# hit the buffers

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/hit-the-buffers
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

To stop suddenly and unexpectedly.

## Examples

- Our project hit the buffers when we ran out of money.
- The negotiations were going well until they hit the buffers over a disagreement about the final price.
- Despite the initial momentum of the reform movement, the legislation hit the buffers when the opposition party refused to support the new budget.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.