bring (one) up short
(redirected from brought you up short)bring (one) up short
To cause one to abruptly stop doing something. The sudden blaring of the alarm brought me up short on my way down the hall. News of the reduction in funding brought our researchers up short. The anger in Tom's voice brought me up short because he's usually such an easygoing guy.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
bring (or pull) someone up short
make someone check or pause abruptly.Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017
bring/pull somebody up ˈshort
make somebody stop what they are doing because something attracts their attention or because they suddenly realize something: His criticism of my work pulled me up short, because I thought he was pleased with it.Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017