[bring] {sth} to a grinding halt
1
to cause something to suddenly and completely stop, often in a dramatic or unexpected manner
The idiom "bring to a grinding halt" originated from the world of machinery, where "grinding" refers to the process of removing material by rubbing it against a hard surface. It can be used to describe a range of scenarios, such as when a business or economy suffers a major downturn, when a project or plan fails, or when a person's life takes an unexpected turn for the worse.
- By the time they realized the extent of the problem, the malfunction had brought the entire system to a grinding halt.
- The accident on the highway brought traffic to a grinding halt this morning.
- The pandemic has brought the tourism industry to a grinding halt in many countries.
- The strike brought production at the factory to a grinding halt for several weeks.