Slow sb up Meaning and Examples: How to Use the Phrasal Verb

What Does “Slow sb up” Mean?

“Slow sb up” means to cause someone to move or progress more slowly, usually by creating a delay or obstacle.

Introduction

The phrasal verb “Slow sb up” is commonly used in everyday English to describe situations where someone or something causes a delay or makes progress difficult for another person. It is often used when talking about physical movement, work progress, or any task that takes longer because of interruptions. Understanding the “Slow sb up meaning” helps learners express delays and obstacles clearly in conversation and writing.

Quick Info Box

• Phrasal verb: Slow somebody up
• Type: Transitive
• Level: B1 (Intermediate)
• Short meaning: To delay or hinder someone

Structure (Grammar Rules)

“Slow sb up” is a separable phrasal verb. This means you can place the object (sb = somebody) between “slow” and “up” or after the full phrasal verb.

• Slow somebody up
• Slow up somebody

Example patterns:

• Subject + slow + somebody + up
• Subject + slow up + somebody

How to Use Slow sb up?

Use “slow sb up” when you want to talk about something causing a delay or making progress harder for someone. It often refers to physical movement but can also describe work or other activities being delayed. The object is usually a person or group.

For example, if traffic is heavy, it can slow you up on your way to work. If a problem arises during a project, it can slow the team up.

Examples

Here are some natural examples using “Slow sb up in a sentence”:

• The heavy rain slowed me up on my way home.
• The new rules are slowing the company up in finishing the project.
• Don’t let small problems slow you up when you are working.
• She was slowed up by the crowd at the concert entrance.
• Road construction slowed the drivers up for hours.

Common Mistakes

Sometimes learners mix the order of the words or misuse the verb.

• Incorrect: The rain slow up me.
• Correct: The rain slowed me up.
• Incorrect: He slow up the work.
• Correct: He slowed the work up.

Remember to use the past tense “slowed” when talking about past events, and place the object correctly.

Differences / Synonyms

“Slow sb up” is similar to “hold sb up” or “hold up sb,” but there are differences:

• Slow sb up: Generally means causing a delay in movement or progress.
• Hold sb up: Often implies causing a delay but can also mean to rob or stop forcefully.
• Hold up sb: Less common but also used to mean causing delay.

Use “slow sb up” when the focus is on gradual delay rather than sudden interruption.

Common Collocations

Some common objects used with “slow sb up” relate to people and activities. Here are examples and their meanings:

• Slow the traffic up: Delay vehicle movement.
• Slow the team up: Delay a group’s progress.
• Slow the project up: Cause delays in finishing work.
• Slow someone up: Make a person move or work more slowly.

Related Phrasal Verbs

Here are related phrasal verbs of slow sb up:

• Slow Sth Up
• Slow Sb Down
• Slow Sth Down

Real-life Dialogue

Here is a short conversation using “slow sb up”:

Anna: Why were you late to the meeting?

Tom: The traffic slowed me up. There was an accident on the highway.

Anna: That’s annoying. It really slows you up when things like that happen.

Practice

Try filling in the blanks with the correct form of “slow sb up”:

• The heavy snow __________ us up on our way to school.
• Don’t let small problems __________ you up when working.
• The manager’s questions __________ the team __________ during the presentation.

FAQ

• Q: Is “slow sb up” formal or informal?

  A: It is informal and commonly used in everyday speech.

• Q: Can “slow sb up” be used in the passive voice?

  A: Yes, for example, “He was slowed up by the traffic.”
• Q: What is the difference between “slow down” and “slow sb up”?

  A: “Slow down” means to reduce speed yourself, while “slow sb up” means to cause someone else to slow down.

• Q: Can “slow sb up” be used with objects other than people?

  A: Usually, it refers to people or groups, but sometimes it can apply to processes or projects.
• Q: Is “slow sb up” separable?

  A: Yes, you can separate the verb and particle by placing the object in between.