History Main / StoppedDeadInTheirTracks

* ''WesternAnimation/HazbinHotel'': In "[[Recap/HazbinHotelS1E5DadBeatDad Dad Beat Dad]]", Husker gets very angry at Alastor after he gleefully says he is his [[YourSoulIsMine 'pet']], leading him to mutter under his breath: "Big talk for someone who's also on a leash". He quickly regrets this as Alastor stops dead in his tracks, his power causing the lights to flicker and his voice taking on his signature radio-static quality, [[TranquilFury eerily asking what he said.]] He manifests a chain around Husker's neck, threatening to tear his soul apart and broadcast his screams live if he says that again. Alastor then goes back to his genial character, leaving Husk [[QuakingWithFear shaking with fear on the ground.]]

* ''WesternAnimation/HazbinHotel'': In "[[Recap/HazbinHotelS1E5DadBeatDad Dad Beat Dad]]", Husker gets very angry at Alastor after he gleefully says he is his 'pet', leading him to mutter under his breath: "Big talk for someone who's also on a leash". He quickly regrets this as Alastor stops dead in his tracks, his power causing the lights to flicker and his voice taking on his signature radio-static quality, [[TranquilFury eerily asking what he said.]] He manifests a chain around Husker's neck, threatening to tear his soul apart and broadcast it live if he says that again. Alastor then goes back to his genial character, leaving Husk [[QuakingWithFear shaking with fear on the ground.]]

** ''WesternAnimation/TheLionKingIISimbasPride'': Kiara, in tears, says that [[DevastatingRemark Simba will never be like Mufasa]], causing Simba to stop his ranting and look back in shock to see her running away.

* This trope is [[OlderThanDirt so old]] it's evolutionarily hard-wired into the human system. The fight-or-flight response also includes the [[DeerInTheHeadlights'freeze' element]], which causes a person to stop everything they are doing in response to a potentially threatening noise. This was a naturally-selected trait, as was the rest of the response, as it allows us to analyse our environment and potentially avert a conflict, resulting in greater rates of survivability.

* ''Literature/{{Jingo}}'': This happens to Lord Vetinari when he believes the useful conversation with his scientific advisor Leonard of Quirm has been completed. Vetinari has just turned to go when it belatedly occurs to him that Leonard has just said something surprising about going ''underneath'' an island out in the Central Sea. He stops in his tracks, turns, and applies a little more careful listening. Which establishes that Ankh-Morpork has a submarine at its disposal.

* ''WebAnimation/HelluvaBoss:'' In "[[Recap/HelluvaBossS2R6Oops Oops]]", Blitz and Fizzarolli run into each other in the Greed ring, [[ThePowerOfHate to the delight of neither of them]]. According to Fizz, "twice in the last 15 years is already way too much", and begins walking off. Blitz disdainfully spits that at least he still works and doesn't get everything handed to him like a "pampered AttentionWhore", causing Fizz to stop in anger and [[AngryAnimalisticGrowl growl]]. He then pulls one on Blitz who has begun walking off, saying that that's what ''[[DevastatingRemark resilience and talent]]'' gets you. While also stating he had [[BiggerIsBetterInBed bigger]] [[DoubleEntendre horns]] than him. Blitz reacts to this with [[RageBreakingPoint Response 6.]]

The SuperTrope to ArmorPiercingQuestion and ArmorPiercingResponse as the collective natural reaction to these, although they do not have to be. Related to and commonly overlaps with DoubleTake and StunnedSilence, particularly in the first example, as the impact of the question is left entirely to body language. SisterTrope to BattleInterruptingShout and ATruceWhileWeGawk, where two parties in active conflict stop as a result of a "STOP IT!" or a jaw-dropping sight.

Can result in a DramaticDrop, or if they are driving, [[BrakeAngrily braking angrily]]. The internal version of a SpitTake. The aftermath of this may include looks of [[MyGodWhatHaveIDone guilt]] and reconsideration of their actions. Compare ExplainExplainOhCrap, when a character stops speaking (instead of doing something) about a particular topic when they realize something wrong or alarming. Compare DeerInTheHeadlights as someone freezing in fear of being attacked.

* ''WesternAnimation/TheAmazingWorldofGumball'': In the episode "[[Recap/TheAmazingWorldOfGumballS4E36TheDetective The Detective]]", Daisy goes missing and Anais takes the responsibility to find her, the suspects being her brothers Gumball and Darwin. At one point of the episode, Anais discovers Gumball in the basement, whose course of action ​is promptly reduced to only giving quick answers to what Anais said or asked. [[spoiler:Granted, he thought she was mad at him for escaping, when in reality she was convinced that he was the one trying to dispose of Daisy.]]

* ''Series/FraggleRock'': In "[[Recap/FraggleRockS4E25TheGorgWhoWouldBeKing The Gorg Who Would Be King]]", Wembley says the source of wisdom they're going to visit is the seemingly ordinary heap of trash behind them, Junior is ready to leave.
-->'''Junior:''' [[YoureInsane You Fraggles are crazy!]] [[ScrewThisImOuttaHere I'm getting out of here.]]\\
''[From behind him, the Trash Heap rises up.]''\\
'''The Trash Heap:''' Junior Gorg! How nice of you to drop by.\\
''[Junior stops short, his mouth gaping in shock. After a moment of StunnedSilence, he turns to see who's speaking.]''\\
'''Junior:''' Are... are you... you talking to... to me?\\
'''The Trash Heap:''' [[AskAStupidQuestion You see another Gorg who looks like he just ate a Nirvana Tree leaf anywhere around here?]]

* ''WebVideo/{{Highcraft}}'': PlayedForLaughs when Logan joins the game with the username YODIEgangBOOF, causing Cooper to stop mid-sentence to read it out with disbelief.