Energy Transition: Greening Fossil Fuel Idioms

Decarbonizing Our Idioms

We’re in the midst of the greatest transition in energy history — shifting from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources like solar, wind, and geothermal. With that shift a new need has arisen, replacing many old fossil fuel idioms with newer, greener, more progressive versions. Without any further adieu, here’s our list of new climate idioms for you to use in your daily life. 

Full steam ahead → Sunny day, all rays

Now we’re cooking with gas → Now we’re cooking with induction 

Black gold → Green gold (self explanatory!)

Gaslight → Hydrolie (We know this idiom isn’t related to fossil fuels and stems from the eponymous 1944 film Gaslight, but we figured we’d include it anyways) 

Blow Off Steam → Discharge Some Batteries

I’m out of gas (tired/exhausted) → I’m winded. (Seriously, these write themselves!)

Canary in a coal mine → Windchime on a wind farm

Firing on all cylinders → Spinning like an offshore turbine

Running on Fumes → Running on clouds

Pour gasoline on the fire → Put some heat in those pumps

Burning the midnight oil → Seizing the moonlight

Fill up the tank → Charge up the battery

Coal in your stocking → This one can stay, we can all agree coal sucks (as a gift and fuel source).

Have some others to contribute? Did we miss a really obvious one? Let us know!