ride the brakes

verb

To apply the brakes excessively, such that their working life will be shortened; most especially, to keep one's foot or hand on the brake pedal or lever even when no braking is needed.

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Meanings

verbride the brakes (third-person singular simple present rides the brakes, present participle riding the brakes, simple past rode the brakes, past participle ridden the brakes)

present singular third person rides the brakes · participle present riding the brakes · past rode the brakes · participle past ridden the brakes

  1. To apply the brakes excessively, such that their working life will be shortened; most especially, to keep one's foot or hand on the brake pedal or lever even when no braking is needed.
Cite this entry
APA

ride the brakes. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/ride%20the%20brakes

MLA

“ride the brakes.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/ride%20the%20brakes. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “ride the brakes,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/ride%20the%20brakes.

Source: ride the brakes on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.