brought up short
Abruptly made pause
To be brought up short is to be stopped suddenly or caught off guard, interrupting forward momentum—physical or mental.
A horse brought up short halts abruptly.
A person brought up short by unexpected news pauses in surprise or confusion: I was brought up short by her resignation.
The phrase suggests an unplanned interruption that forces reconsideration.
- startledAbruptly surprised or alarmed
- stoppedBrought to a halt
- haltedCame to rest
- shockedDeeply startled or appalled
- flummoxedUtterly perplexed
stopped cold · jarred · shaken · blocked · hit a wall · astonished · frozen · paused · arrested · impasse · jolted · perplexed · lost for words · rattled · taken aback · unnerved · dead end · roadblock
brought up shortwound down
Gradually reduced activity
tapered off · phased out · trailed off · petered out · dwindled
brought up shortkept going
Maintained forward motion
carried on · coasted · wound down · tapered off · rolled on
brought, brings, bringer, short, shorts, shorter, shortest, shortly, shortness