slow up
Definition
Verb (intransitive):
- To reduce one's speed or rate of movement; to begin moving or operating more slowly.
- To become less active, intense, or productive.
Verb (transitive):
- To cause something or someone to reduce speed or proceed at a slower rate.
- To cause a process or activity to become less rapid or efficient.
Usage
- As an intransitive verb, "slow up" describes the subject itself decreasing in speed.
- As a transitive verb, "slow up" takes a direct object, meaning to cause that object to become slower.
- It is often used interchangeably with "slow down." The particle "up" does not imply an upward direction but functions as an intensifier or completive marker.
Examples
- Intransitive use:
- Traffic always slows up near the bridge during rush hour.
- The machine began to slow up after running continuously for ten hours.
- Transitive use:
- The accident on the highway slowed up all the morning commuters.
- Heavy paperwork can slow up the approval process significantly.
Advanced Usage
- "slow up on [something]": To reduce the intensity, speed, or amount of a specific activity.
- You should slow up on the caffeine if you're having trouble sleeping.
Variants and Related Words
- Slow (verb): To reduce speed or cause to reduce speed. (e.g., )
- Slow down (phrasal verb): A very common synonym for "slow up." (e.g., )
- Decelerate (verb): A more formal synonym meaning to reduce speed.
- Delay (verb): To cause to be late or slow progress, often due to an obstacle.
Synonyms
- Decelerate
- Retard (formal/technical)
- Reduce speed
- Hold up (in the context of causing delay)
- Lag
Related Phrasal Verbs
- Ease up: To reduce pressure, intensity, or speed, often in a gradual or gentle manner.
- The rain should ease up by the evening.
- Let up: To diminish in intensity, especially referring to something unpleasant.
- The wind finally let up after the storm.
Related Idioms
- Put the brakes on: To stop or slow something very decisively.
- The new regulations put the brakes on the rapid expansion of the industry.
- Lose momentum: To slow down due to a loss of driving force or energy.
- The project lost momentum after the lead developer left.
Verb
-
lose velocity; move more slowly
-
The car decelerated
-
-
cause to proceed more slowly
-
The illness slowed him down
-
-
become slow or slower
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Production slowed
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