I say it a little differently.
Torque is the measure of how much work an engine can do.
HP is the rate that it can do that work at.
So a 1200 ft-lbs big rig diesel engine only makes 300 HP because it doesn't turn very fast, yet that engine can haul 80,000 lbs up and over the Continental Divide. It just won't do it very fast.
Contrast: an 18,000 RPM, ~700 HP F1 engine. Since it only makes ~200 ft-lbs it isn't going to be doing much work, at least not in comparison to the big rig, but that tiny, light car is sure gonna zip around!