speed bump

American  

noun

1. a rounded ridge built crosswise into the pavement of a road or driveway to force vehicles to slow down.

---

Etymology

Origin of speed bump

First recorded in 1970–75

Example Sentences

And unlike their trips down the skeleton run, their path to the altar hit a speed bump.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 13, 2026

As they hit this surprise speed bump, some students are lowering their standards and joining companies they wouldn’t have considered before.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 19, 2025

See: November’s stock-market pullback could be a speed bump.

From MarketWatch • Nov. 30, 2025

These companies have hit a serious speed bump, however, amid concern the spending may not materialize as expected—or that it might not lead to a gusher of profits.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 22, 2025

It revved loudly as it went over the speed bump, and even from the verandah, I could see where the color had faded to a rusty orange.

From "Purple Hibiscus" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie