From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishpull/bring somebody up shortpull/bring somebody up shortSTOP DOING somethingSTOP MOVINGto surprise or shock someone so that they stop what they are doing or saying to think for a moment The question brought her up short, but, after a moment’s hesitation, she answered it. → short
Examples from the Corpus
pull/bring somebody up short• A moment later, realising she was teetering on the brink of self-pity, she brought herself up short.• A moment later, though, and she was bringing herself up short.• She has a red face and a manner that pulls people up short.• This brings us up short at the outset of our study.• However, never bring a preclear up short on this material.• But Blue brings himself up short, realizing that they have nothing really to do with Black. 