In Swedish, there is an expression that goes "make speed". It is used for example when a child asks a parent to push the swing which the child sits upon. Or if a child sits in a soapbox and is being pushed forward by a parent, the parent is "making speed". The expression doesn´t just mean to "start the motion", but also to maintain it for an unknown period of time.
So, if I ask someone in Swedish: "Can you make speed?" that person will understand what I want him or her to help me with. But I am not sure it sounds good in English.
Here are some examples in sentences:
If you can imagine a giant with lungs so strong that he could blow on a swing to make it move the following sentence could be used in swedish: "He did not push the swing, but "made speed" by blowing at it"
Another example: Imagine a merrygoround which you put in motion by treading on pedals conected to it. Then I could say: "You do not "make speed" by pushing it, you have to use the pedals"
Or lets say I have been "making speed" all day. I have pushed a swing, pulled a soapbox car, used my lungs to propell something into motion etc. Finally I get tired of it and say: "Why is it always I who have to "make speed" and not any of the others?"
What can you say in English that corresponds to this expression?