Reader’s question: The economy seems to be picking up steam.

Could you explain “to pick up stream”?

My comments:

Steam, not stream.

“Steam” is an anology back to the olden days when steam trains ruled the rail tracks – they’ve long been replaced by electric trains. Those steam trains were powered by steam locomotives, which give out a lot of hot air (steam) as the trains begin to chug along. As the trains speeded up, they let out more steam because the coal in the fire pit burned more brightly, turning more water into steam.

Hence the term picking up steam. When the economy “seems to be picking up steam”, it seems to be growing more rapidly. The global economy today as a whole seems to be doing just that, having freed itself from a two-year stagnation.

Related stories:

Personal chemistry

Put it on the back burner

Butt-brush effect

Make the cut

Poker face

Win hands down

Out on the street

Fly-by-night

Apple polisher

Might-have-beens

Think the world of

Ante up

Sit on the fence

On top of the world

Button your lip

One for the books

Pass the buck

Raw deal

Fire sale

Spill the beans

Sacred cow

Cheek to jowl

Peaches and cream

Know-it-all

A long shot

Miss the boat

Go to Zhang Xin's column

本文僅代表作者本人觀點(diǎn)，與本網(wǎng)立場(chǎng)無(wú)關(guān)。歡迎大家討論學(xué)術(shù)問(wèn)題，尊重他人，禁止人身攻擊和發(fā)布一切違反國(guó)家現(xiàn)行法律法規(guī)的內(nèi)容。

Zhang Xin has been with China Daily since 1988, when he graduated from Beijing Foreign Studies University. Write him at: zhangxin@chinadaily.com.cn, or raise a question for potential use in a future column.