# sleeping policeman

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/sleeping-policeman
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

A speed bump.

## Examples

- Slow down before you hit that sleeping policeman.
- The car bounced hard because the driver did not see the sleeping policeman in the road.
- To ensure the safety of pedestrians in the residential district, the city council installed a series of sleeping policemen along the main thoroughfare.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.