on demand, on request, to order

to gather speed, to pick up speed, to gain speed

to gain height, to go up / to get an overview, to get some distance, to take a step back, to put things into perspective

(informal) to jinx, to bring bad luck, to bring misfortune, to be unlucky

headfirst, headlong

adrift / adrift

(informal, figuratively) to know the score; to know the drill

(informal, figuratively) to know the score; to know the drill

(figuratively) to ask for the moon, to ask the impossible

on the defensive, on the back foot