outdated metaphors

[Robert S. Wachal]

In today's NYTimes an article on technospeak lists some outdated metaphors:

Earlier technological developments left their mark on the language. The
          railroads gave rise to expressions like "going off the rails" and
"getting
          sidetracked"; the steam engine produced "working up a head of steam"
          and "full steam ahead"; and the automobile left us with "pedal to
the
          metal," "firing on all cylinders" and "eatin' concrete."