slow down

start to move or work less quickly

A2

What does "slow (sb/sth) down" mean?

To slow down means to reduce speed or pace — whether you are walking, driving, or working through a task. The key idea is deceleration: things continue moving or progressing, just at a lower speed than before. You can use it to talk about physical movement, like a car slowing down near a traffic light, or about processes and activities, like economic growth slowing down during a difficult period. It is also very common as a command: 'Slow down!' is something you might hear from a passenger in a fast car, or from a friend asking you not to rush a decision. Both the literal and figurative uses are extremely natural in everyday English.

Examples

How to use it

slow down (no object)

Used without an object when the subject reduces its own speed or pace.

The bus slowed down as it reached the stop.

slow + object + down

Used with a noun object, which can sit between the verb and particle or after the particle.

The heavy rain slowed our journey down considerably.

slow + pronoun + down

When the object is a pronoun, it must go between 'slow' and 'down' — never after 'down'.

There was a lot of traffic, but it didn't slow us down too much.

slow down + noun

With longer noun phrases as the object, placing the object after 'down' sounds more natural.

The new rules have slowed down the whole application process.

be slowed down by + cause

Used in the passive when something is made slower by an external cause.

Production was slowed down by a shortage of materials.

Common Collocations

trafficthe processeconomic growththe paceproductionheart rate

Common Mistakes

Pronoun placement

When you use a pronoun like 'it', 'him', or 'them', it must go between 'slow' and 'down', not after 'down'.

✗ The injury slowed down him for weeks.
✓ The injury slowed him down for weeks.
Confusing 'slow down' with 'hold up'

'Hold up' means to stop or block something completely, while 'slow down' means to reduce speed without stopping. If something has been fully blocked or prevented from continuing, use 'hold up' instead.

✗ The road closure slowed down all traffic for three hours — nobody could move.
✓ The road closure held up all traffic for three hours — nobody could move.

Usage

Completely neutral in register — use it in casual speech ('Slow down, you're driving too fast!') and formal writing ('Growth has slowed down significantly'). The imperative form is especially common in everyday English, both literally and figuratively.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can 'slow down' be used for things other than physical speed?

Yes — 'slow down' is very often used figuratively. You can talk about economic growth slowing down, a process slowing down, or even tell someone to slow down when they are rushing a decision. The core idea of reducing pace applies in all these situations.

Is 'slow down' the same as just saying 'slow'?

'Slow' as a verb on its own is possible and slightly more formal — for example, 'Growth has slowed'. 'Slow down' is more common in everyday speech and adds a sense of gradual deceleration. In most situations, both are correct, but 'slow down' sounds more natural in conversation.

What kinds of things can 'slow down' describe?

Almost anything that has speed or pace — cars, people walking, traffic, economic growth, a manufacturing process, someone's heart rate, or even aging. It is a very flexible phrasal verb. The key is that the thing or process continues, just at a lower speed.

Can I use 'slow down' as a command?

Yes, and it is very common! 'Slow down!' is used both literally — for example, telling a driver to reduce speed — and figuratively, like telling a friend not to rush an important decision. It is one of the most natural imperative uses of any phrasal verb in everyday English.

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