fast-track
UK[ˈfɑːst træk]US[ˈfæst træk]
v
To speed up the process or progress of something, especially by using special procedures.
adj
Relating to or involving a fast or accelerated process.
n
A route or method that allows faster progress than usual.
Morpheme Breakdown
fast
track
fast
quick
track
path
Etymology
The compound "fast-track" is a modern metaphorical construction from the mid-20th century. It combines "fast", an English word whose core meaning evolved from "secure" to "rapid", with "track", a word for a path or course. Literally, it means a "quick path". The term originated in the context of railroads, referring to an express line that bypasses slower routes. Its logic is transparent: just as a fast train track enables quicker travel, a "fast-track" procedure accelerates administrative, developmental, or career processes, bypassing usual delays. This compound perfectly illustrates how English creates vivid, concrete metaphors for abstract concepts of efficiency and prioritization.
Analysis
Structure: fast (quick) + track (path)
- fast: From Old English fæst meaning "firmly fixed, steadfast, secure". Its sense of "quick, rapid" developed in Middle English from the idea of being "firmly in place" and thus "close, near", leading to "close in pursuit" and finally "rapid".
- track: From Middle English trak, likely from Old French trac meaning "path, track, trace", of uncertain origin, possibly Germanic. It denotes a path or course laid out.
Examples
The government plans to fast-track the approval for the new vaccine.
She was on the fast-track to a senior management position.
The bill was put on a fast-track schedule to pass before the recess.