The car came to a sudden stop.

Meaning: The car stopped moving very quickly.

Choice of Words: Came is a verb that means to arrive or reach a place. Sudden is an adjective that means happening without warning. Stop is a verb that means to cease moving or operating.

Alternative Expressions

The car braked hard and stopped.

Meaning: This means that the car was moving and then the driver pressed on the brake pedal with a lot of force to stop the car. It's like saying, The car was driving and then the driver pressed on the brake pedal really hard to stop the car.

Choice of Words: Car is a vehicle that is used to transport people or things. Braked means that the driver pressed on the brake pedal to slow down or stop the car. Hard means that the driver pressed on the brake pedal with a lot of force. Stopped means that the car ceased moving. When you put them together, "The car braked hard and stopped" describes a situation where a car was moving and then the driver pressed on the brake pedal with a lot of force to stop the car.

The car screeched to a halt.

Meaning: This means that the car was moving and then made a loud, high-pitched noise as it came to a stop. It's like saying, The car was driving and then it made a really loud noise as it stopped.

Choice of Words: Car is a vehicle that is used to transport people or things. Screeched means that the car made a loud, high-pitched noise as it came to a stop. Halt means that the car stopped moving. When you put them together, "The car screeched to a halt" describes a situation where a car was moving and then made a loud, high-pitched noise as it came to a stop.

Related Expressions