stop (redirected from stop out)

The buck stops here.

something that you say in order to tell someone that you will take responsibility for a situation or problem. We carry out all the safety tests in this department, so the buck stops here.

See also: buck, here

The buck stops with someone.

The buck stops here. - something that you say in order to tell someone that you will take responsibility for a situation or problem. The police authorized the raid and they must accept that the buck stops with them.

See also: buck

come to a full stop

to end, especially because of a problem or difficulty. After a series of health problems his career came to a full stop.

See also: come, full

a pit stop (mainly American, informal)

a short stop that you make on a long car journey in order to rest, eat and go to the toilet. Clean toilets and a nice place to eat are what drivers are looking for when they make a pit stop.

See also: pit

pull out all the stops

to do everything you can to make something successful. They pulled out all the stops for their daughter's wedding. The airline certainly pulled out all the stops to impress us. (often + to do something)

See also: all, pull

show-stopping

a show-stopper - a performance or part of a performance that is extremely good. She gave a show-stopping performance in La Traviata. (always before noun)

stop at nothing

to be willing to do anything in order to achieve something, even if it is dangerous or harms other people. She's one of these people who sets herself a goal and then she'll stop at nothing to achieve it. (often + to do something)

See also: nothing

stop (someone) in their tracks

if something stops someone in their tracks, or if they stop in their tracks, they suddenly stop what they are doing because they are so surprised. A loud scream stopped me dead in my tracks. He opened the door and stopped in his tracks. A complete stranger was sitting in his office.

See also: track

stop short

to stop walking suddenly. Lucy stopped short in amazement.

See also: short

stop short of something/doing something

to decide not to do something. I stopped short of telling him what I really felt about him.

See also: short

stop the rot

to do something to prevent a situation from continuing to get worse. The team had been suffering low morale before Smith was brought in to stop the rot.

See also: rot

a whistle-stop tour

a very quick visit to several places. Coach loads of tourists come for whistle-stop tours of the main European cities. (often + of)

See also: tour

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the buck stops with someone

someone takes responsibility for a situation or problem. I approved the plan, I'm responsible for it, and the buck stops with me. I didn't feel the article misrepresented me. I mean, the buck stops here — I did write about those things.

See also: buck

pull out all the stops

to make every effort to achieve something. Both sides promise to pull out all the stops, running more TV and newspaper ads and making more phone calls to supporters.

See also: all, pull

put a stop to something

to stop something. I wish I could put a stop to those annoying phone calls.

stop at nothing (to do something)

to be willing to do anything to get what you want. She sets herself a goal and then stops at nothing to achieve it.

Usage notes: often used in the form will stop at nothing: Those people will stop at nothing, including murder, to harm you. We just don't know how much America must be reshaped to cope with a terrorist enemy that will stop at nothing.

See also: nothing

stop by (somewhere)

to visit a place briefly. Stop by on your way home and I'll give you that book. Can you stop in at the courthouse for a minute today?

stop (dead) in your tracks

to suddenly stop moving or doing something. When I heard the loud scream, I stopped dead in my tracks.

Usage notes: often used in the forms stop someone (dead) in their tracks or stop something (dead) in its tracks: The memo was supposed to stop the protest in its tracks.

stop short

See also: track

stop on a dime

to end movement very quickly. The car stopped on a dime to avoid slamming into a truck.

See also: dime

stop over

to stay at a place briefly on the way to somewhere else. Marj decided to stop over in Pittsburgh to see an old friend.

See also: over

stop short

to stop suddenly. She ran toward him but stopped short when she saw the gun.

stop (dead) in your tracks

See also: short

stop short of doing something

1. to decide not to do something. I stopped short of telling him what I really felt about him.

2. to almost do something, or partly do something without completing it. The punishments are quite severe but they stop short of losing your job.

Usage notes: sometimes used in the forms stop well short of or stop just short of: The government is stopping just short of threatening to go to war.

See also: short