in one's tracks

Definitions

Suddenly; abruptly, right where one stands.

Examples

“to stop⟳ dead in one's tracks”

“The sinner of the first half cut⟳ in from the left wing, losing his marker to take⟳ a gentle pass⟳ from Ceri Sweeney and leave⟳ Bristol's Craig Morgan frozen in his tracks.”

“After two years on the run⟳ from the US authorities the suspected thief known as the Barefoot Bandit has finally been stopped in his tracks.”

“Cyclist Anthony Robson found himself stopped in his tracks by this road sign⟳.”

“Galena turned to look⟳ at them, her face⟳ alight with the glow the Sword of Lumina provided. Her expression was dangerous. It would have⟳ stopped most creatures dead in their tracks, but not the earagos. However, that could have⟳ been the fact they had poor vision.”

“As he creeps towards the main road, someone, another occupied former human, pokes their head around the corner, then calls to others in the strange language, pointing him out. Wheeler stops in his tracks. In another moment, ten or eleven non-people are advancing on him from the road. Two of them are carrying something with them, a limp, badly broken human— a normal human, Wheeler realises with some shock⟳, like⟳ him.”

“Something stopped me dead in my tracks / I was headed for disaster and then I turned back”

““Sept. 11th stopped all alternative female voices in their tracks, because when people get⟳ scared, they get⟳ conservative and what does a conservative society loathe? A dangerous woman,” she said.”

CEFR level