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go slow

What does go slow mean?

The standard Nigerian Pidgin term for heavy traffic congestion, especially the notorious jams of cities like Lagos.

"Sorry I dey late, big go slow for third mainland bridge today."

Origin

Compositional English phrase repurposed as a Pidgin noun for traffic jams; documented by the British Council's Pidgin phrase guide.

Frequently asked questions

What does "go slow" mean?
It means a traffic jam.
Is it used as a verb too?
No, it functions as a noun describing the traffic jam itself, e.g., "I dey inside go slow."
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Slang definitions: FreeDict original editorial.