hard stop
Non-negotiable ending time
A hard stop is a firm, non-negotiable end time for a meeting or conversation: I have a hard stop at three o'clock.
The phrase signals that someone must leave regardless of whether business is finished, usually because of another commitment.
It's corporate jargon that has spread into general use, often serving as a polite way to limit how long something can run.
Complete sudden stop
- endFinal portion or cessation
- ceaseTo discontinue activity
- discontinueTo stop doing
- terminateBring to an end
suspend · conclude · finish · wrap up · shut down · close out · pull the plug · done
Point of termination
- due dateWhen payment is required
- deadlineTime limit for completion
- ultimatumNon-negotiable final terms
- end dateWhen something concludes
expiration · timeframe · target · milestone · completion · finish · termination · closure
Maximum allowed extent
- non-starterDoomed idea or plan
- red lineInviolable boundary or threshold
- bright lineUnambiguous legal boundary
- absoluteTotal, without qualification
firm boundary · no-go · off-limits · unacceptable · prohibited · forbidden · veto · refuse
halt
Complete sudden stop
- endFinal portion or cessation
- ceaseTo discontinue activity
- discontinueTo stop doing
terminate · suspend · conclude · finish · wrap up · shut down · close out · pull the plug · done · over
cutoff
Point of termination
- due dateWhen payment is required
- deadlineTime limit for completion
- ultimatumNon-negotiable final terms
end date · expiration · timeframe · target · milestone · completion · finish · termination · closure · finality
limit
Maximum allowed extent
- non-starterDoomed idea or plan
- red lineInviolable boundary or threshold
- bright lineUnambiguous legal boundary
absolute · firm boundary · no-go · off-limits · unacceptable · prohibited · forbidden · veto · refuse · reject
- buzzwordssynergy, leverage, paradigm, stakeholder, scalable
- limitslimit, limits, limitation, upper limit, lower limit
- office jargonsynergy, circle back, touch base, deep dive, action item
- stoppageshalt, standstill, cessation, grinding halt, arrest
- stopshalt, cease, pause, end, stoplight
- stopping methodsbraking, coasting, friction, emergency brake, hand brake
hard stopcontinuation
Act of proceeding further
open floor · ongoing · free flow · no end in sight · perpetual motion
hard stopsoft landing
Controlled, gradual descent
smooth transition · tapering off · slow fade · graceful exit
hard, stop, harder, hardest, harden, hardened, hardening, hardener, hardly