ENGLISH
REFERENCE

draw stumps

idiom
Meaning

To cease doing something, at least for the day.


Origin

disputed origin

From the game of cricket, where a day's play is terminated by the umpire drawing the stumps out of the ground.

Examples
SIMPLE

We have worked long enough, so let's draw stumps for today.

CONTEXTUAL

After twelve hours of intense negotiations, the team finally decided to draw stumps and resume the discussion tomorrow morning.

COMPLEX

Recognizing that their collective fatigue had rendered further progress impossible, the researchers chose to draw stumps and reconvene once they were properly rested.

Anchors to
Related idioms8entries
  1. 01

    call it stumps

    To decide to end an activity; to call it a day.

  2. 02

    draw a blank

    To be unable to recall a required piece of information.

  3. 03

    draw a line

    To delimit a boundary or border.

  4. 04

    draw a long bow

    To lie; to exaggerate.

  5. 05

    draw a straight furrow

    To live correctly or ethically, without deviating from the right line of duty.

  6. 06

    draw even

    To attain the same level as a competitor.

  7. 07

    draw fire

    To create a distraction that allows one's friends, co-workers, or other associates to gain an advantage over the distracted party.

  8. 08

    draw in

    To attract.

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