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Pull, bring, etc. somebody up short

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Sudden Interruption

Used when something happens unexpectedly, causing a person to stop what they're doing immediately.

Illustration for Sudden Interruption
She started to apologize, but his glare brought her up short.
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Emotional Impact

The phrase often implies that the person is surprised or affected emotionally by the interruption.

Illustration for Emotional Impact
The sight of the injured animal pulled her up short.
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Not Literally

The stopping is usually metaphorical, not a physical halt. It's about stopping thoughts or actions.

Illustration for Not Literally
His confession pulled me up short; I had no reply.
Visual representation of the word "Pull, bring, etc. somebody up short"

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