Like a rocket
Meaning
To move, accelerate, or increase with extreme speed and rapidity.
Origin
While the basic principles of rocketry date back to ancient China, the modern English phrase "like a rocket" truly blasted off into common usage in the 20th century. This was the era when advancements in rocket technology—from military applications to the thrilling dawn of space exploration—captured the world's imagination. The sheer, unstoppable force and incredible speed of a rocket launching skyward, leaving a fiery trail, became the ultimate metaphor for anything moving, growing, or succeeding with exhilarating rapidity, firmly embedding the image of a powerful ascent into our everyday language.
Examples
- When the starting gun fired, the sprinter shot out of the blocks like a rocket, leaving everyone else behind.
- After the successful product launch, the company's stock price went up like a rocket, delighting investors.