Pronunciation: [pˌʊts bɹˈe͡ɪks] (IPA) 
The correct spelling of the phrase "puts brakes" is /pʊts breɪks/. It is spelled with a "u" in "puts" to represent the short vowel sound, followed by the consonant blend "br" in "brakes." The word "puts" is the third person singular present tense form of the verb "put," meaning to place or position something. The phrase "puts brakes" usually refers to the act of applying brakes to slow or stop a moving vehicle.
To "put brakes" is an idiomatic expression that refers to taking actions or measures to slow down, restrain, or halt the progress, momentum, or development of something. The phrase originates from the literal meaning of brakes in machinery, which control or stop the movement of a vehicle or system. When applied metaphorically, "puts brakes" implies the act of implementing obstacles, limitations, or restrictions that impede or prevent further advancement.
In various contexts, putting brakes could signify applying caution, restraint, or control to avoid undesirable consequences. It may refer to financial decisions that curtail excessive spending or investments in order to prevent financial harm or loss. Likewise, it can be used in the context of project management to depict strategic actions taken to slow down the pace of a project, ensuring proper planning and assessment of risks before proceeding further.
Putting brakes can also refer to taking measures to mitigate or calm a situation, especially amidst conflicts, disagreements, or crises. It symbolizes implementing actions, negotiations, or interventions that help in diffusing tension and promoting peace or resolution. Additionally, in personal or social interactions, putting brakes indicates a conscious effort to moderate, restrain, or temper one's actions, emotions, or behavior to prevent exacerbating conflicts or causing harm.
Overall, putting brakes embodies the idea of exercising control, caution, or intervention to slow down or halt a process, development, or situation, with the aim of preventing undesirable consequences or promoting a more balanced, controlled outcome.
The phrase "puts brakes" is not a stand-alone word, but a combination of two separate words: "puts" and "brakes". Each word has its own etymology:
1. "Puts": The word "puts" is derived from the Old English word "putian", which means "to push, thrust, or set in motion". It has its origins in the Proto-Germanic word "putōną". The term has evolved over time, and in English, it typically refers to the act of placing something in a particular position or causing something to be somewhere.
2. "Brakes": The word "brakes" is derived from the Middle English word "brak", which comes from the Old English word "bræc" or "brec". It has its roots in the Proto-Germanic word "brak-(k)ōną", meaning "to break" or "to separate".
