step/move up a gear idiom UK informal
（尤指体育运动中）大有转机，开始有很大起色
to start to do something better, especially in sports, in a way that is easy to see
After a disappointing first half, United moved up a gear and took control of the game. 上半场联队表现令人失望，但此后却表现出色，掌控了比赛的主动权。