grind to a halt
Slowly stop completely
To grind to a halt is to slow down gradually and stop completely, like machinery losing power.
The phrase evokes gears seizing up or wheels scraping to a standstill.
It describes processes, systems, or activities that progressively cease functioning: Traffic ground to a halt on the freeway.
Negotiations have ground to a halt.
The grinding suggests friction and resistance rather than a clean stop.
- stagnateCease to develop
- ceaseTo discontinue activity
- paralysisLoss of muscle function
- stopCease all motion
- dead stopComplete cessation of motion
seize · standstill · stall · immobilize · freeze · shutdown · run out of steam · demotivation · sputter · fatigue · burnout · hit a wall · mire · bog down · bottleneck · traffic jam · conk out · fail
grind to a haltaccelerate
Increase in velocity
speed up · pick up speed · gain momentum · take off · get going
grind to a haltkeep going
Maintain forward progress
carry on · press on · forge ahead · push forward · proceed
grind, halt, grinds, grinding, ground, grinder, grinders, halts, halted