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THE IDIOM COLLECTION LEARN & PRACTISE

Stop someone in their tracks

Understand the meaning. See it in context. Make it yours.

01 / UNDERSTAND

Meaning in plain English

Make someone suddenly stop moving or stop what they are doing.

02 / SEE IT IN CONTEXT

The expression in a sentence

  1. A familiar voice stopped me in my tracks as I crossed the hall.

03 / CHECK YOUR UNDERSTANDING

Quick idiom quiz

Try the question without looking back, then write a sentence of your own. You can retry as often as you like.

Can you recall the expression?

Which expression from this lesson matches this meaning?

Make someone suddenly stop moving or stop what they are doing.
Show the answer

Stop someone in their tracks — Make someone suddenly stop moving or stop what they are doing.

Try your own sentence (optional)

Make it yours

Write one sentence using “Stop someone in their tracks” about your own life.

Check your sentence

Does your sentence match this meaning?

Make someone suddenly stop moving or stop what they are doing.

Compare: A familiar voice stopped me in my tracks as I crossed the hall.

Check the spelling and how the expression fits the sentence. Your example can be different.

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GO DEEPER

More ways to understand and use it

When to use it

Use this expression about a sudden interruption, surprising sight or striking piece of news. It is natural in conversation and storytelling.

More examples in context

  • The unexpected result stopped the researchers in their tracks.
  • The view from the doorway stopped us in our tracks.

Usage note

Change “their” to match the person: “stopped me in my tracks”. “Dead” can add emphasis: “stopped me dead in my tracks”; it does not imply death in this idiomatic use.

A short conversation

A: Why did you pause at the gallery entrance?
B: That huge painting stopped me in my tracks. I hadn’t expected anything like it.
A: Let’s go back and look at it properly.

One more practice question

What happens when a surprising sight stops someone in their tracks?

A. They suddenly stop what they are doing.
B. They continue without noticing it.

Check your answer

A. The expression describes an abrupt stop caused by the experience.

Related lessons

Meaning and usage checked against Cambridge Dictionary. Explanations, examples and conversation are original.

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