slow down

present singular third person slows down · participle present slowing down · participle past slowed down · past slowed down

1. intransitiveTo decelerate.

   When approaching a bend in the road, slow down, and speed up after leaving it.

   3 more examples

   Crossing stations on single lines are laid out so that one line has a straight run through, and is signalled in each direction, avoiding the need to slow down to take the turnout into the loop.

   1954 August, J. B. Snell, “The New Zealand Government Railways—2”, in Railway Magazine, page 562

   When the long, hot journey drew to its end and the train slowed down for the last time, there was a stir in Jessamy’s carriage.

   1967, Barbara Sleigh, Jessamy, Sevenoaks, Kent: Bloomsbury, published 1993, →ISBN, page 7

   Then came the war... and everything slowed down.

   2021 October 6, Greg Morse, “A need for speed and the drive for 125”, in RAIL, number 941, page 48

   Synonyms: slow up, decelerate, cumber, foreslow, put the brakes on, rein in, retard, slow

2. transitiveTo reduce the velocity, speed, or tempo of something.

   With a comfortable lead, the football team slowed down the tempo of the game.

   4 more examples

   A "passenger/goods" cock is provided in each cab, by which, when placed in the "goods" position, the normal proportional brake application is slowed down. This is for use when hauling an unbraked or partially braked train, and prevents the unbraked stock from running into the locomotive or braked portion of the train with violence.

   1958 September 28, “Swindon's First Main-Line Diesel Locomotive”, in Railway Magazine, page 603

   Oh, run away / You better not hesitate / Better hurry, don't wait now / Run away / Before you find it's too late / 'Cause you know how love slows you down

   1977, Loleatta Holloway, “Runaway”, in Magic Journey

   A “moving platform” scheme[…]is more technologically ambitious than maglev trains even though it relies on conventional rails.[…]This set-up solves several problems […]. Stopping high-speed trains wastes energy and time, so why not simply slow them down enough for a moving platform to pull alongside?

   2013 June 1, “Ideas coming down the track”, in The Economist, volume 407, number 8838, page 13 (Technology Quarterly)

   The elimination of vacuum-braked wagons would be slowed down, and the Western Region's flirtation with diesel-hydraulic locomotives was questioned.

   2023 March 8, Howard Johnston, “Was Marples the real railway wrecker?”, in RAIL, number 978, page 52

   Synonyms: retard

3. figurativelyintransitivetransitiveTo become less intense, enthusiastic, etc., usually with a positive connotation, implying that one is stripped of exaggerated or unnecessary eagerness.

   Whoa, slow down there, bucko. Everyone will get a chance. Be patient.