Idiom of the day

put the brakes on

Meaning: If you put the brakes on something, you stop it or slow it down.

For example:

• Many companies are putting the brakes on new investment until the economy improves.
• The government has to put the brakes on the water treatment project until the corruption enquiry is over.

Origin: This metaphorical idiom is based on the fact that if you're driving a car and you "put the brakes on", the car slows down and stops.