call a halt

USAGE SUMMARY

"call a halt" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to mean something like to stop or to bring something to an end. For example, "The coaches called a halt to the game due to heavy rain."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

We should call a halt to that.

The New Yorker

Can we call a halt?

The Guardian

Fifa should call a halt now.

The Guardian - Sport

But he didn't call a halt.

The Guardian - Opinion

But I had to call a halt.

The Guardian

Myanmar also faces pressure to call a halt.

The Economist

Someone has to call a halt to this madness.

The Guardian - Opinion

P4 BBC is happy to call a halt to muttering.

The Guardian

But it is time to call a halt".

The Guardian

Mr. Clinton should call a halt to the Homestead airport.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

The likelihood that the American political classes will call a halt any time soon must be close to zero.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "call a halt" when you want to express the need to stop an activity, process, or even a discussion, especially when it has become unproductive or harmful.

Common error

Avoid using "call a halt" when a simple pause or temporary break is sufficient. This phrase implies a definitive end, not just a temporary cessation.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "call a halt" is as an idiomatic verb phrase. It functions to express the act of stopping or terminating an activity or process. Ludwig provides numerous examples that illustrate how this phrase is used in different contexts to signify the need for cessation.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Academia

15%

Encyclopedias

3%

Less common in

Science

2%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "call a halt" is a very common and grammatically correct idiomatic phrase used to express the need to stop or terminate an activity or process. As supported by Ludwig, its communicative purpose is to urge or announce the cessation of something, often because it is seen as unproductive or harmful. It maintains a neutral register, fitting various formal and informal contexts, with predominant usage in news and media sources. When writing, use it to express a decisive end rather than a temporary pause. Alternatives such as "put a stop to" or "bring to an end" can provide similar meanings with slight variations in emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

put a stop to

Emphasizes immediate cessation; slightly more forceful.

bring to an end

Focuses on concluding something, often a process or activity.

put an end to

Similar to "bring to an end" but implies a deliberate action to stop something.

terminate

A more formal term for ending something, often used in official contexts.

cease

A formal term indicating the stopping of an action or condition.

discontinue

Suggests stopping something that was ongoing, often a service or product.

break off

Implies an abrupt ending, often in relationships or negotiations.

hold off

Means to postpone or delay, rather than completely stop.

suspend

Means to temporarily stop something, with the possibility of resuming later.

curtail

Implies reducing or limiting something, rather than stopping it entirely.

FAQs

How can I use "call a halt" in a sentence?

You can use "call a halt" when you want to express that something needs to stop. For instance, "It's time to call a halt to the wasteful spending."

What phrases are similar to "call a halt"?

Alternatives include "put a stop to", "bring to an end", or "terminate", depending on the context.

Is "called a halt" grammatically correct?

Yes, "called a halt" is the past tense form of the idiom and is grammatically correct. For example, "The referee called a halt to the game."

When is it appropriate to use "call a halt" instead of "stop"?

"Call a halt" is more idiomatic and suggests a formal or decisive end to something. "Stop" is more direct and general. Use "call a halt" when you want to emphasize the need for an immediate and significant cessation.