bumper-to-bumper

used of traffic

embouteillage, bouchon

embouteillage, bouchon

to [burn] rubber

to accelerate very fast, particularly so that smoke can be seen coming out from the tires

démarrer sur les chapeaux de roue, partir en trombe

démarrer sur les chapeaux de roue, partir en trombe

Ex: The drag racer revved the engine and burned rubber as he sped down the track. 
to conk out

stop operating or functioning

tomber en panne, lâcher

tomber en panne, lâcher

to [eat] {one's} dust

to experience a massive defeat by someone in any competitive situation

se faire écraser, prendre une raclée

se faire écraser, prendre une raclée

Ex: The home team ate their rivals' dust in the final. 
fender-bender

a minor car accident that usually involves small damage to the vehicles

accrochage, petit accrochage

accrochage, petit accrochage

Ex: The fender-bender caused a small dent in the car's bumper. 
flat
flat
[nom]

a deflated pneumatic tire

pneu à plat, pneu dégonflé

pneu à plat, pneu dégonflé

to floor
to floor
[verbe]

to press the accelerator pedal down as far as it will go to make the vehicle go very fast

enfoncer, appuyer à fond

enfoncer, appuyer à fond

Ex: When the traffic light turned green, the driver floored the car and it sped away quickly. 
four-wheeler

a vehicle with four wheels, commonly referred to as a car, truck, or ATV

véhicule à quatre roues, quad

véhicule à quatre roues, quad

Ex: I just bought a new four-wheeler for off-road adventures. 
fuzz
fuzz
[nom]

a policeman

flic, poulet

flic, poulet

Ex: The fuzz pulled over the car on Main Street. 
to hop up
to hop up
[verbe]

to modify a vehicle or its engine to enhance its power or performance

modifier, améliorer

modifier, améliorer

Ex: The car enthusiast decided to hop his vintage car up for better acceleration. 
jalopy
jalopy
[nom]

an old, dilapidated car in poor condition

épave, tas de ferraille

épave, tas de ferraille

Ex: They drove around town in a beat-up jalopy during college. 
to jaywalk
to jaywalk
[verbe]

to cross a street or road without following the rules, typically by crossing outside of crosswalks or against traffic signals

traverser en dehors des passages piétons, traverser irrégulièrement

traverser en dehors des passages piétons, traverser irrégulièrement

jump-start

the act of starting a vehicle with a discharged battery using power from another vehicle's battery

démarrage par câble, démarrage avec des câbles

démarrage par câble, démarrage avec des câbles

Ex: He gave my car a jump-start when the battery died. 
to [leave] {sb/sth} in the dust

to defeat or outperform someone or something with ease

laisser loin derrière, dépasser facilement

laisser loin derrière, dépasser facilement

Ex: Their new software left the competition in the dust. 
officer
officer
[nom]

a member of the police

officier, policier, policière

officier, policier, policière

Ex: Every officer wears a badge for identification. 
to peel out

to leave a place swiftly in a vehicle, often making the wheels leave behind skid marks

démarrage en trombe, décoller rapidement

démarrage en trombe, décoller rapidement

Ex: At the stoplight, the impatient driver peeled out when it turned green, impressing onlookers with the screech of tires. 
(in|into) high gear

in a state that is extremely efficient or active

à plein régime, à pleine vitesse

à plein régime, à pleine vitesse

Ex: After the funding arrived, the project moved into high gear. 
pedal to the metal

used to say that a vehicle is driven with great speed

à fond, pied au plancher

à fond, pied au plancher

Ex: He went pedal to the metal as soon as the highway opened up. 
to rear-end

to hit the back of another vehicle with the front of your vehicle

emboutir, percuter par l'arrière

emboutir, percuter par l'arrière

Ex: He accidentally rear-ended the car in front of him at the stoplight. 
to rev up
to rev up
[verbe]

to increase the speed of an engine

augmenter les tours, accélérer le moteur

augmenter les tours, accélérer le moteur

Ex: The mechanic revved up the engine to test its performance. 
set of wheels

a car, particularly one that is very desirable or expensive

belle bagnole, voiture de rêve

belle bagnole, voiture de rêve

Ex: I just got my driver's license and can't wait to get my own set of wheels. 
spare tire

an extra tire kept in a vehicle for use in case one of the main tires becomes flat or damaged

roue de secours, pneu de rechange

roue de secours, pneu de rechange

Ex: He pulled over to change the flat tire with the spare tire from the trunk. 
to tank up
to tank up
[verbe]

to fill a vehicle or container with fuel or liquid

faire le plein, remplir le réservoir

faire le plein, remplir le réservoir

Ex: Yesterday, I tanked up my car before the long journey. 
wheel
wheel
[nom]

a handwheel that is used for steering

volant, roue de direction

volant, roue de direction

to beat
to beat
[verbe]

to surpass or outdo someone or something

surpasser, dépasser

surpasser, dépasser

Ex: The new model of the car beats the old one in terms of fuel efficiency. 
to [burn] rubber

to accelerate very fast, particularly so that smoke can be seen coming out from the tires

démarrer sur les chapeaux de roue, partir en trombe

démarrer sur les chapeaux de roue, partir en trombe

Ex: The drag racer revved the engine and burned rubber as he sped down the track. 
to check out

to closely examine to see if someone is suitable or something is true

vérifier

vérifier

Ex: The detective will check out the alibi to verify its legitimacy. 
clunker
clunker
[nom]

an old car that is in poor condition and often unreliable

épave, guimbarde

épave, guimbarde

Ex: He drove a clunker to work every day, its engine coughing and sputtering along the way. 
cop
cop
[nom]

someone who works as one of the members of a police force

flic

flic

Ex: The cop patrolled the neighborhood to ensure the safety of residents. 
jeez
jeez
[Interjection]

used to express frustration, annoyance, surprise, or impatience

Mon Dieu, Punaise

Mon Dieu, Punaise

Ex: Jeez! I can't believe how fast time flies. 
knock it off
knock it off
[Interjection]

used to express annoyance or frustration with someone's actions and to demand that they stop those actions

Arrête ça !, Ça suffit !

Arrête ça !, Ça suffit !

Ex: I've told you before, don't tease your sister. Knock it off! 
to [have] a lead foot

to have a tendency to drive very fast

rouler trop vite, avoir tendance à appuyer sur le champignon

rouler trop vite, avoir tendance à appuyer sur le champignon

Ex: My brother has a lead foot, so I never let him drive my car. 
pile
pile
[nom]

a noticeably huge number or amount of a particular thing

tas

tas

Ex: The team had a pile of work to finish before the deadline. 
so what
so what
[Interjection]

used to express indifference, dismissiveness, or lack of concern

et alors, et puis quoi

et alors, et puis quoi

Ex: You didn't like the movie? So what, everyone has different tastes. 
to soak
to soak
[verbe]

to impose high charges, taxes, or fees on something or someone

imposer des charges élevées, taxer lourdement

imposer des charges élevées, taxer lourdement

Ex: The government decided to soak the wealthy with higher taxes to fund the new project. 
on a dime
on a dime
[Phrase]

used to describe something, typically an action or change, that is done without any difficulty or hesitation

sans hésiter, au quart de tour

sans hésiter, au quart de tour

Ex: The team changed direction on a dime when the client rejected the first idea. 
sucker
sucker
[nom]

a gullible person who is easily cheated or taken advantage of

pigeon, naïf

pigeon, naïf

Ex: He bought that broken car for full price – what a sucker. 
to [take] a spin

to take a vehicle for a brief, leisurely ride

faire un petit tour, faire une petite balade

faire un petit tour, faire une petite balade

Ex: On a sunny afternoon, they decided to take a spin around the countryside in their convertible. 
to total
to total
[verbe]

to completely destroy a vehicle, making it beyond repair

détruire totalement, mettre hors d'usage

détruire totalement, mettre hors d'usage

Ex: The car was totaled in the high-speed crash. 
whoa
whoa
[Interjection]

used to express surprise, astonishment, or excitement

Ouah, Waouh

Ouah, Waouh

Ex: Whoa, that was unexpected! 
yeah
yeah
[Interjection]

used as another way of saying 'yes'

ouais

ouais

Ex: Yeah, I agree with you on that point. 
to broadside

collide with the broad side of

heurter de plein fouet, entrer en collision avec le côté large de

heurter de plein fouet, entrer en collision avec le côté large de

blowout
blowout
[nom]

a large and lavish feast, often with excessive food and drink

festin, banquet

festin, banquet

Ex: We had a huge Thanksgiving blowout with turkey, stuffing, and endless desserts. 
to [corner] like it [is] on rails

to navigate a turn or curve with exceptional control, stability, and precision, as if the vehicle were following a set path or track

Ex: The car corners like it's on rails on every tight turn. 
to jinx
to jinx
[verbe]

cast a spell over someone or something; put a hex on someone or something

jeter un sort à quelqu'un ou quelque chose, ensorceler quelqu'un ou quelque chose

jeter un sort à quelqu'un ou quelque chose, ensorceler quelqu'un ou quelque chose

(punch|floor) it
punch it
[Interjection]

used to tell someone to accelerate or speed up quickly, typically by pressing the accelerator in a vehicle

Allez,  appuie dessus !

Allez, appuie dessus !

Ex: Come on, punch it! We need to get to the airport faster! 
to [run] a red light

to drive through an intersection when the traffic light is red, typically in violation of traffic laws

Ex: The driver ran a red light and nearly caused an accident. 
slammer
slammer
[nom]

a place where individuals are confined as punishment for committing crimes

taule, prison

taule, prison

Ex: After getting caught stealing a car, he was sent straight to the slammer. 
to [blow] a tire

to suddenly and unexpectedly lose air in a tire, usually due to a puncture, excessive wear, or a burst, causing a vehicle to become difficult or unsafe to drive

Ex: She blew a tire on the highway and had to pull over immediately. 
dashboard

the panel placed inside a vehicle, below the glass at the front, that is facing the driver or pilot and contains most of the controls and switches

tableau de bord, planche de bord

tableau de bord, planche de bord

Ex: The dashboard lights flickered when the engine started. 
deuce coupe

a small, high-performance automobile designed to seat only two people, often referring to classic hot rods, particularly the 1932 Ford Coupe, which was popular in early American car culture

une deuce coupe, une voiture de performance à deux places

une deuce coupe, une voiture de performance à deux places

Ex: He restored a vintage deuce coupe from the 1930s and took it to car shows. 
flatfoot

a member of a law enforcement agency responsible for maintaining public order, preventing and investigating crimes, and enforcing laws within a given jurisdiction

policier, agent de police

policier, agent de police

Ex: The police officer directed traffic after the accident. 
(punch|floor) it
punch it
[Interjection]

used to tell someone to accelerate or speed up quickly, typically by pressing the accelerator in a vehicle

Allez,  appuie dessus !

Allez, appuie dessus !

Ex: Come on, punch it! We need to get to the airport faster! 
fuzz-buster

a device, typically a radar detector, used in vehicles to detect police radar signals, helping drivers avoid speeding tickets

détecteur de radar, avertisseur de radar

détecteur de radar, avertisseur de radar

Ex: He installed a fuzz-buster in his car to avoid getting caught by speed traps. 
head-on collision

a traffic accident where two vehicles hit each other directly from the front

collision frontale, choc frontal

collision frontale, choc frontal

Ex: The head-on collision between the two cars caused a major traffic jam on the highway. 
high rider

a vehicle, especially a car or truck, that is modified to have a raised suspension, resulting in a higher ride height than standard vehicles

véhicule surélevé, voiture surélevée

véhicule surélevé, voiture surélevée

Ex: He’s driving a high rider now, making it easier to see over other cars. 
to [jam|slam] (on|) the [brake]

to suddenly or forcefully apply the brakes of a vehicle, often to avoid an accident or stop abruptly

Ex: I had to jam the brakes when the car in front of me suddenly stopped. 
lemon
lemon
[nom]

a flawed or defective item, especially referring to an unsatisfactory automobile

citron, bombe

citron, bombe

Ex: He realized he had bought a lemon when the car broke down just a week after purchase. 
to [light] it up

to make something more energetic, exciting, or vibrant

Ex: The DJ is about to light it up with his new remix. 
loaded
loaded
[Adjectif]

(of a vehicle) equipped with a variety of additional features or accessories, such as a premium sound system, leather seats, or advanced technology

équipé, chargé

équipé, chargé

Ex: This car is loaded with all the latest tech features. 
lowrider

a car that has been modified to sit lower to the ground, often with customized features

une voiture modifiée pour être plus basse au sol, un véhicule surbaissé personnalisé

une voiture modifiée pour être plus basse au sol, un véhicule surbaissé personnalisé

Ex: He rolled up in his lowrider, bouncing to the music. 
to [nail] the breaks

to suddenly and forcefully apply the brakes in a vehicle, often causing the car to stop abruptly

Ex: He had to nail the brakes when the car in front of him stopped unexpectedly. 
pile-up
pile-up
[nom]

a collision involving multiple vehicles, often caused by poor visibility or sudden braking

carambolage, pile-up

carambolage, pile-up

Ex: The highway was closed due to a massive pile-up involving ten cars during rush hour. 
to [pop] the clutch

to quickly release the clutch in a manual transmission vehicle, typically when starting the engine or attempting to shift gears

Ex: To get the old car started, you had to pop the clutch on a cold morning. 
rattletrap

a vehicle, typically an old or poorly maintained one, that makes a lot of noise or rattles due to its condition. Often used to describe a car in poor shape

tacot, guimbarde

tacot, guimbarde

Ex: That old rattletrap barely made it up the hill, and the engine sounded like it might fall apart at any moment. 
to soup up
to soup up
[verbe]

to modify a vehicle or its engine to enhance its power or performance

préparer, booster

préparer, booster

Ex: The garage offers services for souping up trucks to improve towing capacity. 
to [spin] doughnuts

to perform a driving maneuver where the vehicle spins in tight circles, typically on its rear tires, often creating smoke from the tires. It is commonly associated with reckless or show-off driving

Ex: He loves to spin doughnuts in the parking lot The car started spinning doughnuts on the icy road, narrowly missing the sidewalk.whenever he gets the chance. 
to strip
to strip
[verbe]

to clear out or empty a space of its contents

dépouiller, vider

dépouiller, vider

Ex: Before selling the house, they stripped the bedrooms of their beds, dressers, and nightstands. 
to tail
to tail
[verbe]

to drive closely behind another car, typically in a way that may be considered aggressive or dangerous

coller, suivre de près

coller, suivre de près

Ex: He was tailing the car in front of him so closely that it made the driver nervous. 
wheelie
wheelie
[nom]

a maneuver in which a vehicle is temporarily balanced on its back two wheels, with the front wheels lifted off the ground

roue arrière, cabrage

roue arrière, cabrage

Ex: He pulled off a wheelie on his bike, impressing everyone at the park. 
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