stopshort
verbUK /ˌstɒp ˈʃɔːt/
US /ˌstɑːp ˈʃɔːrt/
To suddenly stop before you finish doing something.
She started to laugh but stopped short when she saw his serious face.
OTHER MEANINGS
2. To stop moving just before reaching a place or point.
The car stopped short of the crossing.
3. To not go as far as doing or saying something.
He stopped short of calling it a mistake.
4. To come to an unexpected end before completion.
The story stopped short, leaving us curious.