sleeping policeman: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Medium. Common in UK/Commonwealth contexts but less so in the US where 'speed bump' is standard.Informal, everyday. Used in official traffic management contexts but not highly formal.
Quick answer
What does “sleeping policeman” mean?
A low hump or series of humps built across a road to force vehicles to slow down.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A low hump or series of humps built across a road to force vehicles to slow down.
A physical traffic-calming device designed to reduce vehicle speed for safety, often found in residential areas or near schools.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
UK: Standard term. US: Almost never used; 'speed bump' or 'speed hump' is used instead.
Connotations
UK: Slightly informal, whimsical, or euphemistic. US: Unfamiliar; if used, it sounds like a quaint Britishism.
Frequency
High frequency in UK spoken and written English regarding traffic. Very low to zero frequency in US English.
Grammar
How to Use “sleeping policeman” in a Sentence
[Subject] + hit + [Det] + sleeping policeman.[Location] + has + [Det] + sleeping policeman.They installed + [Det] + sleeping policeman + [Location].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “sleeping policeman” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The council decided to sleeping-policeman the entire estate.
- (Note: Very rare as a verb, but possible in informal conversion.)
American English
- Not used.
adverb
British English
- Not used.
American English
- Not used.
adjective
British English
- We need a sleeping-policeman solution for this cut-through road.
American English
- Not used.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except for companies involved in road construction or urban planning.
Academic
Used in urban planning, traffic engineering, or sociology papers discussing public space.
Everyday
Very common in UK everyday conversation when discussing local roads, driving, or cycling.
Technical
Used in traffic engineering manuals and local government documents, though 'vertical deflection' is more technical.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “sleeping policeman”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “sleeping policeman”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “sleeping policeman”
- Using 'sleeping policeman' in American English contexts.
- Pronouncing 'policeman' with stress on the first syllable (/ˈpɒlɪsmən/) instead of the second (/pəˈliːsmən/).
- Treating it as a countable noun but using a plural 'policemans'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a British English term. Americans use 'speed bump' or 'speed hump'.
No, it is never used to refer to an actual police officer. It is always a metaphor for a traffic-calming device.
The plural is 'sleeping policemen'.
It's a metaphorical name suggesting the hump performs the duty of a policeman (enforcing speed limits) but passively, as if asleep.
A low hump or series of humps built across a road to force vehicles to slow down.
Sleeping policeman is usually informal, everyday. used in official traffic management contexts but not highly formal. in register.
Sleeping policeman: in British English it is pronounced /ˌsliːpɪŋ pəˈliːsmən/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌsliːpɪŋ pəˈliːsmən/ (though term is rare). Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A necessary nuisance (like a sleeping policeman).”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a policeman lying down for a nap on the road, causing cars to slow down to avoid waking him.
Conceptual Metaphor
AUTHORITY IS A PHYSICAL OBSTACLE / CONTROL IS RESTRAINT.
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary American English equivalent for 'sleeping policeman'?