emergency brake
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emergency brake
A device in a vehicle, especially on a train, with which passengers or staff can trigger an immediate stop in a dangerous situation.
Als ein Kind auf die Gleise fiel, zog ein Passagier sofort die Notbremse.
When a child fell onto the tracks, a passenger immediately pulled the emergency brake.
to pull the emergency brake
To take drastic action to stop a negative development or harmful plan at the last moment.
Angesichts der explodierenden Kosten musste die Regierung bei dem Bauprojekt die Notbremse ziehen.
In view of the exploding costs, the government had to pull the emergency brake on the construction project.
This word is made up of 'die Not' (emergency, danger) and 'die Bremse' (brake). So it is literally a brake for emergencies.
Die schnelle Reaktion und das Ziehen der Notbremse haben Schlimmeres verhindert.
The quick reaction and pulling of the emergency brake prevented worse from happening.
In both the literal and figurative meanings, 'die Notbremse' (emergency brake) is almost always used with the verb 'ziehen' (to pull). The fixed expression is 'die Notbremse ziehen' (to pull the emergency brake).
Als der Busfahrer einen seltsamen Geruch bemerkte, zog er die Notbremse.
When the bus driver noticed a strange smell, he pulled the emergency brake.
You can recognize the figurative meaning from the context. If the topic is something abstract like politics, business, finance, or projects, the figurative meaning is almost always meant.
Nach dem Skandal zog der Minister die Notbremse und trat zurück.
After the scandal, the minister pulled the emergency brake and resigned.
