the world froze for a few seconds

[alpacinou]

Hello.

Can I say "the world froze" in a situation where someone is feeling very ecstatic?

Is the sentence I have written correct and natural?

She hadn't seen her son for 8 years. And suddenly there he was at arrival gate of the airport. For several seconds, the whole world froze. She just couldn't believe her eyes.

 

[Phaedrus]

She hadn't seen her son for 8 years. And suddenly there he was at arrival gate of the airport. For several seconds, the whole world froze. She just couldn't believe her eyes.

I think it's fine. You could also say:

For several seconds, she stood there thunderstruck.

 

[alpacinou]

Honestly, I have hear "the world freeze" in different situations, but I don't know if it is used for positive situations.
For example after tasting something really good or seeing someone you really like.
I know it's not appropriate for everyday conversation. But I want to know when it can be used in writing...

 

[Phaedrus]

Honestly, I have hear "the world freeze" in different situations,

I doubt it. "[strike]The world freeze[/strike]" is ungrammatical. Maybe you mean that you've heard "the world freezes" or "the world froze."

If you don't like "thunderstruck," another common way to express your freezing idea is like this:

For several seconds, time stood still.
For several seconds, time seemed to stand still.

You could replace "time" with "the world" in those expressions.

 

[alpacinou]

I doubt it. "[strike]The world freeze[/strike]" is ungrammatical. Maybe you mean that you've heard "the world freezes" or "the world froze."

If you don't like "thunderstruck," another common way to express your freezing idea is like this:

For several seconds, time stood still.
For several seconds, time seemed to stand still.

You could replace "time" with "the world" in those expressions.

I like them. Can they be used for both positive and negative situations?

What do you think about these examples?

1. He kissed her lips and for several seconds the world stood still.

2. She saw her son after five years at the airport. When he walked in the arrival gate, the world stood still.

3. His wife was hit by a truck and her body catapulted in the air and slammed on the ground. He couldn't even scream. The whole world seemed to stand still.

 

[GoesStation]

But I wanna know when it can be used in writing...

I think you know what I want to say about the highlighted word.

 

[alpacinou]

I think you know what I want to say about the highlighted word.

My bad. I fixed it.

What do you folks think about the sentences in post #5?

 

[GoesStation]

My bad. I fixed it.

What do you folks think about the sentences in post #5?

Numbers 2 and 3 use the same incorrect preposition. Fix that and they'll all be OK.

 

[alpacinou]

Numbers 2 and 3 use the same incorrect preposition. Fix that and they'll all be OK.

What about now?

1. He kissed her lips and for several seconds the world stood still.

2. She saw her son after five years at the airport. When he walked into the arrival gate, the world stood still.

3. His wife was hit by a truck and her body catapulted into the air and slammed into the ground. He couldn't even scream. The whole world seemed to stand still.

 

[alpacinou]

Excuse me, but should I assume your "like" suggests all three sentences are now okay?

 

[GoesStation]

Excuse me, but should I assume your "like" suggests all three sentences are now okay?

Yes.