grind to a halt
To come to a standstill, or cease to be productive or make progress, due to an obstacleTo come to a standstill, or cease to be productive or make progress, due to an obstacle.
Meaning
1 sensesTo come to a standstill, or cease to be productive or make progress, due to an obstacle.
Work on the new high-rise ground to a halt as contractors tried to deal with all the red tape.
After the visionary's death, work on his ideas ground to a halt.
остановитьсяostanovitʹsja
- be unable to move further
Examples
1 sentencesProduction came grinding to a halt.
Translations
2 languagesBy meaning 1
Origin
From windmills. To stop a windmill from turning too quickly, such as during a strong gustFrom windmills. To stop a windmill from turning too quickly, such as during a strong gust of wind, excess corn would be poured between the grinding stone (top stone) and the nether stone (bottom stone). The extra pressure would cause the stones to slow down or literally "grind to a halt", and thereby stop the windmill from turning.
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Forms
grinds to a halt, grinding to a halt, ground to a halt, ground to a halt| Base form | grind to a halt · to grind to a halt |
|---|---|
| 3rd person singular | grinds to a halt |
| Present participle | grinding to a halt |
| Past simple | ground to a halt |
| Past participle | ground to a halt |
irregular · Lesson
Synonyms
3 synonymsLessons for this word
3 lessons- A1Present simple — Because it is a verb
- A1Past simple, irregular verbs — Because of its past form
- A2Present perfect: introduction — Because of its past participle