動詞 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.
   經(jīng)過特別警告巴格達(dá)不得在伊拉克任何地方使用毒氣和作戰(zhàn)飛機(jī)(這些警告鼓勵了少數(shù)民族叛變)以后，當(dāng)伊拉克繼續(xù)用作戰(zhàn)直升機(jī)對付叛軍時，布什卻半途而廢未加制止。