reverse gear

English

Noun

reverse gear (countable and uncountable, plural reverse gears)

  2. (automotive) A gear (setting) in a vehicle's transmission which, when selected, makes the vehicle move backward. (Denoted with symbol R on a shifter's labeling.)
    Synonym: reverse
    Hypernym: gear
    Near-synonym: reversing gear
    The reverse gear of a Ford Model T was engaged with a foot pedal.
    • 1962 April, “Beyond the Channel: Western Germany: The Henschel 4,000 h.p. V320 diesel”, in Modern Railways, page 274:
      Reverse gear, air-operated, is incorporated in the transmission.
    • 2021 October 6, Paul Stephen, “Network News: Labour: build HS2 and NPR and end "paper promises"”, in RAIL, number 941, page 25:
      It's a chance to get transport investment in this country out of reverse gear - a chance to end paper promises.
  3. (mechanical engineering) A gear fitted to a machine which allows it to run in the direction opposite to normal operation.
    Near-synonym: reversing gear
    This old lathe has a reverse gear, but it wouldn't be used under most conditions, and in fact its use is unsafe under most conditions because the chuck is attached with nothing but a right-hand screw thread!
  4. (figurative) A backward movement; a retreating from a goal; an undoing progress instead of moving forward.

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References

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