brake (redirected from brake ferns)

hit the brakes 

1. Lit. to step on a vehicle's brakes hard and fast. I came around the curve too fast and had to hit the brakes immediately.

2. Fig. to stop [something]. The project seemed to be getting nowhere so we hit the brakes before too much more money was spent.

See also: hit

jam the brakes on

to press down hard on a vehicle's brakes. Alice jammed the brakes on and the car skidded all over the place. She jammed on the brakes.

See also: jam

put the brakes on someone

Fig. to block someone's activities; to cause someone to stop doing something. (Based on put the brakes on something.) The boss put the brakes on Gerald, who was trying too aggressively to get promoted. We are going to have to put the brakes on you if you make any more difficulties.

See also: put

put the brakes on something

to halt or impede some process. The manager had to put the brakes on the Wilson project due to lack of funds. We will put the brakes on this project because it is costing too much money.

See also: put

slam the brakes on

to push on a vehicle's brakes suddenly and hard. (The can be replaced by a possessive pronoun.) The driver in front of me slammed her brakes on and I nearly ran into her. Don't slam on your brakes when the road is wet.

See also: slam

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put the brakes on

to stop an activity The government has put the brakes on any further spending.

See also: put

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hit the brakes

to suddenly slow down or stop a vehicle Maggie hit the brakes, making her car go out of control.

See also: hit

put the brakes on somebody/something

to slow or stop the progress of someone or something People who live here want to put the brakes on plans to build so many new houses. More than a foot of snow on the ground put the brakes on travel in the region.

See also: put