1.
to be brought under control; to be checked; to be curbed
A worsening trend or negative development is stopped or restrained. Often used in news and formal contexts about economic or social issues.
物価の上昇に歯止めがかかった。
The rise in prices was brought under control.
人口減少に歯止めがかからない。
The population decline cannot be stopped.
新しい政策のおかげで、環境破壊に歯止めがかかることが期待されている。
Thanks to the new policy, there are hopes that environmental destruction will be brought under control.
USAGE:
歯止め originally refers to a brake or chock used to prevent wheels from moving. The expression 歯止めがかかる describes a negative trend being stopped. The negative form 歯止めがかからない (cannot be stopped) is very common in news reports.
RELATED EXPRESSIONS:
- 歯止めをかける (to put a stop to — active/transitive version)
- 歯止めがきかない (to be unchecked, unstoppable)
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 円安に歯止めがかかる (the yen's depreciation is checked)
- 赤字に歯止めがかかる (losses are brought under control)