COOK WITH GAS
Meaning- to be working fast, getting things done or as ELO says... Takin' Care Of Business
Origin- Although common place today, gas stoves have not always been the norm. Gas stoves started to be available in the 1800's, and until that time wood stoves were the standard.
Now you're "cooking with gas" comes from an old advertisement for gas stoves. The phrase suggests that gas is faster, easier, cleaner, better than cooking with wood.
What it means to me- I have a friend that I helped lay a Bamboo floor for last week. He has a twelve sided house up at lake Hartwell. TWELVE SIDED HOUSE!!!!! I have laid floors in my time, but this place is like squaring a circle. We had a good time and busted it out in 3 days. Three very long days. He kept using the phrase "WE ARE COOKING WITH GAS!!!" so this idiom spoke to me this time.
A funny thing happened while I was there...
At one point, my friend made us burgers on the grill. I was really tired and hungry at this point. I got my bun all condimented up and ready for the burger. I sit down and commence devouring my sandwich only to almost finish without ever putting the actual burger on the bread.
I was really tired. The funny thing was was that my friend kept talking about how lean the meat was and I kept agreeing with him even though I wasn't eating it.
ha