speed bump

Meanings

1. 1nouncountable

   A raised strip across a road that makes vehicles slow down.

   Grammar: Countable: you can say 'a speed bump' or 'two speed bumps'.

   Patterns

   • go over a speed bump
   • hit a speed bump
   • install a speed bump

   The car bounced as it went over the speed bump.

   The city installed speed bumps near the school to protect children.

   Drivers often slow down before a speed bump to avoid damaging their cars.

2. 2nouncountablefigurative

   A small problem that delays progress but is not serious.

   Grammar: Often used in business or project contexts; usually singular in this sense.

   Patterns

   • hit a speed bump
   • a speed bump in the process
   • a minor speed bump

   The negotiations hit a speed bump when the two sides disagreed on price.

   The project had a few speed bumps, but we finished on time.

   Losing that client was just a speed bump for the company.

Word forms

Common combinations

go over a speed bump

You need to go over the speed bump slowly.

hit a speed bump

The taxi hit a speed bump and we all jumped.

install a speed bump

The council will install a speed bump on our street next month.

a speed bump in the road

The new regulations are just a speed bump in the road to expansion.

slow down for a speed bump

Always slow down for a speed bump to avoid damage.

Synonyms and how they differ

speed hump

A speed hump is a longer, gentler raised area, while a speed bump is shorter and sharper.

road hump

Road hump is a more formal British term for the same thing.

sleeping policeman

An informal British term for a speed bump, now less common.

Commonly confused: speed bump or speed trap?

Practice

Make it your own

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

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