PhrasesHub

slowed down

    Definitions

      • discourage someone
        Advise against engaging in a particular activity or task, cautioning that it will not result in any positive outcome or benefit

      • hindered progress
        Describing a situation where progress or development has been impeded or delayed

      • relaxed or took a break
        Referring to a period of time when someone took a break or reduced their pace

    Examples of slowed down

    • The traffic on the highway came to a crawl due to a major accident, causing us to slow down considerably.

      When traffic moves at a very slow speed, often coming to a complete stop, it is described as coming to a crawl or crawling. In this example, "crawl" is used to indicate that the traffic moved at a severely slow pace, which forced us to slow down considerably as well.

    • The sound of my heartbeat seemed to slow down as I entered the meditation room, preparing to clear my mind.

      Sometimes, as a result of relaxation or focus, bodily functions, such as heartbeat, may slow down. This metaphorical use of "slow down" is used to show how the speed of my heartbeat seemed to decrease as I entered the meditation room.

    • The construction project, plagued by numerous delays, finally slowed down to a manageable pace.

      When work or progress is halted multiple times, it may appear to slow down or come to a halt. In this example, after facing numerous delays, the construction project finally slowed down to a manageable pace, indicating that the work or progress began moving more smoothly.

    • The fourth quarter earnings report of the company showed a significant slowdown in sales due to increased competition from other firms.

      In the world of business, earnings and sales are highly valued. In this example, "slowdown" is used to denote a significant decrease in sales, which is attributed to increased competition from other firms in the industry. This metaphorical use of "slow down" helps the reader understand the decreased sales as a quantifiable decrease in pace.

    • The traffic slowed down unexpectedly due to a road accident, leaving us stuck in the jam for hours.

      In this example, the idiom "slowed down" is used in a sentence to convey the unexpected and sudden decrease in speed of traffic due to an unplanned event, causing inconvenience and delay for the people traveling.

    • She took things slowly after the breakup, trying to heal and move on at her own pace.

      Here, the idiom "slowed down" is used to explain how the person is dealing with the aftermath of a relationship ending by taking a measured and deliberate action, instead of rushing into new relationships or activities, as a way of processing and overcoming the impact of the split.

    • The economy is slowly recovering from the recession, with a gradual increase in employment and economic growth.

      In this example, the idiom "slowed down" is used to indicate a positive transition from a state of decline to an improved condition, where the recovery is taking place gradually and progressively, as opposed to a sudden and rapid change.

    • His performance in the online course has slowed down, as he struggles to balance work and studies.

      Here, the idiom "slowed down" is used to describe a decrease in pace or intensity in an individual's academic or learning activity, attributed to the competing demands of other commitments, such as employment or personal life, that may affect the student's progress or productivity.


    Conclusion

    The idiom "slowed down" can be used to discourage someone from a particular activity, to describe hindered progress, or to refer to a period of relaxation or taking a break.

    Origin of "slowed down"

    The origin of the idiom "slowed down" can be traced back to the literal meaning of the words. When something slows down, it decreases in speed or becomes less active. Over time, this literal meaning has been adopted into the figurative sense of hindering progress or taking a break. The idiom is commonly used in everyday language to convey a variety of meanings related to discouragement, hindered progress, or relaxation. For example, in a work setting, someone might say "We slowed down on the project" to indicate that progress has been impeded. Overall, the origin of the idiom "slowed down" reflects its straightforward and practical usage in English language.