at an impasse
14
6.3
- idiom
- The debate, as Henry sets it up, suggests that we are at an impasse.
Examples
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We're at an impasse, Mr. Hanson.
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We find ourselves at an impasse, Your Highness.
-
As you can see, we are at an impasse.
Fiction book (1991) -
Dan, we're at an impasse.
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Well, if there can be no arrangement, then we are at an impasse.
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Additionally, they might provide fresh approaches to problems that seem to be at an impasse in deliberations among officials.
Academic text (2008) -
When jurors appear to be at an impasse, offer assistance that will help them reach a conclusion.
Academic text (1995) -
Kagame's political opponents and other democratic forces find themselves at an impasse.
Academic text (2006) -
With the parties' strategies clashing, negotiators are at an impasse.
Academic text (2011) -
The negotiations stalled at an impasse, leaving both sides frustrated.
Synonyms
56
3.5
Not able to understand or find a solution
37
7.2
Waiting without a clear decision or result
19
6.6
A situation where two sides cannot agree so nothing moves forward
4
6.5
Unable to make progress because opposing sides block each other
1
6.9
Not able to make progress because both sides block each other
Antonyms
How Stalled
Surface Forms
Morphology
at + an + impasse
The phrase simply places the noun 'impasse' (meaning stalemate or deadlock) in a locative/state frame using the preposition 'at' and the article 'an', so its meaning 'in a stalemate' is directly recoverable from the constituents. This compositional pattern is cross-linguistically common and follows regular English prepositional-noun phrase structure, making it transparent to a B1 learner who knows the word 'impasse'.
Etymology
At an impasse gives the picture of a road or path that you cannot pass because it is blocked or finished. So when people say it, they mean a discussion or plan is stuck and there is 'no progress' or 'no agreement'.