Teruggeschakeld

Teruggeschakeld is a Dutch word that translates to "shifted down" or "downshifted" in English. It most commonly refers to the act of reducing the gear in a vehicle. When a driver shifts down, they are selecting a lower gear, which increases the engine's revolutions per minute (RPM) for a given speed. This is often done to improve acceleration, to gain more engine braking when descending a hill, or to maintain a desired RPM range for optimal performance or fuel efficiency in certain driving conditions. The process of terugschakelen involves disengaging the clutch, selecting the lower gear, and then re-engaging the clutch. In manual transmission vehicles, this is a deliberate action by the driver. In automatic transmissions, the vehicle's computer may decide to teruggeschakeld automatically based on factors like speed, throttle input, and engine load. The term can also be used more figuratively to describe a reduction in intensity, speed, or ambition in a non-vehicular context, implying a step back or a less demanding pace.