[1] It is commonly believed that the term originated from first being used at the Macau Grand Prix during the 1960s, possibly from contact with the Portuguese expression «dá-lhe gás»,[2] a common cheer by supporters urging the driver to "put more oil into it/step on the gas" during the racing competition to encourage them to speed/accelerate faster.

The term is popularly used for colloquial conversations in Chinese due to its linguistic flexibility in being utilizable in various situations and has been described as an "all purpose cheer.

[8] The term was used as a "rallying cry" and phrase for support during the 2014 Umbrella Movement and the 2019–20 Hong Kong protests.

was a common expression of solidarity throughout social and news media but also in public with the city which went under lockdown.

", through of their windows to neighbours with many joining in to the chorus to echo across the high-rise buildings of the city.

[13] The phrase gained attention in 2021 when Saturday Night Live alumni Bowen Yang used it in his Weekend Update segment[14] to react to the recent surge in anti-Asian hate crimes in America.

The comedian told audiences to "fuel up" (his translation of the cheer) and do more for Asian Americans.