Get the lead out
Meaning
To hurry up or move more quickly, especially when someone is being too slow.
Origin
The phrase "get the lead out" vividly plays on the dense, heavy properties of the metal lead. It conjures the image of someone being so sluggish they are literally weighed down, as if lead has filled their boots or their pants. To "get the lead out" is a command to shed that metaphorical, debilitating weight, to shake off inertia and move with speed and purpose. This punchy idiom gained significant traction in American English during the early 20th century, quickly becoming a direct and informal way to demand urgency from someone perceived as moving too slowly.
Examples
- We're going to miss the train if you don't get the lead out!
- Come on, team, get the lead out; we've got a deadline to meet!