sticking point
21
6.4
- noun
- /ˈstɪkɪŋ pɔɪnt/
:
punto conflictivo
- The group's presence inside Pakistan has become a major sticking point in an already badly strained U.S.-Pakistan relationship.
- a key sticking point
- the main sticking point
- one sticking point
So this is one of the sticking points of the last MacBook Pro.
- So this is one of the sticking points of the last MacBook Pro.
- All of which is fine, I guess, if it wasn't for that big sticking point, the price.
- I'll still be here in LA and the only, the only sticking point that I had was this.
- So what's the next sticking point?
- Just, you know, he was really that that was a big sticking point for him.
- And we'll make it something that's that's, you know, it's a sticking point about how to interpret the past.
- Well, I knew what the Taser was, but then this this the the sex offenders register was the the sticking point that he had to explain to me about.
Examples
-
The 'no-bailout' concept was always a key sticking point for the Germans.
Blog text (4) -
The right of return for Palestinian refugees has long been a key sticking point in Israeli-Palestinian peace talks.
Academic text (2015) -
But you know, where do you see the sticking points being with this sort of system?
-
The biggest sticking point and the biggest question mark will be the manager.
-
The whole age thing's a real sticking point with you.
-
I do not understand why this is such a sticking point for some people.
Blog text (15) -
One of the sticking points remains financing.
-
For example, during the last debt debate, the sticking point was money for Planned Parenthood.
Blog text (15) -
Legitimacy has always been a major sticking point with regard to governing Jordan.
Academic text (1991) -
The ongoing debate about climate change has several sticking points that prevent meaningful agreements.
Synonyms
42
2.3
The main problems in a discussion or situation
10
5.1
A topic that causes strong disagreement between people
7
5.6
A difficult issue people try to avoid or pass to others
4
5.2
A subject that causes disagreement between people
Antonyms
How Serious
- Informal
30
3.7
38
8.1
21
6.4
906
1.7
6
3.2
Surface Forms
Morphology
The compound combines 'stick' (to become fixed/immovable) with 'point' (an issue/topic), so the meaning 'an issue that prevents progress' follows a clear physical-to-abstract metaphor of something that causes things to get stuck. Because the sense depends on this metaphorical extension rather than purely literal composition, a B1 learner who knows the parts could plausibly infer the meaning but may need to map the metaphor, making it only partially transparent.
Etymology
Sticking point may come from the image of something getting physically stuck at one spot — a wheel or drawer that is sticking at a single point and cannot move. So, when one detail 'sticks' and stops talks, it becomes the sticking point, meaning the issue that 'prevents progress'.