give (someone) pause

phrase

: to cause (someone) to stop and think about something carefully or to have doubts about something

I was going to ask her for help, but the look on her face gave me pause.

Examples of give (someone) pause in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The decades-long struggle to make Victory a viable neighborhood should give pause to proponents of tearing down City Hall to build an arena and entertainment district. — Mark Lamster architecture Critic, Dallas Morning News, 11 Mar. 2026

That fact alone should give pause to anyone concerned with America’s ability to prevail in future conflicts against capable state adversaries. — David A. Deptula, Forbes.com, 16 Jan. 2026

But, as history shows, there is plenty to give pause to those looking to pounce on first-day share offerings. — Jeff John Roberts, Fortune, 14 Jan. 2026

New Jersey is in a holding pattern and while the roster has the ability to take off, the last two years of stagnation give pause. — The Athletic Nhl, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2025