stop (someone) in (their) tracks

if something stops someone in their tracks, or if they stop in their tracks, they suddenly stop what they are doing because they are so surprised.

A loud scream stopped me dead in my tracks.

He opened the door and stopped in his tracks. A complete stranger was sitting in his office.

• have your head up your arse
• have your heart set on
• have your heart set on doing something
• have your heart set on something
• have your knife into
• have your knife into someone
• have your mind on
• have your mind on something
• have your moments
• have your name in lights
• have your nose in a book
• have your nose in the air
• have your pick of
• have your pick of something
• have your share of
• have your share of something
• have your sights set on
• have your sights set on doing something
• have your sights set on something
• have your wicked way with
• have your wicked way with someone
• have your wits about
• have your wits about you
• have your work cut out
• have your work cut out for