to put the brakes on
01
to prevent something from happening or making more progress
Idiom
Informal
例
Faced with rising costs, the company had to put the brakes on their ambitious expansion plans.
Concerns about environmental impact led the government to put the brakes on the construction of the new highway.
02
to slow down or stop a vehicle by using the stopping mechanism
Collocation例
He put the brakes on when he saw the red light ahead.
She put a brake on the car when the light turned red.
