to cause someone to suddenly stop what they are doing.
A sharp stab of pain in my right knee brought me up short.
(redirected from bring up short)
bring (one) up sharply
To cause one to abruptly stop doing something. The sudden blaring of the alarm brought me up sharply on my way down the hall.News of the reduction in funding brought our researchers up sharply.
bring someone up sharply
and bring someone up short
to surprise or shock someone; to make someone face something unpleasant, suddenly. The slap in the face brought me up sharply.The loud bang brought me up short.