slow down — reduce speed
phrasal verbB1IELTS 5+neutralcore
To move or do something more slowly, especially to avoid danger or because you are told to.
Say it like a native
Textbook Please reduce your velocity near the school.
Native Slow down near the school.
'Slow down' is the plain everyday verb; 'reduce your velocity' is technical.
Pattern: slow down (no object) | slow down (object)
In use
- You should slow down when driving through a school zone.travel
- If I notice someone tailgating me on the highway, I usually slow down to let them pass safely.IELTS speaking
Common mistake
✗ You should slow down your speed.
✓ You should slow down.
'Slow down' already means reduce speed — 'slow down your speed' is redundant.
Common collocations
slow down + context— a bit, near the bend, the car, gradually
Don't confuse it
Not the same as 'stop'—it just means to reduce speed.
Related
- slow down (become less active) — Another meaning of 'slow down' is 'become less active'; compare the examples to keep the meanings separate.