standoff
Translation
stand-off, deadlock, stalemate, impasse
Examples
The negotiations ended in a standoff.
The negotiations ended in a stand-off.
There was a tense standoff between police and protesters.
There was a tense stand-off between police and protesters.
Grammar Patterns
((between A and B)) a confrontation between two sides There was a tense stand-off between the two leaders.
Similar Words
Synonyms: deadlock, stalemate, impasse; Antonyms: agreement, resolution
Etymology
From the phrasal verb 'to stand off', meaning to keep a distance. It describes a situation where two parties keep their distance and won't concede.
Memory Tips
Imagine two people 'standing off' from each other, refusing to move closer to an agreement. This visual represents the deadlock.