stop in tracks
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.

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.

Related vocabulary: stop short

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲

stop in one's tracks
to stop very quickly or with great force
The elephant was forced to stop in its tracks at the electric fence.

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲

stop in one's tracks
{v. phr.}, {informal} To stop very quickly or with great force.
The hunter pulled the trigger and stopped the deer cold.

When I saw Mary on the street, I was so surprised I stopped dead.

The deer heard a noise and he stopped in his tracks.

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲

stop someone in tracks
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.

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.

Related vocabulary: stop short

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲