Explanation of "Emergency Brake"
Definition: An "emergency brake" is a special brake in a vehicle that you can use by hand. It helps to stop the vehicle quickly in case the regular brakes fail. It is usually connected to the wheels with a mechanical system, meaning it works through physical parts rather than just pressing a pedal.
Usage Instructions:
When to Use: You should use the emergency brake if your car’s regular brakes stop working or if you want to keep the car from rolling when parked.
How to Use: To activate the emergency brake, you typically pull a lever or press a button, depending on the car model.
Example:
Advanced Usage:
In some vehicles, the emergency brake can also be referred to as the "parking brake." This means you can use it when you park to keep the car from moving.
Word Variants:
Emergency brakes (plural): Refers to the emergency brakes in multiple vehicles or systems.
Parking brake: Another term for the emergency brake, often used in everyday conversation.
Different Meaning:
While "emergency brake" primarily refers to a vehicle component, it can also metaphorically describe any action taken to stop or slow down a process or situation quickly. For example, in a business context, a manager might say they need to "pull the emergency brake" on a project if things are going wrong.
Synonyms:
Handbrake: Another common term for the emergency brake, especially in manual transmission cars.
E-brake: A casual abbreviation often used by drivers.
Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:
"Pull the emergency brake": This phrase can be used metaphorically to mean stopping a project or action suddenly, similar to stopping a car.
"Hit the brakes": This means to slow down or stop what you are doing, often used in discussions about making decisions or taking action.
Summary:
The "emergency brake" is an important safety feature in vehicles. It is used in emergencies to help stop the car when needed, and it can also be used metaphorically in other contexts to indicate stopping something before it gets worse.