not so fast

idiom
UK: /ˌnɒt səʊ ˈfɑːst/
US: /ˌnɑːt soʊ ˈfæst/

  1. Used to tell someone to slow down or stop doing something.

    1. You're spending all your money? Not so fast, save some for later. [ ] [ ]
    2. He thought he could leave without saying goodbye, but not so fast; I caught him at the door. [ ] [ ]

  2. An expression used to say that something is not as easy or certain as someone thinks.

    1. You think you're going to win? Not so fast, I'm a tough opponent. [ ] [ ]
    2. She assumed she would get the promotion automatically, but not so fast; there were other strong candidates. [ ] [ ]

Synonyms

hold on
not so fast interjection

  1. A phrase indicating disagreement or caution about a hasty decision or assumption.

    1. You're leaving already? Not so fast, we haven't had dessert yet. [ ] [ ]
    2. He thought he had solved the problem, but not so fast; there was another issue he hadn't considered. [ ] [ ]

Frequently Asked Questions

The word "not so fast" in English means: Used to tell someone to slow down or stop doing something., An expression used to say that something is not as easy or certain as someone thinks..

The phonetic transcription of "not so fast" is /ˌnɒt səʊ ˈfɑːst/ in British English and /ˌnɑːt soʊ ˈfæst/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "not so fast": hold on.

Example usage of "not so fast": "You're spending all your money? Not so fast, save some for later.". More examples on the page.