A dictionary of Confusable Phrases: More Than 10,000 Idioms and Collocations

come to a full stop • come to a stop
come to a full stop —
1
. stop suddenly or unexpectedly: The
dog had a roll on the lawn before charging at her and coming
to a full stop ready to play. 2. be unable to proceed any further
with smth.: We have come to a full stop in our efforts to
achieve Utopia. 3. (of a narrative, etc.) terminate or end
abruptly: The story thus comes unexpectedly to a full stop.
come to a stop —be no longer moving: The elevator came to
a stop on the main floor.
come to a head • come to mind
come to a head —reach a crisis or a climax: The dispute must
come to a head soon; neither the union nor the owners will
tolerate these interminable delays.
come to mind —occur to a person; be recollected: There are
certain images that come to mind when people talk about
beauty queens.
See also: come into someone’s head / go to someone’s head.
come to a point • come to the point
come to a point—
1
. terminate in a point: The deep green
leaves come to a point and appear after the flowers in early
spring. 2. reach a certain stage: When we come to a point
where we want to check the students’ understanding, we put
up a multiple choice question. 3. (of a hunting dog ) take up a
position with the head pointing in the direction of game: If
there is too much game … the dog might flush before he can
come to a point.
come to the point—
1
. give the essential part of what one is
trying to say, ignoring what is irrelevant: Philip, I may as well
come straight to the point. I’m pregnant…. 2. = come to a
point 2: Science and technology had come to the point where
the parts fed upon each other continuously to enlarge the
whole. 3. (in the phrase “when it comes to the point”) when the
– 83 –
come to a point

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moment for action or decision comes: When it comes to the
point they rarely effect any real reform.