"Stepping on the gas, Captain!," as [circled letters] might say

FULLTHRUSTERS

["Here’s a helpful hint for your crossword:\n\n*\"Command to go at maximum speed, often heard on the bridge of a starship.\"*\n\nThis hint:\n- Keeps the *Star Trek* connection but makes it more explicit.\n- Focuses on the \"maximum speed\" aspect without repeating \"stepping on the gas.\"\n- Avoids giving away the exact phrasing of the answer while guiding the solver toward the idea of propulsion or acceleration in a sci-fi context."]

This clue is a playful combination of a common phrase and a cultural reference to *Star Trek*. 1. **"Stepping on the gas"** is a colloquial expression meaning to accelerate or go faster. In a spaceship context, this translates to increasing speed, often by engaging thrusters at full power. 2. **"Captain!"** hints at a commanding officer in a sci-fi setting, particularly *Star Trek*, where the captain (like Kirk or Picard) might order the crew to increase speed. 3. The phrase **"Full thrusters"** is a direct command to maximize propulsion, fitting the idea of "stepping on the gas." The answer is written as **"FULLTHRUSTERS"** (one word) to match crossword conventions. 4. The mention of **[circled letters]** suggests that the answer might be derived from or highlighted in some way within the puzzle (e.g., letters circled in the grid to spell out the answer). Thus, the clue cleverly merges everyday language with *Star Trek* terminology to lead to the answer.