fast etc clip He was walking along at a good clip, his eyes idly panning the facades of the brownstone houses. Up ahead, a thoroughfare Traffic was going across the intersection at a good clip in both directions. ► the fast lane Cars in the fast lane were traveling at over 80 miles an hour. ► hold fast (to something) Bush urged the party to hold fast to its traditions. But ever since the day when she had faced her own fears she had held fast to her principles. Difficult to hold fast to time. He kept his head, how-ever, and held fast to his golden apples. I am like a shipwrecked survivor holding fast to the debris, awaiting the arrival of the scheduled liner. If the Court holds fast to its abnegation of this traditional role, it could mark a sea change in federal-state relations. Jeffries was trying to cut him to ribbons; and here was Gordon trying to hold fast to Jeffries' coattails. Mr Buie held fast to his ground. She tried to struggle, but she was held fast. ► play fast and loose with something And there is his willingness to play fast and loose with the facts. Besides, it is playing fast and loose with the statistics to take 1981 as the baseline for the Government's claims. In what follows, I shall play fast and loose with these words and the subtle distinctions between them. They probably see it as a place where government plays fast and loose with tax dollars. To say that the Wattersons had played fast and loose with their investors' capital was an understatement. ► plenty big/fast/warm etc enough► the best/biggest/fastest etc possible Any successful entrepreneurial venture starts with making sure that the entrepreneur is in the best possible mental and physical health. But the psychologist was never confident that he had obtained the best possible scores from Nelson. For a moment, I imagined the best possible to the worst possible reply. Obviously, the purpose is to ensure that the best possible pensions arrangements are reached. That way it will have the best possible start in life. The additional value farmers receive is the best possible free advice on both inputs and marketing. The horrifying news sent the Ciprianos on a nationwide search to find the best possible treatment for their daughter. This at once enhances the contribution which the court or parents can make towards reaching the best possible decision in all the circumstances. ► stand firm/stand fast► thick and fast At first no one was interested in the job but now applications are coming in thick and fast. Rumors flew thick and fast that the government would close the newspaper. Rumours flew thick and fast that the company was going to be sold. Callers, suitably and sombrely attired, came thick and fast. Finally, may reactions to the paper come thick and fast from all quarters! Official recognition of the change came thick and fast during the presidency of Ronald Reagan. The export market has not taken up the slack, so redundancies are coming thick and fast. The form for Swindon can only get better; the games are coming thick and fast. The invitations came thick and fast. The rumours are growing thick and fast as weeds and de Craon must be their sower. They are falling thick and fast, some of them upon our dead, and some upon their own.. ► a touch disappointed/faster/impatient etc He was fond of the man who fretted beside him, and a touch impatient with him too. ► a fast/slow etc walker to eat little or no food for a period of time, especially for religious reasons:  Muslims fast during Ramadan. fast1 adjectivefast2 adverbfast3 verbfast4 noun fastfast4 noun [countable] Examples EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES a one-day fast for charity At the end of their fast, the people have a big party to celebrate. EXAMPLES FROM THE CORPUS As almost everyone except himself perfectly understood, these fasts were a ruthless exploitation of the power of his own sanctity. Collocations COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY► break ... fast  Gandhi drank some orange juice to break (=end) his three-week fast. COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES► fast approaching  The time is fast approaching when we will have to make a decision. ► fast/sound asleep (=sleeping deeply) ► breathe fast/rapidly (=breathe quickly because of illness, fear etc)· He closed his eyes, breathing fast under the fever. ► make a fast/quick buck (=make some money quickly, often dishonestly) ► a fast-food chain · the fast-food chain, Burger King ► a clock is fast/slow (=shows a later or earlier time than the real time)· There’s no need to hurry – that clock’s fast. ► fast/fast-flowing · Fast-flowing currents made the rescue job even harder. ► a quick/fast exit (=done more quickly than usual)· I made a quick exit before the speeches began. ► life in the fast lane  Brenda is a lady who loves life in the fast lane. ► fast and furious  The action is fast and furious. ► fast/slow etc grower  Bamboo is a very vigorous grower. ► hard-and-fast rules  It is impossible to give hard-and-fast rules, but here are some points to consider. ► the fast/slow lane  Cars in the fast lane were travelling at over 80 miles an hour. ► a quick/fast learner (=someone who learns things quickly)· She was a quick learner, and her English got better day by day. ► move fast/quickly/swiftly  You’ll have to move fast if you want to get a place on the course. ► fast/slow moving etc  Be careful when changing lanes in fast-moving traffic. ► getting ... nowhere fast  I soon realized that being tough was getting me nowhere fast (=was not helping me achieve anything). ► rapid/fast pace · The rapid pace of change creates uncertainty. ► pull a fast one  He was trying to pull a fast one (=deceive you) when he told you he’d paid. ► rapid/fast pulse · Symptoms include a rapid pulse and dry skin. ► a faster/slower rate · The urban population has grown at a faster rate than the rural population. ► a slow/fast reader · Her son was quite a slow reader. ► a fast-food restaurant (=where food that can be prepared quickly is served or available to take away)· The High Street is full of fast-food restaurants. ► rapidly/quickly/fast rise · House prices rose rapidly last year. ► fast-flowing · The child fell into a fast-flowing river. ► a shade too big/hot/fast etc  Matt’s clothes were just a shade too big for me. ► a shade better/quicker/faster etc  The results were a shade better than we expected. ► sinking fast  The doctor said that the boy was sinking fast (=getting weaker and about to die). ► stuck fast  The wheels stuck fast (=stuck completely) in the mud. ► an express train/a fast train (=one that does not stop at many places)· He boarded the express train to London. ► somebody’s watch is fast/runs fast (=it shows a later time)· No, it’s only 12.15 – your watch must be fast. COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSVERB► break · The songs were then sung, and Gandhi drank some orange juice to break the three-week fast.· After they had broken their fast he gave Aeneas the advice he had come to seek.· The breaking of the fast, called iftar, usually begins with a snack of dates and milk or water.· Keyes said he would not break his fast until he was invited to participate in subsequent candidate debates.· Then, when they break their fast, the men serve the women. Phrases PHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES► a fast/good/long etc ball A bit like Dorigo ie he can cross a good ball when necessary. Anyway he is 24, is a good ball winner and throws himself around a bit. Jackson will supplant Charlie Ward as the starting point guard, giving the team a better ball distributor. Leeds do play a lot of football, but they hit a long ball as well. Phillips seized on a long ball and found himself with only Manninger to beat. Pow, Janir hit a long ball into the blackberry bushes beside the creek. Root threw me a fast ball. ► trouble with a capital T, fast with a capital F etc► as fast as his/her legs could carry him/her She ran to her mother as fast as her legs could carry her. ► at a good/rapid/fast etc clip He was walking along at a good clip, his eyes idly panning the facades of the brownstone houses. Up ahead, a thoroughfare Traffic was going across the intersection at a good clip in both directions. ► the fast lane Cars in the fast lane were traveling at over 80 miles an hour. ► hold fast (to something) Bush urged the party to hold fast to its traditions. But ever since the day when she had faced her own fears she had held fast to her principles. Difficult to hold fast to time. He kept his head, how-ever, and held fast to his golden apples. I am like a shipwrecked survivor holding fast to the debris, awaiting the arrival of the scheduled liner. If the Court holds fast to its abnegation of this traditional role, it could mark a sea change in federal-state relations. Jeffries was trying to cut him to ribbons; and here was Gordon trying to hold fast to Jeffries' coattails. Mr Buie held fast to his ground. She tried to struggle, but she was held fast. ► play fast and loose with something And there is his willingness to play fast and loose with the facts. Besides, it is playing fast and loose with the statistics to take 1981 as the baseline for the Government's claims. In what follows, I shall play fast and loose with these words and the subtle distinctions between them. They probably see it as a place where government plays fast and loose with tax dollars. To say that the Wattersons had played fast and loose with their investors' capital was an understatement. ► plenty big/fast/warm etc enough► the best/biggest/fastest etc possible Any successful entrepreneurial venture starts with making sure that the entrepreneur is in the best possible mental and physical health. But the psychologist was never confident that he had obtained the best possible scores from Nelson. For a moment, I imagined the best possible to the worst possible reply. Obviously, the purpose is to ensure that the best possible pensions arrangements are reached. That way it will have the best possible start in life. The additional value farmers receive is the best possible free advice on both inputs and marketing. The horrifying news sent the Ciprianos on a nationwide search to find the best possible treatment for their daughter. This at once enhances the contribution which the court or parents can make towards reaching the best possible decision in all the circumstances. ► stand firm/stand fast► thick and fast At first no one was interested in the job but now applications are coming in thick and fast. Rumors flew thick and fast that the government would close the newspaper. Rumours flew thick and fast that the company was going to be sold. Callers, suitably and sombrely attired, came thick and fast. Finally, may reactions to the paper come thick and fast from all quarters! Official recognition of the change came thick and fast during the presidency of Ronald Reagan. The export market has not taken up the slack, so redundancies are coming thick and fast. The form for Swindon can only get better; the games are coming thick and fast. The invitations came thick and fast. The rumours are growing thick and fast as weeds and de Craon must be their sower. They are falling thick and fast, some of them upon our dead, and some upon their own.. ► a touch disappointed/faster/impatient etc He was fond of the man who fretted beside him, and a touch impatient with him too. ► a fast/slow etc walker a period during which someone does not eat, especially for religious reasons:  Gandhi drank some orange juice to break (=end) his three-week fast.
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