Grind to a halt
verb phrase
To gradually slow down until stopping completely.
As the snow started to fall, the traffic in the city ground to a halt.
Often appears as...
- traffic ground to a halt
- production ground to a halt
Usage tips
Idiomatic
verb phrase
To stop operating properly.
The old car ground to a halt halfway up the hill.
Often appears as...
- machine ground to a halt
- system ground to a halt
verb phrase
To gradually slow down until stopping completely.
As the snow started to fall, the traffic in the city ground to a halt.
Often appears as...
- traffic ground to a halt
- production ground to a halt
Usage tips
Idiomatic
verb phrase
To stop operating properly.
The old car ground to a halt halfway up the hill.
Often appears as...
- machine ground to a halt
- system ground to a halt
Definition 1 of 2
Pro Tip 1/3Gradual Process
The phrase suggests a slow and incremental stop, not an abrupt one.
The marathon runner's pace ground to a halt as exhaustion set in.
Pro Tip 2/3Negative Connotation
Often used to describe an unwanted or problematic halt in activities or processes.
Negotiations between the companies ground to a halt due to disagreement.
Pro Tip 3/3Visual Imagery
Invokes the image of machinery slowing down, useful for emphasizing the struggle or difficulty of stopping.
As power dwindled, the assembly line gradually ground to a halt.
Pro Tip 1/3Gradual Process
The phrase suggests a slow and incremental stop, not an abrupt one.
The marathon runner's pace ground to a halt as exhaustion set in.
Pro Tip 2/3Negative Connotation
Often used to describe an unwanted or problematic halt in activities or processes.
Negotiations between the companies ground to a halt due to disagreement.
Pro Tip 3/3Visual Imagery
Invokes the image of machinery slowing down, useful for emphasizing the struggle or difficulty of stopping.
As power dwindled, the assembly line gradually ground to a halt.
Pro Tip 1/3Gradual Process
The phrase suggests a slow and incremental stop, not an abrupt one.
The marathon runner's pace ground to a halt as exhaustion set in.
Pro Tip 2/3Negative Connotation
Often used to describe an unwanted or problematic halt in activities or processes.
Negotiations between the companies ground to a halt due to disagreement.
Pro Tip 3/3Visual Imagery
Invokes the image of machinery slowing down, useful for emphasizing the struggle or difficulty of stopping.
As power dwindled, the assembly line gradually ground to a halt.
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