
Stop the clock
Sports Context
Used extensively in sports to indicate a timeout or break in the action.

The coach signaled to stop the clock after the player's injury.
Time-Sensitive
Implies urgency or a critical moment where every second counts.

As the deadline approached, we had to stop the clock to resolve the issue.
Temporary Pause
Indicates a short interruption, not the end of the activity.

The match continued after they stopped the clock to check the score.
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