be throttled

Meanings

1. 1verbintransitivecomputingtechnical

   to have your internet speed or service deliberately limited by a provider

   Grammar: Passive form of 'throttle'; often followed by 'by' to say who limits it.

   Patterns

   • be throttled by a company
   • be throttled to a speed

   Customers who use too much data may be throttled by their provider.

   The video kept buffering because our connection was being throttled.

   Some apps are throttled to save battery.

2. 2verbintransitive

   to be attacked by someone who presses your throat to stop you breathing

   Grammar: Passive form of 'throttle'; usually literal and often in news reports.

   Patterns

   • be throttled by someone

   The victim was throttled during the robbery.

   He was throttled from behind and lost consciousness.

Common combinations

be throttled by your provider

If you download too much, you may be throttled by your provider.

be throttled to a lower speed

The connection was throttled to a lower speed during peak hours.

be throttled back

The engine can be throttled back to save fuel.

Synonyms and how they differ

be slowed down

More general; 'be throttled' specifically means an outside authority is limiting the speed on purpose.

be restricted

Focuses on limits in general; 'be throttled' is about speed or flow.

be choked

For the physical sense, 'be choked' is more common in everyday speech; 'be throttled' sounds more formal or violent.

Opposites

Word family

throttle verb

To limit speed or to attack by choking.

throttle noun

A device that controls the flow of fuel or power.

throttling noun

The act of limiting speed or flow.

Commonly confused: be throttled or be thrilled?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “be throttled”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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