slow up
(redirected from slowed one up)slow up
1. To decrease in speed. Would you please slow up a little, I can't keep up with you! Once he slowed up and started speaking clearly, I finally understood what he was talking about.
2. To cause, compel, or force someone or something to decrease in speed. A noun or pronoun can be used between "slow" and "up" in this use. You really should slow the engine up before shifting gears like that. We need to try to slow up their linebacker, or he's going to keep sacking our quarterback all day long.
3. To decrease in frequency, intensity, or activity. She's got too much going on at the moment, between work and the kids. She needs to slow up or she's going to have a heart attack! The company announced they were slowing up production after the lukewarm response to the latest product.
4. To cause, compel, or force someone or something to decrease in frequency, intensity, or activity. A noun or pronoun can be used between "slow" and "up" in this use. The government plans to slow their infrastructure investments up over the next year to help balance the federal budget. My arthritis has really started slowing me up lately.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2015 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
slow someone or something up
and slow someone or something downto cause someone or something to reduce speed. I'm in a hurry. Don't try to slow me down. Please slow up the train. There are sheep near the track.
slow up
to go slower; to reduce speed in order for someone or something to catch up. slow up a little! I can't keep up with you! Please slow up. I can't follow your lecture when you talk so fast.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
slow up
Slacken or cause to slacken in speed, as in The train slowed up as it approached the curve, or Come on, you're slowing me up. [Late 1800s] Also see slow down, def. 1.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
slow up
v.
1. To delay someone or something; retard someone or something: Bad weather slowed up the project. The accident on the freeway slowed us up.
2. To move, work, or happen at a slower rate: Traffic slows up where the two freeways converge.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs. Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.