impasse


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at an impasse

At a point or problem that is insurmountable or from which there is no possible exit, progress, or negotiation. After hours of bitter debate, the two parties were at an impasse, and the discussion was left for the following day.
See also: impasse

come to an impasse

To reach a point or problem that is insurmountable or from which there is no possible exit, progress, or negotiation. After hours of bitter debate, the two parties came to an impasse, and the discussion was left for the following day.
See also: come, impasse

reach an impasse

To come to a point past which no further progress is able to be made. After three days of negotiations, we reached an impasse when it came to the matter of increased pay for staff. A: "My client is absolutely unwilling to compromise on this issue." B: "Then it looks as though we've reached an impasse."
See also: impasse, reach
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2015 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

come to an impasse

Fig. to reach a deadlock, stalemate, etc., in a situation. (Alludes to a blocked roadway.) The committee has come to an impasse in its deliberations.
See also: come, impasse

reach an impasse

to progress to the point that a barrier stops further progress. When negotiations with management reached an impasse, the union went on strike. The discussion reached an impasse and no one was able to propose a compromise.
See also: impasse, reach
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
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References in periodicals archive ?
To work in the impasse, you need to pick up what you find there.
Becoming minor
Since the cable industry hopes to use blackouts that result from retransmission negotiation failures, NAB has predicted that the CATV will generate impasses and point to them as evidence supporting its case.
NAB's Kaplan Addresses Cable Retrans Claims
Nawaz Sharif on his own has no solution to the impasse. PML-N on its own has no solution to the gridlock.
Blind Alleys
He said that it is a matter of satisfaction that the entire political leadership has become united for ending this political impasse.
Jamal criticises PAT, PTI sit-ins
Summary: Senate leaders of both parties began negotiations to avert a US default even as senators blocked legislation to prevent one and talks between the White House and House Republicans hit an impasse.
US fiscal deadlock widens
President Barack Obama and leading lawmakers show only small signs of breaking the fiscal impasse of the world's largest economy, the finance ministers and central bank governors are expected to discuss during their two-day event how to curb the impact on the global economy from Washington's problems, Japanese government officials said.
Kyodo news summary -2-
The legislative impasse undermines US citizen confidence in government, and could be a defining moment for young voters who resent the drama, dysfunction and waste.
Beginning Of The End For Washington
Nigel Fisher, the UN special representative in Haiti, told the UN Security Council that the situation in Haiti has been one of "impasse in the political domain." Fisher said the impasse was epitomized by failure to create an electoral commission in 2011, which resulted in no elections held since then.
UN: Haiti has failed to break political impasse since 2011
Circuit, claiming that the NLRB's finding of refusal to bargain was not supported by the evidence, which showed the two parties were at an impasse. The D.C.
NLRB cannot force companies to bargain in face of clear impasse
19 (Saba) - President Abdo Rabbo Mansour Hadi said on Wednesday that the Yemeni businessmen has part of the responsibility to help the country to tackle its economic impasse.
Hadi urges businessmen to help tackle Yemen's economic impasse
However, that agreement looked doomed just hours earlier when Akbar Al Baker, Qatar Airways chief executive officer, announced an "impasse in negotiations" and declared that Airbus was "still learning how to make aeroplanes" without elaborating on the reasons for his anger.
Qatar Airways signs $6.5b deal with Airbus
Pretoria, Oct 19 (ANI): Leaders of India, Brazil and South Africa (IBSA) have expressed serious concern over the ongoing impasse in WTO negotiations.
IBSA leaders express serious concern on WTO impasse
The Philippine government and the country's communist rebels will resume formal talks in October after the Norwegian government, facilitating the negotiations, intervened to resolve a three-month impasse, officials from both sides said Wednesday.
Manila, rebels agree to resume talks in October
Summary: BEIRUT: Iranian ambassador to Lebanon, Ghanzafar Roknabadi, renewed Sunday his country's support for the ongoing Saudi-Syrian talks to break the impasse over the disputed Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL).
Iran envoy renews support for Saudi-Syrian talks
Parliament lost 114 hrs because of the impasse over 2G scam
House log jamcosts taxpayer ` 25 crore
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