throttle
to make something slower or limit how much of it can happen
To deliberately reduce or limit the speed, power, rate, or flow of something, especially a service, machine, process, or internet connection.
a part of a vehicle or machine that controls how much power the engine gives
A control, such as a lever, pedal, or valve, that regulates an engine’s power by controlling the flow of fuel, air, or steam.
to choke someone by squeezing their neck
To attack or kill someone by squeezing their throat so that they cannot breathe; also used informally as an exaggerated way to say that someone is very angry.
- Base: throttle
- Plural: throttles
- Base: throttle
- 3rd Person Singular: throttles
- Present Participle: throttling
- Past: throttled
full throttle
1maximum speed or effort
as fast or as hard as possible
- The campaign is running at full throttle before election day.
- Once the road cleared, the motorcycle shot forward full throttle.
- She brought full-throttle energy to the new project.
- The engine ran at full throttle.
- The team worked full throttle all week.
open the throttle
1increase engine power
to make an engine go faster or give more power
- On the straight stretch, he opened the throttle and pulled away.
- The captain opened the throttle as the boat left the harbor.
- The engine operator opened the throttle slowly during the test.
- She opened the throttle, and the boat moved faster.
- He opened the throttle on the motorcycle.
take one's foot off the throttle
1ease effort or pressure
to stop trying so hard or moving so fast
- Don’t take your foot off the throttle now; the deadline is Friday.
- With a big lead, the team took its foot off the throttle in the second half.
- The company cannot afford to take its foot off the throttle while competitors are growing.
- We can’t take our foot off the throttle yet.
- She took her foot off the throttle after the exam.
throttle back
1reduce power or activity
to slow down or do less
- The pilot throttled back as the plane began its descent.
- After two years of rapid hiring, the company is throttling back.
- We need to throttle back on expenses this quarter.
- The driver throttled back near the turn.
- We throttled back on travel costs.
throttle up
1increase engine power
to make an engine or activity more powerful or faster
- The crew throttled up the engines for takeoff.
- The rocket throttled up to full power.
- The team throttled up its marketing campaign before the product launch.
- The pilot throttled up before takeoff.
- The boat throttled up in open water.