The phrase "putting afterburners" refers to the act of accelerating rapidly. The phonetic transcription of the word "putting" is /ˈpʊtɪŋ/, while that of "afterburners" is /ˌæftərˈbɜrnərz/. The "put" in "putting" is pronounced with a short "u" sound, while the "tting" is pronounced with a voiced "t" sound. The first syllable of "afterburners" is pronounced with a short "a" sound, while the "burners" is pronounced with an "er" sound. Together, these words produce a powerful image of speed and acceleration.
Putting afterburners is a colloquial expression typically used in the context of performance, competition, or intense effort. Derived from the concept of afterburners in jet engines, which provide a boost in thrust and speed, this phrase conveys the idea of pushing oneself or something to maximum capacity or maximum effort.
When someone is said to be putting afterburners, it indicates that they are going all out, exerting extra energy or making a great effort to achieve a desired outcome. It implies a level of intensity, dedication, and determination beyond normal expectations or capabilities. This phrase is commonly employed in sports, especially in situations where an athlete is making a decisive and dynamic move to surpass their opponents, achieve a personal best, or secure victory.
Furthermore, putting afterburners can describe a situation or event where additional resources, such as time, money, or manpower, are deployed to quickly achieve a goal. In such cases, it emphasizes the acceleration of efforts and signifies a rapid and forceful progression towards reaching a desired outcome.
Overall, the term "putting afterburners" connotes a metaphorical surge of power or increased effort, either on an individual level or in a broader context, in order to achieve an exceptional performance, surpassing limitations and pushing boundaries to reach a target.
The phrase "putting afterburners" is derived from the field of aviation.
The etymology of "afterburners" dates back to the mid-20th century and is based on the concept of jet propulsion. Afterburners are additional combustion chambers located behind the normal combustion chambers in a jet engine. They inject fuel into the exhaust gases, igniting them and creating an intense jet of hot exhaust. By adding extra power to the jet engine, afterburners significantly increase the thrust of the aircraft.
The term "putting afterburners" essentially means activating or engaging the afterburners on a jet engine. It often implies the act of increasing speed or accelerating rapidly, as afterburners are typically used when an aircraft requires extra power for takeoff, maneuvering, or maintaining high speeds.