The idiom "put the brakes on" means to slow down or stop something that is happening too quickly or out of control. It is often used to describe a situation where someone needs to take action to prevent a problem from getting worse.
For example, if a company is spending too much money, the CEO might say "we need to put the brakes on our spending" to indicate that they need to slow down and be more careful with their expenses.
Similarly, if someone is talking too much or saying something inappropriate, you might say "hey, put the brakes on, let's change the subject" to indicate that they need to stop talking about that topic.
In general, this idiom is used when someone needs to take action to slow down or stop a situation that is getting out of control. It is a common expression in both formal and informal English, and is easy to understand once you know the meaning.
• The company’s CEO decided to put the brakes on the new project until they can get more funding. (Business)
• I need to put the brakes on my spending to save some money. (Everyday life)
• The coach told the players to put the brakes on their overconfidence and focus on playing as a team. (Sports)
• The government needs to put the brakes on the rising crime rates in the city. (Politics)
• The teacher told the students to put the brakes on their talking during the exam. (Education)
• After realizing the negative impact on the environment, the government decided to put the brakes on the construction of the new factory. (Environment)