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Glite Dictionary
to hit a logjam

to hit a logjam

8.1
Progress stops because people disagree or something blocks it
  • idiom
  • US
translation icon : encontrar un estancamiento
  • Negotiations hit a logjam when neither side was willing to compromise.

Examples

  • Talks over the new contract hit a logjam last week due to unresolved differences.

  • The team hit a logjam while working on the project.

  • After hours of discussion, the project finally hit a logjam and progress stopped.

  • We hit a logjam during negotiations.

  • After hours of discussion, the project finally hit a logjam and progress stopped.

  • Negotiations hit a logjam when neither side was willing to compromise.

  • Talks over the new contract hit a logjam last week due to unresolved differences.

Synonyms

to hit the wall
vsto hit a logjam
12 7.7

To reach a point where you cannot continue because you are very tired or stuck

stops due to disagreement or impasse rather than physical exhaustion causing halt
to hit a dead end
vsto hit a logjam
8 4.6

Reach a point where you cannot continue

stops due to disagreement or conflict rather than simply being impossible
to hit a snag
vsto hit a logjam
  • Informal
5 5.5

To meet an unexpected problem that stops progress

stops from disagreement or obstacle rather than a small problem causing delay
to bog down
vsto hit a logjam
5 5.8

To get stuck and stop making progress

stops from disagreement or obstacle rather than slow, messy complexity
to hit a roadblock
vsto hit a logjam
2 5.3

To face an unexpected problem that prevents progress

stops due to disagreement or impasse rather than one sudden barrier
to reach a stalemate
vsto hit a logjam
1 6.2

Come to a situation where neither side can move forward or win

stops from disagreement or obstacle rather than a balanced standstill

How Blocked

deadlock
19 5.8
at an impasse
12 6.3
to hit a logjam
  • US
8.1
to hit a snag
  • Informal
5 5.5

Surface Forms

hit a logjam infinitive
hit a logjam past
hit a logjam past participle
hitting a logjam present participle
hits a logjam third person singular

Morphology

hit + a + logjam

The verb 'hit' in phrases like 'hit a snag' or 'hit a roadblock' commonly means 'encounter' or 'reach', and 'logjam' denotes a blockage or impasse; together they compositionally yield 'encounter a blockage'. This follows a transparent 'hit a + obstacle' pattern that a B1 learner who knows the constituents would readily understand.

Etymology

The phrase hit a logjam comes from the image of a boat running into a pile of logs called a logjam that lies across a river, so the boat would hit the jam and be unable to move. That's why the phrase now means 'progress stops' or 'things are blocked'.