bring up sharply

bring (one) up sharply

To cause one to abruptly stop doing something. The sudden blaring of the alarm brought me up sharply on my way down the hall. News of the reduction in funding brought our researchers up sharply.See also: bring, sharply, up

bring someone up sharply

 and bring someone up shortto surprise or shock someone; to make someone face something unpleasant, suddenly. The slap in the face brought me up sharply. The loud bang brought me up short.See also: bring, sharply, up