stop short

USAGE SUMMARY

"stop short" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is typically used to describe abruptly ceasing an action before it is completed. For example: "The child stopped short of running into the street."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"We can't stop short.

The New York Times - Sports

They stop short.

The New Yorker

Why did it stop short?

The Washington Post

Never bounce, and stop short of pain.

University of California, Berkeley

"It seemed to stop short of that.

The Guardian - Music

I stop short of the bullwhip.

The Guardian - Film

I stop short of making medical claims.

The Guardian

Speculations stop short; wishfulness is curtailed.

The Guardian - Books

Why stop short of artificial enhancements?

The Guardian - Sport

"Hynes may have tried to stop short, but he didn't stop short enough".

The New York Times

Mr. Murdoch seemed to stop short of an outright endorsement.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "stop short" to indicate an abrupt cessation of movement, action, or speech, often suggesting incompletion or a deliberate holding back. For example, "He stopped short of revealing the secret."

Common error

Avoid using "stop short" when you simply mean to pause briefly. "Stop short" implies a deliberate or unexpected halt before reaching a specific point or goal, not just a temporary interruption.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "stop short" functions as a verb phrase indicating the abrupt cessation of an action or movement. Ludwig examples confirm its use in various contexts, such as physical stopping or refraining from saying something.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Academia

15%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

1%

Formal & Business

1%

Science

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "stop short" is a versatile verb phrase indicating an abrupt cessation of an action or movement, as validated by Ludwig. It is commonly used in news and media, as well as in academic writing, suggesting a neutral register. The phrase effectively conveys the idea of an interruption or deliberate incompletion. Remember to use "stop short" when you want to communicate an unexpected or deliberate halt before reaching a specific point, and avoid using it simply to indicate a pause. Be sure to explore related phrases like "halt abruptly" or "cease prematurely" for nuanced expression.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

halt abruptly

Emphasizes the suddenness of the stop without necessarily implying incompletion.

come to a standstill

Focuses on the cessation of movement or progress, often in a gradual manner but can also apply to sudden stops.

cease prematurely

Highlights that the action ended earlier than expected or desired.

break off

Suggests an interruption or termination of an activity, often implying a more forceful or intentional stop.

pull up

Specifically refers to stopping a vehicle, but can be used metaphorically.

cut short

Indicates that something was made shorter or ended earlier than planned.

terminate early

Highlights the early ending of a process or event.

fall short

Indicates failure to reach a desired goal or standard, implying a lack of completeness.

hesitate

Implies a pause or reluctance before continuing, suggesting a brief stop.

pause

Suggests a temporary cessation of activity, often with the intention of resuming.

FAQs

How to use "stop short" in a sentence?

The phrase "stop short" indicates an abrupt cessation of movement or action. For example, "The car "stopped short" to avoid hitting the pedestrian" or "The speaker "stopped short" of revealing sensitive information".

What does "stop short of" mean?

"Stop short of" means to avoid doing something, often because it would be undesirable or inappropriate. Example: "The company "stopped short of" making any public statements".

What can I say instead of "stop short"?

You can use alternatives like "halt abruptly", "come to a standstill", or "cease prematurely" depending on the context.

What's the difference between "stop short" and "fall short"?

"Stop short" implies an abrupt halt before reaching a point, whereas "fall short" means failing to meet a standard or expectation. "He stopped short of the cliff" versus "His performance fell short of expectations".