English Dictionary

put the brakes on

verb

(idiomatic, transitive) To stop (an event, action, or process) or to slow it down. / (idiomatic, intransitive) To cease to perform one's current activity or to decrease one's level of activity.

He quickly put the brakes on the project when he realized it was not feasible.

意味（1）

(idiomatic, transitive) To stop (an event, action, or process) or to slow it down.

[T]he fight I saw that day made the others look like a young ladies' quadrille. . . . [Y]ou could no more separate them two than you could put the brakes on a blame earthquake.

意味（2）

(idiomatic, intransitive) To cease to perform one's current activity or to decrease one's level of activity.

It would have been so easy for him to have the kids rolling on the floor, doubled up with laughter. So he had to put the brakes on at times.