grind to a halt
To halt progression very abruptly, especially in an ultimately detrimental or undesirable manner. Likened to a machine or automobile that stops functioning due to the grinding of gears. Our project will grind to a halt if the CEO pulls his approval. Work on new tax legislation ground to a halt in Congress this week. Yes, negotiations have ground to a halt. I'm starting to wonder if we'll ever get this contract finalized!
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
grind to a halt
Fig. to slow down and stop. Every day about noon, traffic in town grinds to a halt. The bus ground to a halt at the corner and someone got off.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
grind to a halt
Also, come to a grinding halt. Gradually come to a standstill or end. For example, Once the funding stopped, the refurbishing project ground to a halt, or She's come to a grinding halt with that book she's writing. This expression alludes to a clogged engine that gradually stops or a ship that runs aground.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
grind to a halt
COMMON
1. If a process or an activity grinds to a halt, it gradually becomes slower or less active until it stops. The peace process has ground to a halt.
2. If a vehicle grinds to a halt, it stops slowly and noisily. The tanks ground to a halt after a hundred yards because the fuel had run out.
3. If a country grinds to a halt, all transport in it stops so people are unable to do the things they usually do. The whole country grinds to a halt after an hour's snow.
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed. © HarperCollins Publishers 2012
grind to a halt (or come to a grinding halt)
move more and more slowly and then stop. 1999 Times Traffic is expected to grind to a halt throughout the West Country as up to a million sightseers make the trip.
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017
grind to a ˈhalt/ˈstandstill
, come to a grinding ˈhalt
stop slowly: All work on the building has ground to a halt because of a shortage of materials. ♢ Every Friday night traffic comes to a grinding halt in Hammersmith.This idiom refers to the way a very large machine slowly stops working, with some of its parts grinding (= rubbing) together.
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017
grind to a halt, to
See come to a grinding halt.
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer Copyright © 2013 by Christine Ammer