(~s)
1.
On a motorway or freeway, the ~ is the lane for vehicles which are moving more slowly than the other vehicles.
N-COUNT: usu sing, usu the N
2.
If you say that a person, country, or company is in the ~, you mean that they are not progressing as fast as other people, countries, or companies in a particular area of activity.
Germany was not trying to push Britain into the ~...
N-SING: usu the N