hit the buffers

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hit the buffers (third-person singular simple present hits the buffers, present participle hitting the buffers, simple past and past participle hit the buffers)

1. (idiomatic) To stop suddenly and unexpectedly.
   • 2011 December 10, Marc Higginson, “Bolton 1 - 2 Aston Villa”, in BBC Sport‎:

     The Midlanders will hope the victory will kickstart a campaign that looked to have hit the buffers, but the sense of trepidation enveloping the Reebok Stadium heading into the new year underlines the seriousness of the predicament facing Owen Coyle's men.