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Put the Brakes On

What Does "Put the Brakes On" Mean?

homeidiomsPut the Brakes On
"Put the brakes on" is an English idiom. It means "to slow down or stop the progress or development of something, often to exercise caution or prevent negative consequences."

Examples in Sentences

Here are three examples of the idiom "put the brakes on" used in a sentence:
  • The company decided to put the brakes on the expansion plan due to financial uncertainties.
  • She urged him to put the brakes on his reckless spending before it led to financial problems.
  • Putting the brakes on can sometimes be necessary to evaluate decisions and make informed choices.
meaning for put the brakes on

What Is an Idiom?

An idiom is a commonly used expression whose meaning does not relate to the literal meaning of its words. In other words, if you were to translate "Put the Brakes On" word for word, there is no guarantee the translation would help you to understand the meaning.

An idiom often includes a cultural or historical context that makes it difficult for non-native English speakers to understand. A phrase is classified as an idiom when a direct translation of the words does not reveal the meaning. Most idioms rely on shared knowledge or experiences known only to a specific community.

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