standstillstand‧still /ˈstændˌstɪl/ noun [singular] 
Strikers brought production to a standstill.at a standstill Traffic was at a standstill.
EXAMPLES FROM THE CORPUS
- And bringing an already faltering economy to its knees, transport workers brought the country to a virtual standstill in December.
- If the electric power could be cut, industry everywhere would be brought to a standstill.
- Retailers, home sellers and transportation companies from airlines to freight haulers saw activity brought to a standstill in the blizzard.
- Sinn Fein is excluded from peace talks that are now at a virtual standstill.
- So many people attended his funeral in Cheltenham, that the town was brought to a standstill.
- When Hardin did arrive at the capital world, it was to find all normal business at an absolute standstill.
Longman Language Activatornot moving
not moving - use this especially about people who are not moving, or about places where there is no wind: · There was no wind and the trees were completely still.still water: · Anna looked out across the still waters of the lake.keep/stand/sit still: · Keep still while I tie your shoes.· Percy was so thrilled he could hardly sit still.
: stationary car/vehicle/truck/traffic a car, vehicle etc that is not moving: · The truck swerved and hit a stationary vehicle.· a four-mile queue of stationary traffic
if traffic is at a standstill it is not moving. If rail or bus services are at a standstill they have stopped operating: · Traffic was at a standstill on the motorway.bring something to a standstill (=make it stop moving or operating): · A severe storm brought rail services to a standstill yesterday.
not moving because there is no wind: dead calm (=completely calm): · The sea was dead calm.calm night/evening etc: · The night was calm and warm.· It was a calm, clear, beautiful day.
completely still - used especially in literature: · Four motionless figures stood on the pier.stand/sit/remain motionless: · I could see my father standing motionless in the doorway.· Kemp sat motionless as the verdict was read.
not moving or not able to move, especially because of fear or tiredness: · Brigg was immobile, his eyes fixed on the horizon.immobile with: · I stood there, immobile with terror.
to be unable to move from the place where you are standing or sitting because you are very frightened, surprised, or interested by something that is happening: be glued to the TV/your chair etc: · Dad was glued to the TV all day long.· We were glued to our chairs and listening intently to every word.be glued/rooted to the spot: · I was rooted to the spot, unable to take my eyes off the strange creature.
to be completely still, especially because you are frightened or because you do not want someone to see you: · She hid behind the door, not moving a muscle.· I didn't dare move a muscle. He would have shot me.
to stop normal work or services from continuing British also paralyze American to make it impossible for an industry, system, service etc to continue working normally: · Strike action has paralysed the region's public transport system.· Over Illinois, the storm broke, paralyzing the state with blizzards and freezing temperatures.
to make it impossible for an industry, system, service etc to continue working normally: · Unexpected bad weather has brought London to a standstill.· Further interest rate rises may bring the manufacturing industry to a standstill.· Rail services have been brought to a standstill by severe flooding in many areas.bring something to a virtual standstill: · Traffic was brought to a virtual standstill as protestors drove in convoy along the motorways.
when a vehicle stops moving if a vehicle or its driver stops , the vehicle stops moving: · Could you stop just here on the left?· We'd better stop at the next gas station.· A yellow car stopped outside the house.
if a car or its driver pulls up , the car comes closer to something or someone and stops: pull up at/outside/next to etc: · We pulled up at a small cafe just outside Bordeaux.· A blue van pulled up behind us.
if a car or its driver pulls in , the driver stops the car at the side of the road or in a parking space: · I rounded the corner, looking for a place to pull in.· Jeff parked in front of the house and I pulled in beside him.
if a car or its driver pulls over , the driver drives to the side of the road and stops: · A policeman was standing by the side of the road, signalling to me to pull over.· I pulled over and looked at the map.· The truck pulled over and a man got out.
especially written to gradually get slower and then stop: · The taxi came to a stop outside the hotel.· The bus slowed down and came to a halt at some traffic lights.come to a sudden/abrupt halt/stop: · As Jamie spoke, the train came to an abrupt halt, nearly throwing us all on the floor.
especially written to gradually get slower and then stop completely - use this about traffic or about a vehicle: · The train came to a standstill about a mile outside Abbeville and didn't move for 20 minutes.· Traffic in the city ground to a halt as the streets filled with angry demonstrators.
if a vehicle or its driver brakes , the driver makes it slow down or stop by using the brakes: · I saw a roadblock ahead, and braked.brake hard/sharply: · A bus came round the corner and braked sharply.
to make a car, bus etc stop very suddenly by pressing very hard on the brakes: · I slammed on the brakes, skidding to a stop.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY Strikers brought production to a standstill.COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADJECTIVE
a situation in which there is no movement or activity at allcome to a standstill/bring something to a standstill Strikers brought production to a standstill.· From a virtual standstill he jumped over.· And bringing an already faltering economy to its knees, transport workers brought the country to a virtual standstill in December.· The economy comes to a virtual standstill as the population is forced to turn to print and writing for communication purposes.· Sinn Fein is excluded from peace talks that are now at a virtual standstill.
VERB· Read in studio Finally, traffic on a busy road was brought to a standstill this afternoon ... by a train.· Retailers, home sellers and transportation companies from airlines to freight haulers saw activity brought to a standstill in the blizzard.· If the electric power could be cut, industry everywhere would be brought to a standstill.· The South Metropolitan tramways were not brought completely to a standstill and Sutton depôt kept cars on the road.· The blizzard that brought Washington to a standstill extended the blackout for several more days.· So many people attended his funeral in Cheltenham, that the town was brought to a standstill.· Traffic was brought to a standstill on a busy stretch of the M-one today after cars and lorries became stuck in tar.
· Business and legislation came to a standstill.· You might fill half a page or a dozen pages before you come to a standstill.· For the first time in memory the ice bridge had come to a sudden standstill.· Time has come to a standstill.· The sun has come to a standstill, hours above the river and the opposite shore.· Life on the island was in danger of coming to a standstill.· The carriage came to a standstill as George was forced to stop for the flesh buyers blocking the way.
Strikers brought production to a standstill.at a standstill Traffic was at a standstill.