time stands still

phrase2

1. •
   Used to emphasize a moment in time that is either catastrophic or even enjoyable in which one's sense of time is frozen or suspended.

   • Life without love is load; and time stands still; what we refuse to him, to Death we give, And then, then only, when we love, we live. — 1735
2. •
   Used to state that something, especially a place, has an archaic, anachronistic or historic feeling.

   • […] unconsciously and innocently succumb to the timeless paganism of a country where time stands still and the ancient ways of humanity know nothing about stock markets and finance capitalism. — 1957