handbrake

British

/ ˈhændˌbreɪk /

noun

a brake operated by a hand lever
the lever that operates the handbrake

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The car has a steering aid and indicators on the floor, as well as buttons for lights, wipers, gears and the handbrake.

From BBC • Apr. 1, 2026

"They are operating with the handbrake on because of legacy issues which impact the Premier League PSR rules, but I do think Uefa rules are the main issue," he said.

From BBC • Jan. 19, 2026

But in October this year the Church's leaders performed what one of their critics describes as "a handbrake turn".

From BBC • Dec. 24, 2025

Everton are still unbeaten there but they've drawn two out of three games so far and the handbrake is still on, isn't it?

From BBC • Oct. 2, 2025

Fielding’s father let off the handbrake of the Landrover.

From "I'm the King of the Castle" by Susan Hill

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023