pull up short

动词 pull up short:

1. stop abruptly

1. After having pointedly warned Baghdad not to use poison gas or combat aircraft anywhere in Iraq, warnings that had encouraged the rebellion, Mr.Bush pulled up short when Iraq continued to fly combat helicopters against the insurgents.
   经过特别警告巴格达不得在伊拉克任何地方使用毒气和作战飞机(这些警告鼓励了少数民族叛变)以后，当伊拉克继续用作战直升机对付叛军时，布什却半途而废未加制止。