stop (someone) dead
To make someone or something come to a complete halt immediately or very suddenly. Hearing the gunshot in the distance stopped us both dead. Boy, Samantha could stop you dead with her smile!
stop dead
To immediately or suddenly come to a complete halt. I don't know what happened. The engine was running fine a second ago, but then it just stopped dead! Both of us stopped dead when we heard the gunshot in the distance.