Meaning of safety valve | Babel Free

Definitions

1. A valve set to open at a pressure below that at which a container holding a gas, vapour, etc. (such as a boiler or pressure cooker), would burst, thus reducing the pressure; a relief valve.
2. A valve set to close a container holding a gas or vapour to prevent excessive loss of pressure.
   broadly
3. Any mechanism offering relief from physical or emotional pressure or tension.
   figuratively
4. A United States law, codified at 18 United States Code §3553(f), authorizing a judge to disregard mandatory minimum sentences for some criminals with few or no prior offenses.
   US, figuratively

Equivalents

Examples

“Spun glass mattresses are used for lagging the boiler, which has three Ross pop safety valves on the front ring.”

“[A]nd to show that there was no shortage of steam, Royal Scot, directly we stopped, blew off vigorously from its safety-valves steam that well might have been used in the cylinders in the interest of timekeeping.”

“[…] I have often thought that it was a great error in our legislature when they consented to put down the public lotteries in England. I am convinced that they were beneficial, acting as safety-valves to the gambling spirit of the nation, and that their prohibition has been productive of much crime and misery.”

“Hernández additionally requested that he be given a two-level safety-valve reduction pursuant to U.S.S.G. § 5C1.2, which mitigates the harsh effect of mandatory minimum sentences on certain first-time offenders who played only supporting roles in drug-trafficking schemes and who provided testimony about their involvement in the criminal activity.”

CEFR level