at a rate of knots
expression · Idiom / expression C1
Plain meaning
very quickly
Exam-register meaning
In exam reading or discussion, this expression signals very quickly rather than a literal meaning.
In context
naturalThe phrase “at a rate of knots” fitted the situation perfectly.
examIn higher-level reading passages, “at a rate of knots” may be used to show very quickly.
Common collocations
at a rate of knotsuse “at a rate of knots” in contextthe expression “at a rate of knots”
Watch out
Do not translate “at a rate of knots” word-for-word; learn it as a fixed expression and check whether it is suitable for formal writing.