to put the brakes on
11
4.3
- phrasal verb
:
frenar
- The manager decided to put the brakes on the project until further evaluations were completed.
- put the brakes on spending
- put the brakes on growth
- put the brakes on development
That herpes puts the brakes on this this process too.
- That herpes puts the brakes on this this process too.
- Like maybe that really is a racist thing to do and maybe we really should be putting the brakes on it.
- Well, they're just, they just put the brakes on doing radical stuff that is life changing and irreversible to children.
- If you could put the brakes on that aging wheel, you would.
Examples
-
Indiana should take the opportunity to put the brakes on its involvement and regain control of its standards and assessments.
Blog text (11) -
The EPA's proposed rule on greenhouse gas emissions issued Tuesday effectively puts the brakes on new coal-fired generation for the foreseeable future.
Blog text (8) -
Maybe we should put the brakes on?
-
This train's moving too fast for you to put the brakes on.
-
Just put the brakes on a little sooner.
-
I'm not gonna put the brakes on my career now.
-
Put the brakes on it or I will.
-
There will be pressure to achieve this, and national and professional interests will, of course, continue to put the brakes on this endeavor.
Academic text (1999) -
Then we can start to put the brakes on the downhill slide we are in now.
Blog text (14) -
It seems like the city should put the brakes on any overdevelopment of waterfront property.
Blog text (7)
Synonyms
∞
1.0
To stop an activity or end a habit
687
1.4
To move or act more slowly
620
3.8
To stop something suddenly before it is finished
324
3.6
To stop or come to an end
206
2.4
To stop moving or make something stop moving
187
3.2
Stop someone or something from moving forward
131
3.0
To make something stop completely
93
5.6
To stop a plan or activity before it finishes, often because of problems
87
5.5
To stop something from going on by removing support like money
83
2.6
Stop something from working by using a switch or valve
62
3.0
To end something so it no longer happens
58
4.2
To stop something that is happening or being given
52
6.3
To make something shorter or less than planned
50
3.2
To stop something suddenly before it is finished, for example a talk or relationship
13
5.3
Take strong action to stop something bad or illegal
11
5.8
To delay a plan or project for a while
10
5.5
To slow down
9
6.4
To stop something from continuing or becoming known
6
6.4
To stop a supply by blocking its source or flow
5
7.5
To reduce or control how much of something is allowed
1
3.6
End something completely so it does not continue
To stop a meeting or discussion
Antonyms
How Slow
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning 'to slow down or put a stop to' is directly derivable from combining 'put' (apply) with 'brake(s)' (a device or factor that slows progress) and the particle 'on' (apply to). This vehicle-braking metaphor is common cross-linguistically and follows a transparent compositional pattern, so a B1 learner who knows the constituent words is likely to infer the MWE's meaning.
Etymology
The phrase put the brakes on comes from driving: when you press the brakes you make a car slow down or stop. So, to put the brakes on something means 'to slow down' or 'stop' an activity or plan.