Spoken English phrase
What does “slow down” mean?
"Slow down" means to become slower or to make something go at a slower pace. People use it for speaking, movement, traffic, bleeding, and the pace of life or travel.
When people say it
- Ask someone to speak more slowly: "Sorry, could you slow down a little?"
- Talk about speed on the road: "Traffic slows down there."
- Say a process becomes less strong or fast: "The bleeding slowed down."
- Talk about life or travel pace: "We want to slow down on this trip."
Tone: Common and casual to neutral; "Slow down" alone can sound like a warning, so "could you" or "a bit" makes it softer.
Careful: Do not say "speed down." English says "slow down." If you only mean speaking, "Could you speak more slowly?" is also correct, but "slow down" works in more situations.
In 7 of Lin's scenes
Real lines from the scenes. Open one to watch it and say it yourself.
Sorry, could you slow down a little?Asking someone to repeat · Intermediate
Can we slow down a bit?Hiking the Great Wall with a friend · Intermediate
Walk to the main road; taxis slow down there.Getting a taxi in China with a friend · Intermediate
Got it. I'll slow down, and you can stop me anytime.Saying your English isn't great · Advanced
No problem. If I look lost, just slow down.At a language exchange · Intermediate
Of course. Is it bleeding a lot, or did it slow down?At the emergency room · Intermediate
Then maybe pick one city and actually slow down for once.Talking about travel plans · Advanced
Shadow
Line by line
Lin
Sorry, could you slow down a little?
Lin
Can we slow down a bit?
Lin
Walk to the main road; taxis slow down there.
Other ways to say it
take it slow
Softer and more personal; often about not rushing.
go slower
Very direct; often about walking, driving, or explaining.
ease up
Informal; can mean be less intense, not only less fast.
Quick answers
Can "slow down" mean "speak more slowly"?
Yes. People often use it that way when someone is talking too fast.
Can I use "slow down" for bleeding?
Yes. "The bleeding slowed down" is natural and means it became less heavy or less fast.