stop short
Definition of stop short
: to stop or be stopped just before doing or reaching something I had to slam on the brakes when the car in front of me stopped short. He was about to say something, then stopped short. —often + of The boss said that she was unhappy with some employees, but she stopped short of naming which ones. The running back was stopped short of the goal line.
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Word by Word Definitions
: to close by filling or obstructing
: to hinder or prevent the passage of
: to get in the way of : be wounded or killed by
: cessation, end
: a pause or breaking off in speech
: a graduated set of organ pipes of similar design and tone quality
: serving to stop : designed to stop
: having little length
: not tall or high : low
: not extended in time : brief
: in a curt manner
: for or during a brief time
: at a disadvantage : unawares
: the sum and substance : upshot
: a short syllable
: a short sound or signal
: short-circuit
: shortchange, cheat
: to sell (a security) short in expectation of a fall in prices
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