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
But the billionaire state chief executive, who has leveraged his wealth to build up state and local party organizations and secure political loyalty, saw that support stop short of extending to Stratton.
—
Rick Pearson, Chicago Tribune, 19 July 2025
The paper also expressed growing concern over Beijing's increasing use of gray-zone activities—coercive actions that stop short of war—and warned that military pressure, including potential blockades, could be used to threaten Taipei.
—Micah McCartney, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 July 2025
Doorless openings and walls that stop short of the ceiling enhance the open floor plan’s sense of flow, including inside the second-floor primary suite, which feels plenty big enough to accommodate more than just two people.
—Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 30 June 2025
Still, Harmon’s activity is reflective of a political culture in Springfield where officials talk a good game about the importance of ethics in government but routinely stop short of adopting robust laws governing their conduct.
—Ray Long, Chicago Tribune, 8 June 2025
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Rick Pearson, Chicago Tribune, 19 July 2025
The paper also expressed growing concern over Beijing's increasing use of gray-zone activities—coercive actions that stop short of war—and warned that military pressure, including potential blockades, could be used to threaten Taipei.
—Micah McCartney, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 July 2025
Doorless openings and walls that stop short of the ceiling enhance the open floor plan’s sense of flow, including inside the second-floor primary suite, which feels plenty big enough to accommodate more than just two people.
—Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 30 June 2025
Still, Harmon’s activity is reflective of a political culture in Springfield where officials talk a good game about the importance of ethics in government but routinely stop short of adopting robust laws governing their conduct.
—Ray Long, Chicago Tribune, 8 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for stop short
Cite this Entry
“Stop short.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stop%20short. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.
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