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MissLadybird Posted 10 years ago
Vocabulary

"I've got the hammer down"

What does the phrase "I've got the hammer down" mean?
"Hammer" must have something to do with guns (or cars?), so from the context I can guess it means "I am ready, and nothing can stop me now". "I've got the hammer down and I'm headed for Andromeda."
  

Top answer

Hi I think you are right both times The hammer at the back of a gun is the part that is cocked before firing. If the hammer is in the up position, the gun is safe to carry around. If you put the hammer down, the gun is immediately ready to fire But I believe that the metaphor is also used by truck drivers (maybe car drivers too) to refer to the accelerator pedal.

— Dave_anon

  • Hi I think you are right both times The hammer at the back of a gun is the part that is cocked before firing.
  • If the hammer is in the up position, the gun is safe to carry around.
  • If you put the hammer down, the gun is immediately ready to fire But I believe that the metaphor is also used by truck drivers (maybe car drivers too) to refer to the accelerator pedal.
  • If you are pressing your foot hard on the pedal, you are going fast Your writer is going fast and ready for action ...
  • Dave
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2 Answers
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Hi

I think you are right both times

The hammer at the back of a gun is the part that is cocked before firing. If the hammer is in the up position, the gun is safe to carry around. If you put the hammer down, the gun is immediately ready to fire

But I believe that the metaphor is also used by truck drivers (maybe car drivers too) to refer to the accelerator pedal. If yo
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Thanks a lot for your detailed answer, Dave!
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