come to a grinding halt

idiom

of a machine
: to stop working or moving forward
The machinery came to a grinding halt.
often used figuratively
The project came to a grinding halt.

Examples of come to a grinding halt in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The central bank is also tightening monetary policy sharply, with key rates also at decades-high levels and growth having come to a grinding halt. Reuters, CNN, 26 Jan. 2023 Life doesn’t often come to a grinding halt. Alli Harvey, Anchorage Daily News, 10 July 2022

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Come to a grinding halt.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/come%20to%20a%20grinding%20halt. Accessed 29 Mar. 2025.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!