Meaning of the word "put the brakes on" in English

What does "put the brakes on" mean in English? Explore the meaning, pronunciation, and specific usage of this word with Lingoland.

put the brakes on

US /pʊt ðə breɪks ɑn/
UK /pʊt ðə breɪks ɒn/
"put the brakes on" picture

Idiom

to slow down or stop an activity or process

Example:
We need to put the brakes on this project until we get more funding.
The government decided to put the brakes on new spending.