deadlockdead‧lock /ˈdedlɒk $ -lɑːk/ noun [singular, uncountable] 
The talks have reached a complete deadlock. a last-ditch effort to break the deadlock Negotiations ended in deadlock.► see thesaurus at progress2 British English a deadbolt—deadlocked adjective: Talks between management and unions remain deadlocked.
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- In the same year the issue came before Parliament, but there was complete deadlock.
- Syria and Israel broke a six-month deadlock in their talks when they sent peace envoys to Maryland.
- The deadlock over the US budget had turned away some investors.
- The talks have reached a complete deadlock.
- Their first trial ended in deadlock when the jury could not reach an agreement.
- There are hopes that an agreement can be made to break the deadlock between the White House and Congress.
- But birthday boy Wright was waiting to break the deadlock with the goal he had been seeking all night.
- Court decisions from previous budget deadlocks keep most money flowing without a spending plan.
- In 1970, the deadlock lasted three months.
- Nearer home, Northern Ireland only produced renewed deadlock.
- Their first trial in Van Nuys Superior Court ended in deadlock in 1994.
- This has led to parliamentary deadlock.
THESAURUSno progress
[countable, uncountable] a situation in which no further progress can be made because two groups or organizations cannot find a way to end a disagreement: · The negotiations ended in deadlock.· At that point the strike appeared to have reached a stalemate.· the year-long political deadlock between the two parties
[singular] formal a situation in which progress has stopped completely, especially because people cannot agree on what to do next: · The continuing impasse over the budget.· The situation seemed to have reached an impasse.
to slowly stop making any progress: · The economy seems to be grinding to a halt.· It was clear that the peace talks had ground to a halt.
Longman Language Activatorwhen people disagree when people disagree with each other: · The party is seriously split by internal rivalries and disagreements.disagreement about/over: · Disagreement over who should produce the next album caused the band to split.disagreement between/among: · There is some disagreement among medical experts about the best treatment for back pain.
when people are unable to agree, especially about something important - use this as a way of avoiding more direct words like 'argument' and 'disagreement': difference of opinion about/over: · There were major differences of opinion over who should command the UN forces.difference of opinion between/among: · There is a difference of opinion between the chairman and the board as to the best way to handle the takeover.
a serious disagreement about a decision, plan, or action, that causes arguments for a long time in newspapers, on television etc: · Controversy surrounds the TV show, which many consider to be racist, sexist, and homophobic.controversy over: · There has been a huge controversy over where to put the city's new sports stadium and who should build it.
a situation in which two groups disagree, and no agreement is possible because each group refuses to change its mind even slightly: · Parents believe that pressure from city hall could force an end to the stalemate with the school board.deadlock/stalemate over: · the political deadlock over allowable levels of greenhouse emissionsbreak the deadlock/stalemate (=end the situation): · US negotiators met with representatives from both countries today in an attempt to break the deadlock.
continuous disagreement and angry feelings or unfriendliness between people: · Teenage children begin to assert their independence and this can lead to a good deal of friction in the family.friction between: · There has been serious friction between the two army commanders.
formal strong disagreement that makes people feel unfriendly towards each other: · Money is the single biggest cause of discord in marriage.discord over: · There has always been discord over NATO's role in world conflict.
a refusal to accept an official opinion or an opinion that most people accept: · During the Prime Minister's speech there were several murmurs of open dissent from the crowd.· Anti-war dissent was increasing by the time Nixon took office.
a situation in which there is no progress a situation in which no further progress can be made because two groups or organizations disagree with each other about what to do, and cannot think of any way to end the disagreement: reach a stalemate/be at a stalemate: · At that point the strike appeared to have reached a stalemate.· Negotiations with the 200 army rebels are at a stalemate.end in stalemate: · It looks like the long-running dispute could end in stalemate.stalemate between: · The proposal was aimed at ending the stalemate between environmentalist and business groups.stalemate in: · the stalemate in the three-month long pay disputebreak a stalemate (=make it possible for discussions to continue): · an attempt to break a stalemate in the Middle East peace process
a situation in which no further progress can be made because two groups disagree strongly with each other and refuse to change their minds: · In the same year the issue came before Parliament, but there was complete deadlock.deadlock between: · There are hopes that an agreement can be made to break the deadlock between the White House and Congress.deadlock over: · The deadlock over the US budget had turned away some investors.end in deadlock: · Their first trial ended in deadlock when the jury could not reach an agreement.break a deadlock (=to make it possible to agree so that you can progress): · Syria and Israel broke a six-month deadlock in their talks when they sent peace envoys to Maryland.
a situation in which it is impossible to make any further progress in your work or in what you are trying to do: · My mother thought that I should be a model, but I knew that was a dead end.be/feel you are at a dead end: · At 52, Martin felt he was at a dead end professionally.come to/hit/reach etc a dead end (=stop making any progress): · The development of this drug has come to a dead end because of doubts about its safety.
formal a situation in which progress has stopped completely, especially because people cannot agree on what to do next: impasse in: · The continuing impasse in negotiations made military conflict seem likely.impasse between: · an impasse between the US and its European trading partnersimpasse over: · There seemed no way to end the impasse over the Lockerbie affair.reach an impasse/be at an impasse: · It was clear that the Soviet economy was at an impasse.· On July 25, the situation seemed to have reached an impasse.
an action or change that makes a situation worse, so that the progress that has been made is lost: a step backwards for: · Accepting the job would be a step backwards for me.· Several opposition leaders described the programme as a major step backwards for democracy.take a step backwards: · Any sort of stress such as upset in the family may cause a child to take a step backwards in behaviour.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY The talks have reached a complete deadlock. a last-ditch effort to break the deadlockCOLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADJECTIVE
1a situation in which a disagreement cannot be settled SYN stalemate: The talks have reached a complete deadlock. a last-ditch effort to break the deadlock· Later attempts to solve the political deadlock have failed.
NOUN· Court decisions from previous budget deadlocks keep most money flowing without a spending plan.· Bunds performed better than U. S. Treasuries this week, which were hurt by the budget deadlock.
VERB· Then, at last, Guido broke the deadlock.· House, Senate also try to break deadlocks on other issues.· Perhaps here was the key to break the deadlock, the key to the throne of the Wyrmberg.· Marco Van Basten grabbed his fourth goal of the season, 12 minutes after Daniele Massaro had broken the deadlock.· But Mr Razali is the first envoy to successfully break the deadlock.· Such an intervention could help break the current deadlock between Livingstone and the Government, which is heading for the courts.· Senior officials will meet again in October in an attempt to break the deadlock.· Mr Yeltsin can break the deadlock only by choosing the second, riskier, course of action.
· The first trial ended in deadlock in 1994.· Their first trial in Van Nuys Superior Court ended in deadlock in 1994.· One juror from the first Menendez trial, which ended in deadlock in 1994, was among the spectators.
· It is inevitable that the lawyers will reach deadlock in their negotiations over the detailed terms in the purchase and sale agreement.· The strike appeared to have reached a deadlock.
The talks have reached a complete deadlock. a last-ditch effort to break the deadlock Negotiations ended in deadlock.► see thesaurus at progress2 British English a deadbolt—deadlocked adjective: Talks between management and unions remain deadlocked.