Word of the Day
15 August 2026
angel gear
The neutral gear when used while a vehicle is moving, especially when it is used to freewheel so as to save fuel or to coast downhill faster than a vehicle can go in gear.
Why this one
Coasting in neutral to save fuel. The name carries its own warning about how much control you give up doing it.
In use
Caught him dropping into angel gear on the long hill down to the yard, and I had a word: no engine braking, no second chances with a full trailer.
Written by our editors to show how the term is used, not a recorded quotation.Sources
- Definition sourceWiktionary
- Supporting sourceAngel gearDictionary.com