Idiom
get up to speed
Meanings
To become fully informed about something, especially the latest details or progress.
To learn the skills or procedures needed to do a job or task effectively.
Definition
To get up to speed means to become fully informed or skilled enough to perform effectively.
If you get up to speed, you learn the necessary information or skills so you can do a task well. It often refers to catching up after joining something late or after changes have happened. People use it at work or school when they need to understand the current situation quickly.
Examples
- I need a day to get up to speed on the new software.
- Can you send me the notes so I can get up to speed before the meeting?
- After my vacation, it took me a week to get up to speed at work.
- She watched the training videos to get up to speed quickly.
Common mistake
Learners often say "get to speed" instead of "get up to speed" or use it for physical driving speed rather than learning or catching up.
More at B2 level
- Bob's your uncle Used to say that something will be easy or will happen exactly as expected after a simple step.
- touch base To touch base means to briefly contact someone to share updates, confirm plans, or check progress.
- ballpark figure A ballpark figure is an approximate number or estimate, not an exact one.
- take the mickey To take the mickey means to mock someone or tease them in an unkind or cheeky way.
- cheap as chips Very cheap; costing very little money.
More idiom (verb phrase)s
- touch base To touch base means to briefly contact someone to share updates, confirm plans, or check progress.
- take the mickey To take the mickey means to mock someone or tease them in an unkind or cheeky way.
- drop the ball To drop the ball means to make a mistake or fail to do something you were responsible for.
- have a chinwag To have a chinwag means to have a relaxed, friendly chat with someone.
- face the music To accept and deal with the unpleasant consequences of what you have done or a difficult situation.