stopped short
Ceased before finishing
Stopped short means to halt suddenly and abruptly, usually because something unexpected intervenes: She stopped short when she saw the snake on the path.
The phrase often implies being caught off guard or interrupted mid-action.
Figuratively, to stop short of something is to refrain from going that far: He stopped short of calling her a liar.
- hesitatePause in uncertainty
- balkRefuse to proceed
- pulled backWithdrew to prior position
- pauseTemporary cessation of activity
- blank outLose awareness temporarily
thought twice · drew a blank · halt · hit the brakes · trail off · waver · flinch · mid-sentence · block · stumble · brake · second-guess · recoil · freeze · rethink · stagger · forget · lost train of thought
stopped shortfollowed through
Completed what was started
completed · finished · went all the way · went the distance · fulfilled
stopped shortkept going
Maintained forward motion
carried on · continued · pressed on · pushed forward · proceeded
stopped shortwent all in
persevered · doubled down · followed through · went to the mat
stop, stopped, stopping, stops, stoppage, stopper, stoppers, unstoppable, short