steam, v.² — Green’s Dictionary of Slang

steam v.²

also steam away, steam on, steam up

1. to work vigorously, to make great progress.

1861		letter in Silber & Sievens Yankee Correspondence (1996) 56: I’ve been steaming on here at what is sometimes termed ‘a great grist’.
1922		‘The Ark’ in T.W. Talley Negro Folk Rhymes 45: An’ den jes to amuse hisse’f, / He steamed a board an’ bent it, Son.
1937		J. Tully Bruiser 26: I can steam you two up again – winner to meet Kid Pueblo – that’ll go good.
1948		P. Kavanagh Tarry Flynn (1965) 11: O Lord! Aggie left here to go to Mass at five minutes to eight and there’s that man still steaming away at the fag like a railway engine.

2. to go fast in a vehicle.

1947		N. Marsh Final Curtain (1958) 173: Milly [...] and Dessy steaming up the stairs.
1966		H.S. Thompson Hell’s Angels (1967) 104: It’s when your bike starts sliding when you steam into a curve at seventy or eighty.
2001		N. Barlay Hooky Gear 210: I turn back an stare right at the van. Its still steamin at 50 plus.
2001		K. Sampson Outlaws (ms.) 1: Little pricks [...] driving like cunts and expecting decent people to move aside so’s they can steam past.

3. (UK Und.) to grab (and beat up).

2007

N. ‘Razor’ Smith Raiders 131: Having been steamed by a dozen screws and coppers when he was about twenty yards from freedom.

4. to move at speed.

2020		G. Armstrong Young Team 3: The troops wur steamin, launchin themselves oot the broken windaes.
2021		L. McInerney Rules of Revelation 235: She steamed around the pillar at the end of the wall.

5. see steam in

steam in (v.)

1. (also steam, steam up) to arrive in an energetic manner.

1942		R. Chandler High Window 207: You figured she had missed the doubloon and you came steaming up to my office and tried to pump me.
1956		‘Charles Raven’ Und. Nights 9: Who should steam in [...] but Sapphire Harris the Creep.
1961		H.S. Thompson letter 4 Aug. in Proud Highway (1997) 281: Semonin is due soon, steaming in from Aspen.
1989		in G. Tremlett Little Legs 128: The Old Bill came steaming in through the door.
1992		in R. Graef Living Dangerously 222: He steamed into Sherborne House out of breath.
2000		Indep. Rev. 14 Mar. 1: Then you steam in with your £5 each way on the odds-on favourite.
2004		C. Brookmyre Be My Enemy 114: Emily steamed in with the punchline.

2. (also steam into) to attack; to commit oneself completely, esp. in a fight.

1962		R. Cook Crust on its Uppers 144: It was time to steam in.
1977		G.F. Newman Villain’s Tale 82: ‘It would have been down to a right nicking if we had steamed in there tonight, Jack,’ Billy Braden added.
1999		Guardian Guide 17–23 July 28: I like a good punch-up, but only if I can be the last one steaming in.
2004		N. ‘Razor’ Smith A Few Kind Words and a Loaded Gun 69: It was fucking Tony who steamed into him.
2011		J.J. Connolly Viva La Madness 249: Never knowing if a team of Venezuelans ain’t gonna come steaming in and cut his bollocks off.

steam into (v.)

to approach, e.g. sexually.

2000

J.J. Connolly Layer Cake 69: To steam into Tammy would be more than tricky cos it’s all about protocol with these guys.

steam the socks off (v.)