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Can one say 'throttle up'? The OED only lists 'throttle down':

(throttle back or down) reduce the power of an engine or vehicle by use of the throttle.

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3 Answers

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Looking at COCA search results, it doesn't seem to be as common as throttle back but but it is used. Here are some examples:

Endeavour go ahead, throttle up.
Fox (2009) Space Shuttle Launch

GIBBS # Throttle up. Throttle up!
Airforce One (film, Beacon Pictures 1997)

As we throttle up, gaining elevation, the scenery changes as quickly as the canyon ride at Disneyland.
Get Your Motor Running, Forbes (2001)

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It's not as common as throttle back because throttle up came first. Technically, throttle back is an oxymoron, but the meaning is nevertheless clear. – MετάEd Jun 22 '12 at 22:22
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Yes, when using throttle to mean restrict, throttle back seems to be oxymoronic, however if you consider the actual movement of the throttle lever in an airplane, throttle back means 'pull the throttle lever back' which decreases power available/engine speed. – Jim Jun 23 '12 at 0:20
up vote 5 down vote

I think I will argue that "Throttle up" does not mean "to increase the speed of the vehicle" despite what MacMillan might say. Throttle up definitely means to increase the flow of fuel to the engine, but whether that increase in fuel flow results in an increase in speed is a separate issue- The brakes might still be applied for example.

This is typical in aircraft operations on short runways- the pilot will want to be developing maximum power/thrust prior to starting to move down the runway so he will "throttle up" with the brakes held and only release the brakes once full power has been achieved.

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up vote 2 down vote

MacMillan Dictionary defines throttle up as to increase the speed of a vehicle by increasing the supply of fuel to the engine (PHRASAL VERB [INTRANSITIVE]).

So, you can definitely say it with the meaning "accelerate."

See the following Ngram:

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