Fender bender: A car accident that causes minimal damage,usually only to the front or back bumpers.

To barrel out of somewhere: To leave somewhere very quickly, usually with little attention to your surroundings. Notice that you may also hear barrel up, barrel down, barrel along, barrel in, etc.

To ride someone’s tail: To follow someone at an uncomfortably close or dangerous distance. Notice that this expression doesn’t necessarily have to be used for driving only.

To rubberneck: To drive slowly past the scene of an accident while turning your neck to see what happened.

To speed up: To accelerate.

To cut someone off: To pass in front of someone very closely andprevent them from moving ahead.

To sideswipe someone: To hit someone with the side edge of something.

To come up from behind: To approach someone from behind. Notice that you can also say come up from the side, come up from below, etc.

Blind spot: A part of someone’s field of vision that is obstructed, so that things in this area cannot be seen.

To slam on the brakes: To press the brake pedal in a car forcefullyand suddenly.

To nail someone: To hit or do damage to someone.

To pull over: To drive one’s car to the side of the road in order to stop.

To swap information: To exchange names, phone numbers, license plate numbers, and insurance company information, especially after a car accident.

Like a bat out of hell: Moving in a fast and almost crazy manner.

Hit and run: A car accident where the person responsible for the accident leaves the scene before the police arrive.

To take off: To leave quickly.

To be looking at: To be in a position to expect something.

To track someone down: To find someone by following clues.

To give someone a piece of your mind: To give someone your opinion about him or her or something he or she has done. Usually it is a negative and harshly critical opinion.

To lose sleep over something: To worry about something. To feel upset or guilty about something.

To take someone to the cleaners: To fight for economic compensation until the other person has no more money left.

To count your chickens before they hatch: To depend on a beneficial or positive future event as if it were certain, even though it may not happen.

To bark up the wrong tree: To be seeking something from the wrong source. To be asking for something from a source that cannot or will not provide it.

To be caught up in something: To be involved in something wrong, illegal, or unethical.

To total a car: To inflict damages that, if repaired, would cost more than the value of the car.

To sit tight: To wait, to be patient.