slam the brake(s) on

slam the brake(s) on

1. Literally, to quickly press on a vehicle's brakes to slow down or stop. He slammed the brakes on when he saw the child running into the street. You risk doing your car serious damage if you slam the brake on without shifting down the gears.

2. By extension, to slow down or stop something one is doing. In this usage, the thing being stopped can be stated after "on." We had to slam the brakes on development when we found out the investors were pulling out.

See also: on, slam

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

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: brake, on, slam

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.