stop

the buck stops here: seebuck.

pull out all the stops make a very great effort; go to elaborate lengths.

☞ The stops referred to here are those of an organ. Although this is an early 20th-century expression, Matthew Arnold, in the Preface to Essays in Criticism (1865) refers to an attempt on his behalf 'to pull out a few more stops in that…somewhat narrow-toned organ, the modern Englishman'.

stop at nothing recognize no obstacles or reasons for not doing something; be utterly ruthless or determined.

1991Time Seen simplistically and from afar, Saddam Hussein comes across as…the villain who will stop at nothing.

stop your ears

1 put your fingers in your ears to avoid hearing.

2 refuse to listen.

stop a gap serve to meet a temporary need.

stop someone's mouth bribe or otherwise induce a person to keep silent about something.

stop the show (of a performer) provoke prolonged applause or laughter, causing an interruption.