slowdown

/ˈsləʊdaʊn/ (bre, ipa) · [slˈodˌaʊn] /ˈsləʊdaʊn/ (ame, ipa) · [slˈodˌaʊn] /ˈslō-ˌdau̇n How to pronounce slowdown (audio)/ (ame, mw)

slowdown — noun

  • slowdownsingular
  • slowdownsplural

1. a period when movement, business, or production goes more slowly than before.

1.名詞B2
釋義

a period when movement, business, or production goes more slowly than before.

例句

After the holiday rush, Aaron's bakery saw a slowdown in cake orders.

a slowdown in + orders

Drivers hit a slowdown near Hsinchu as workers repainted the tunnel walls.

hit a slowdown near + place

同義詞
  • slump

    stronger and often suggests a more serious fall, especially in business

  • dip

    usually smaller and shorter in duration

  • lull

    often describes a temporary quiet period rather than a broad drop

反義詞
  • surge

    a strong rise in activity, demand, or movement

  • speed-up

    a period when work or movement becomes faster

文法句型

a slowdown in + sales/traffic/activity

see/face/expect + a slowdown

用法筆記

Often appears with 'in' before the area affected, such as sales, traffic, or production. Distinguish from sense 2: sense 1 describes any drop in pace, not a protest by workers.

常見錯誤

❌The shop was slowdown in January.
✅The shop had a slowdown in January.
💡use slowdown as a noun, usually after verbs like 'have', 'see', or 'experience'.

2. an organized protest in which workers deliberately do their jobs more slowly to

2.名詞C1
釋義

an organized protest in which workers deliberately do their jobs more slowly to pressure an employer for better pay or safer conditions.

例句

Dock workers began a slowdown after management froze weekend pay again.

begin a slowdown after pay dispute

The airline faced a baggage slowdown when ground crews refused extra shifts.

a slowdown in operations during labor action

同義詞
  • go-slow

    British term for the same kind of protest

  • work-to-rule

    workers follow every rule strictly to reduce speed rather than simply working slower

  • job action

    broader union term that can include a slowdown among other tactics

反義詞

文法句型

stage/begin + a slowdown

a slowdown over + pay/safety

a slowdown in + operations

用法筆記

Unlike a strike, workers still report for duty and keep working, but they intentionally reduce speed or output. This sense is tied to labor disputes, unlike the general slowing described in sense 1.

常見錯誤

❌The union made a slowdown yesterday.
✅The union staged a slowdown yesterday.
💡this protest noun is more natural with verbs like 'stage', 'begin', or 'threaten'.