speed bump

noun

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of speed bump¹

First recorded in 1970–75

Example Sentences

The stock’s new, premium valuation will make any speed bumps all the more jarring.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Others have proposed speed bumps or rumble strips to slow drivers down.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The retail industry treats it like a speed bump between Halloween and Christmas, and when history retells its origins, it’s not a holiday worth protesting to keep.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

They are hopeful that what initially appeared to be a season-altering moment will be nothing more than a temporary speed bump in their pursuit of a second consecutive title.

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“These are speed bumps along the way, we anticipated those and so we have contingency plans,” Thune said.

Read more on Salon