freno

brake

noun FREH-noh Rare

Origin: Latin frenum, bridle

Also means

restraint

Usage Note

Freno primarily means the brake on a vehicle — premere il freno is 'to press the brake'. Figuratively it means a restraint or check on something: un freno alla crescita is 'a brake on growth'. The common idiom tenere a freno means 'to keep in check' or 'to restrain', and dare un freno means 'to put a stop to'.

Examples

"Ha premuto il freno di emergenza."

Natural Translation

He pressed the emergency brake.

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