Wiktionary
skipped a beat
vb. (en-pastskip a beat)
Usage examples of "skipped a beat".
When she had first come in, after finishing the report of the brewing disaster on Rhommamool, and seen Jaina alone, her heart had skipped a beat.
Bess's heart skipped a beat, and the other petitioners stirred, muttering in indignation about one of their number being invited to dine with the magistrate, and a stranger at that!