to bring up short

Examples

• All

• At this point, one is brought up short.

  Academic text (2002)

• The way he said it, so quiet and plain, brought me up short.

  Fiction book (1994)

• Boy, something like this really brings you up short.

  Same Time, Next Year (1978)

• Well, sir, that brought me up short and no mistake.

  Fiction book (2002)

• The sound of my name over the loudspeaker brought me up short.

  Fiction book (1997)

• In her eagerness, she looked neither right nor left until she was suddenly brought up short, face to face with me.

  Fiction book (1997)

• He's brought up short by the sight of the stain.

  Fiction book (2001)

• The recruits made a tentative step or two toward the barracks before being brought up short by Korda's stentorian assault.

  Fiction book (2000)

• The sudden news of the accident brought him up short during his conversation.

• Her unexpected question brought me up short and made me rethink my answer.

Synonyms

I

to interrupt

vsto bring up short

909 2.5

To stop someone speaking or an activity

adds the idea of a sudden, surprising halt rather than general breaking

P

to pause

vsto bring up short

346 1.0

Stop for a short time before continuing

is a sudden, unexpected halt rather than a short planned stop

C

to cut short

vsto bring up short

67 3.5

Stop something earlier than planned

implies a sudden, unexpected interruption rather than merely an early end

B

to break off

vsto bring up short

50 3.2

To stop something suddenly before it is finished, for example a talk or relationship

highlights sudden interruption specifically in speech or personal action

B

to bring up

vsto bring up short

22 3.0

Cause someone or something to stop suddenly

means the same sudden interruption but often applied to speech or action

C

to cut in

vsto bring up short

6 3.5

Interrupt someone who is speaking or doing something

is about causing an abrupt interruption affecting speech or action broadly

S

to stop (someone) in (their) tracks

vsto bring up short

• Informal

3 3.9

To suddenly stop moving or speaking because you are surprised

is similar but focuses on interruption in speech or action rather than wonder

H

to hush up

vsto bring up short

• Informal

2 5.0

Make someone stop talking and be quiet

is broader, covering abrupt interruption in speech or other actions

P

to pull up short

vsto bring up short

1 5.8

To stop suddenly before you expect it

is about causing someone to halt suddenly during speech or action

B

to break short

vsto bring up short

5.4

To stop something before it finishes

is more about a sudden unexpected interruption rather than planned ending

Antonyms

C

to continue

∞ 1.0

To keep doing something without stopping

P

to prolong

96 3.9

To make something last longer

How Abruptly

to cut off

620 3.8

to bring up short

1 7.4

to interrupt

909 2.5

to pause

346 1.0

to hesitate

318 2.5

Surface Forms

Morphology

Etymology