stop short
Brake before impact
To stop short is to halt abruptly before completing an action or reaching a destination: She stopped short when she saw the snake on the path.
Often used with "of" to indicate not quite reaching a limit: He stopped short of calling her a liar.
The phrase suggests sudden restraint—whether physical, verbal, or emotional.
Frighten suddenly
- shockViolent sudden disturbance
- astonishmentIntense sudden wonder
- realizationGrasping what's true
- caught-off-guardSurprised without warning
double-take · pause · hesitate · reconsider · dawning · epiphany · revelation · aback
Device to slow motion
- screechHigh, harsh cry
- skidUncontrolled lateral slide
- freezeBecome solid from cold
- pauseTemporary cessation of activity
jolt · abrupt · sudden · jarring · lurch · whiplash · fender-bender · tailgate
Not yet complete
- insufficientBelow required quantity
- lackingBeing without something
- deficientHaving too little
- gapUnfilled space between
miss · almost · nearly · incomplete · partial · inadequate · truncated · abbreviated
startle
Frighten suddenly
- shockViolent sudden disturbance
- astonishmentIntense sudden wonder
- realizationGrasping what's true
caught-off-guard · double-take · pause · hesitate · reconsider · dawning · epiphany · revelation · aback · speechless
brake
Device to slow motion
pause · jolt · abrupt · sudden · jarring · lurch · whiplash · fender-bender · tailgate · rear-end
unfinished
Not yet complete
- insufficientBelow required quantity
- lackingBeing without something
- deficientHaving too little
gap · miss · almost · nearly · incomplete · partial · inadequate · truncated · abbreviated · curtailed
stop shortgo all the way
Complete something without stopping
follow through · see it through · go the distance · carry through · arrive at
stop shortkeep going
Maintain forward progress
carry on · press on · continue · proceed · push forward
stop, short, shorten, stopped, shorts, stopping, shortcut, stops, shortness