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come to a grinding halt
/kˈʌm tʊ ɐ ɡɹˈaɪndɪŋ hˈɒlt/
/kˈʌm tʊ ɐ ɡɹˈaɪndɪŋ hˈɑːlt/
to come to a grinding halt
[PHRASE]1
to suddenly and completely stop, often in a dramatic or unexpected manner, implying a sense of frustration, disappointment, or failure
What is the origin of the idiom "come to a grinding halt" and when to use it?
The idiom "come to a grinding halt" means to suddenly stop or come to a complete standstill, often after a period of gradual slowing down. The phrase is believed to have originated in the early 20th century and is often used to describe a situation or process that has stopped abruptly and unexpectedly. The phrase often implies that the event or process in question was moving slowly or gradually before stopping completely.