stop short
idiom
: 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 + ofThe 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.
Examples of stop short in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Usually when streaming services detect fake listeners, the companies block future payments but stop short of pursuing legal action.
—
Morgan Meaker, WIRED, 21 Mar. 2024
Biden will say the deal deserves scrutiny but will stop short of saying it should be blocked.
—Alan Murray, Fortune, 14 Mar. 2024
Each interaction was just vexing enough to prompt a response—but seemed to stop short of being aggressive or mean-spirited.
—Katherine J. Wu, The Atlantic, 14 Feb. 2024
Livingstone said that model should provide compensation for athletes but stop short of designating them employees.
—Steve Leblanc, Fortune, 25 Dec. 2023
But our imaginations tend to stop short, in part because the vast majority of us have never seen actual carnage.
—Jay Caspian Kang, The New Yorker, 28 Nov. 2023
What This Means For You The USPSTF’s draft recommendations for treating children with obesity stop short of suggesting weight loss medications or surgery.
—Korin Miller, Verywell Health, 20 Dec. 2023
To cut corners, some installers will stop short, leaving a small gap of unprotected paint (and an unsightly line).
—Michael Harley, Forbes, 29 Nov. 2023
Science & Medicine Controversial law punishing doctors who spread COVID misinformation on track to be undone
Sept. 11, 2023
Why did the CDC stop short of recommending the RSV vaccine for all older adults?
—Rong-Gong Lin Ii, Los Angeles Times, 15 Sep. 2023
Morgan Meaker, WIRED, 21 Mar. 2024
Biden will say the deal deserves scrutiny but will stop short of saying it should be blocked.
—Alan Murray, Fortune, 14 Mar. 2024
Each interaction was just vexing enough to prompt a response—but seemed to stop short of being aggressive or mean-spirited.
—Katherine J. Wu, The Atlantic, 14 Feb. 2024
Livingstone said that model should provide compensation for athletes but stop short of designating them employees.
—Steve Leblanc, Fortune, 25 Dec. 2023
But our imaginations tend to stop short, in part because the vast majority of us have never seen actual carnage.
—Jay Caspian Kang, The New Yorker, 28 Nov. 2023
What This Means For You The USPSTF’s draft recommendations for treating children with obesity stop short of suggesting weight loss medications or surgery.
—Korin Miller, Verywell Health, 20 Dec. 2023
To cut corners, some installers will stop short, leaving a small gap of unprotected paint (and an unsightly line).
—Michael Harley, Forbes, 29 Nov. 2023
Science & Medicine Controversial law punishing doctors who spread COVID misinformation on track to be undone
Sept. 11, 2023
Why did the CDC stop short of recommending the RSV vaccine for all older adults?
—Rong-Gong Lin Ii, Los Angeles Times, 15 Sep. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'stop short.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near stop short
Cite this Entry
“Stop short.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stop%20short. Accessed 27 Apr. 2024.
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