Stop dead in your tracks là gì năm 2024

Meaning: The expression “to stop dead in one’s tracks” means to suddenly stop moving, usually when frightened. In the above example, Vickie says she “stopped dead in (her) tracks” when she saw a bear. The expression comes from hunting and can also be used in the more literal meaning.

"Stop dead in your tracks" = dừng chết trên đường đi -> nghĩa là bất ngờ/bất thình lình dừng lại hoặc ngừng làm việc.

Ví dụ

You make your way to work, but time and time again, everything you see has somehow turned green. As you pull up to your office, you pass by a reflection (hình phản chiếu) in the mirror, and you stop dead in your tracks — you’re wearing green sunglasses!

“It is truly a work of literature (văn học),” said Obermeyer. “She [Lefteri] created a complex (phức tạp) structure, and there are phrases in this book that just absolutely make you want to stop dead in your tracks and cry they’re so beautiful.”

So, accept that failure (thất bại) is waiting for you. Are you going to stop dead in your tracks because you’re afraid to face it? Then you’re not going to grow. Success and failure are a package deal– take both, or take none.

The kids were running along the lawn when the sound of a loud motorcycle stopped them in their tracks.

3. To cease progressing or performing completely and very abruptly. The talk show host, who was right in the middle of his opening monologue, stopped dead in his tracks when an audience member stumbled out onto the stage. The economy stopped dead in its tracks as a result of the global pandemic.

4. To cause someone or something to halt progression in such a way. In this usage, a noun or pronoun can be used between "stop" and "(dead) in." The boss stopped everyone in the office in their tracks so that we could all focus on an important new project. This injunction from the courts will stop construction of the contentious hotel dead in its tracks.

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2022 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

stop dead in one's tracks

Fig. to stop completely still suddenly because of fear, a noise, etc. I stopped dead in my tracks when I heard the scream. The deer stopped dead in its tracks when it heard the hunter step on a fallen branch.

stop one (or something) dead in one's (or something's) tracks

Fig. to stop someone or something suddenly and completely. The gunshot stopped the killer dead in her tracks. The arrow stopped the deer dead in its tracks.

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

stop someone in their tracks

or

stop someone dead in their tracks

COMMON If something stops you in your tracks or stops you dead in your tracks, it makes you suddenly stop what you are doing because you are very surprised or frightened. Seen across wide fields of corn this magnificent church cannot fail to stop you in your tracks. Note: You can also say that someone stops in their tracks or stops dead in their tracks. They stopped in their tracks and stared at him in amazement. They turned round. And then they stopped dead in their tracks, their hearts beating fast. Somebody was behind them.

From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishstop/halt (dead) in your tracksstop/halt (dead) in your tracksSTOP MOVINGto suddenly stop, especially because something has frightened or surprised you → trackExamples from the Corpusstop/halt (dead) in your tracks• It had been stopped in its tracks by the Railway Inspectorate and a public outcry.• The people had stopped in their tracks, women were making their children stand them.• I stopped dead in my tracks, unsure of what to do next.• People stop in their tracks and stare.• Petey stopped dead in his tracks at the question.• Blue speaks her name, in a voice that seems strange to him, and she stops dead in her tracks.• A dreadful thought struck Jean, and she stopped in her tracks, right in the middle of the pavement.• An hour later they were halted in their tracks by a cataract not marked on the map.