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the door vs the brakes

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New2grammar  #509697  Mon, 05 May 08 09:27 AM

Why native speakers say "slam the door" but "slam ON the brakes"? In other words, how would you interpret "slam on the door" or" slam the brakes"?

Thanks in advance!
  
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Takoyaki-English  #509701  Mon, 05 May 08 09:46 AM

Hello.

"to slam on the brakes"
This means "to step on the brakes with a lot of force."
 
If someone said, "I slammed the brakes," I would think that they'd shut the brakes with a lot of force.
"To shut the brakes" makes no sense, doesn't it?

If someone said, "I slammed on the door," I would think that they'd stepped on the door with a lot of force.

 
  
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New2grammar  #509705  Mon, 05 May 08 10:05 AM

I have another thread on "slam" in which I don't think slam is equal to shut but I'll have to wait for an answer to know for sure. If I'm right on slam vs shut idea, I wouldn't interpret "slam the brakes" as you did. Will see. Thanks for your reply. It's always great to hear different opinions

  
Takoyaki-English  #509707  Mon, 05 May 08 10:10 AM

New2grammar,

I don't think that "slam" and "shut" mean the same, either.
  
Pter  #509796  Mon, 05 May 08 01:40 PM
If you slam a door, it is the door that slam.  If you slam ON (or into) a door, it is YOU that slam.

You don't slam the brake.  You slam your foot on the brake. 
  
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New2grammar  #509807  Mon, 05 May 08 01:52 PM

Great explanation. Thanks Pter!!!
  
Grammar Geek  #509809  Mon, 05 May 08 01:58 PM

I slammed the door: I shut the door with a great deal of force, as says above.

I slammed on the door: NOT VERY COMMON USAGE! It sounds like perhaps someone shoved me hard from a few feet away and my body slammed into the door (and I would prefer "slammed into" instead of "slammed on"), or just maybe, I hit it hard on purpose.
  
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New2grammar  #509814  Mon, 05 May 08 02:06 PM

Thanks GG for confirming. It's very clear to me now.
  
Pter  #509829  Mon, 05 May 08 02:24 PM
Grammar Geek

I slammed on the door: NOT VERY COMMON USAGE! It sounds like perhaps someone shoved me hard from a few feet away and my body slammed into the door (and I would prefer "slammed into" instead of "slammed on"), or just maybe, I hit it hard on purpose.

Hi GG, so what do you say when the police try to get into a house and the door is locked?  "Banging on the door" is much more common? Slam "into" the door sounds more like an accident instead of an intentional act, right?

Just found out that some people do use "slam the brake", including George Bush!

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2001/03/20010323-6.html 
  
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