slow down

Meaning

This phrase means to decrease speed, whether driving, walking, speaking, or working. It can also be used figuratively to tell someone to relax, take a break, and not work so hard.

Examples

• Please slow down, you are driving way too fast.

  Please slow down, you are driving way too fast.

• Can you slow down a bit? I can't understand what you're saying.

  Can you slow down a bit? I can't understand what you're saying.

• You need to slow down and enjoy your life more.

  You need to slow down and enjoy your life more.

• The police officer told the driver to slow down.

  The police officer told the driver to slow down.

• Slow down! There is ice on the road ahead.

  Slow down! There is ice on the road ahead.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ Please slow down your car.

  ✓ Please slow down.

  While you can say 'slow down the car,' it is much more natural to just say 'slow down' when speaking directly to the driver.

• ✗ Speak more slow down.

  ✓ Please slow down.

  'Slow down' is already a verb phrase meaning to go slower. Do not mix it with comparative adverbs like 'more slow'.

Related Expressions

Practice

• You are speaking too fast. Please ___.

  💡 Reduce your speaking speed.

  Show answer

  slow down

• The sign says to ___ near the school.

  💡 Drivers should reduce their speed.

  Show answer

  slow down