What does the idiom "come to a standstill" mean?

Idioms are generally defined as groups of words that form a meaningful whole when they come together, even though the words in them do not make sense on their own. They have produced many idioms according to their own cultural characteristics in communities using the English language. What does come to a standstill mean? In what situations is come to a standstill used?

Meaning of "come to a standstill"

Meaning

The idiom “come to a standstill” is used to describe a situation in which progress or activity halts, stops or slows down significantly. It is used when describing any type of progression, from physical movement to the advancement of a project or plan.

Etymology

The phrase “come to a standstill” has been in use since at least the 16th century. The phrase “standstill” can be traced back to the Middle English word “standstille”, which means “silence” or “cessation of motion”. The phrase “come to a standstill” conjures images of something steadily progressing, only to suddenly freeze and stop abruptly.

Usage

The idiom “come to a standstill” is used to describe a situation in which activity or progression has ceased abruptly or slowed down significantly. It is used when discussing any type of progress, be it physical movement or project advancement. It may be used to describe both positive and negative scenarios. For example, it could be used to describe an unexpected positive outcome, such as when a traffic jam comes to a standstill and drivers get to their destinations quickly, or a negative scenario, such as when a project is delayed and comes to a standstill.

Example Sentences

  • “The project came to a standstill when funding was suddenly cut.”
  • “The traffic came to a standstill after the accident.”
  • “The negotiations came to a standstill when both sides could not agree on a compromise.”
  • “The campaign came to a standstill when the candidate dropped out of the race.”

The meanings of the words in the "come to a standstill" idiom

The universal role of idioms

"Kill two birds with one stone" is an English idiom that means to accomplish two things with a single action. In French, the similar idiom is "Faire d'une pierre deux coups," which translates to "To kill two birds with one stone." This idiom highlights the efficiency of completing two tasks with one action.

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