jam on the brake

jam (on) the brake(s)

1. Literally, to quickly press on a vehicle's brakes to slow down or stop. He jammed on the brakes when he saw the child running into the street. You risk doing your car serious damage if you jam the brake without shifting down the gears.
2. By extension, to slow down or stop something one is doing. We had to jam on the brakes when we found out investors were pulling out of the company.
See also: jam
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

jam on the ˈbrake(s)

,

jam the ˈbrake(s) on

make a vehicle stop very suddenly by operating the brakes with force: The car skidded as he jammed on the brakes.
See also: brake, jam, on
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
See also:
  • jam (on) the brake(s)
  • jam the brake(s) on
  • jam the brakes on
  • slam (on) the brake(s)
  • slam the brake(s) on
  • slam the brakes on
  • brake
  • hit the brakes
  • put on the brakes
  • ease up (on someone or something)
References in periodicals archive
Citing people familiar with the findings by the Department of Transportation, the paper said some drivers who said that their Toyotas and Lexuses surged out of control were mistakenly flooring the accelerator when they intended to jam on the brakes.
Toyota crash data suggests driver error: report