pick up the pace

Syllable breakdown

Dictionary meaning

to increase the speed or intensity of an activity, process, or effort that has been proceeding too slowly to meet objectives or deadlines, shifting from a slower rhythm to a faster, more demanding level of output; the phrase is used as an instruction by coaches, managers, and leaders who observe that progress is insufficient given time constraints, and as a self-assessment when individuals recognise that their own rate of work or movement is inadequate; it implies that the current pace is chosen or adjustable rather than fixed by external constraints, and that greater urgency and effort are both possible and necessary if the desired outcome is to be achieved within the available time