hand brake
1
2.0
- noun
- /hænd breɪk/
- UK
:
freno de mano
- He brought the truck to a stop ten feet from the first trees, shifted into neutral, put on the hand brake, and turned on his high beams.
- pull the hand brake
- put on the hand brake
- rear hand brake
And I got on it and I didn't know about the hand brakes.
- And I got on it and I didn't know about the hand brakes.
Examples
-
When descending a steep hill, applying the hand brake can add extra security to your parked car.
-
Get the hand brake for me, would you, darling?
-
Reach down and pull the hand brake.
-
Pull the hand brake for me.
-
The hand brake was still set.
Fiction book (1998) -
He released the hand brake.
Fiction book (1997) -
He put on the hand brake, turned the engine off, and we sat in his car in the overcast dark of the field.
Fiction book (1998) -
Before getting out of the car, always remember to pull the hand brake to prevent it from rolling.
-
To ensure the vehicle does not move, make sure to engage the hand brake after parking.
Synonyms
8
2.7
A hand brake that holds a parked car or stops it in an emergency
6
2.3
A lever or pedal that keeps a car from moving when you leave it
Antonyms
How Manual
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning 'a brake operated by hand' is directly and compositionally derived from 'hand' + 'brake' — the compound denotes a brake associated with manual operation. This noun-noun formation is a common, cross-linguistic pattern, so a B1 learner who knows both words will readily infer the intended meaning.
Etymology
Hand brake comes from the simple image of a brake you use with your hand, a handle you pull to stop a parked car from rolling. That's why it means 'a brake operated by hand' or 'to keep the car still'.