cul-de-sac

A child rides a bicycle in a quiet cul-de-sac.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • A dead-end street: "cul-de-sac" refers to a street or passage that is closed at one end, typically with a circular turnaround for vehicles.
   • A situation with no escape: In figurative use, "cul-de-sac" means a situation or course of action that leads to no progress or resolution; a dead end.

Usage Examples

• Literal (dead-end street):

  • The house is located at the end of a quiet cul-de-sac. (A street that does not continue; only residents typically use it.)
  • We turned into the cul-de-sac and realized there was no way out. (A street that ends in a closed circle.)

• Figurative (no progress):

  • The negotiations reached a cul-de-sac when neither side would compromise. (A situation with no forward movement or solution.)
  • His career had become a cul-de-sac; he saw no chance of advancement. (A path that offers no future opportunities.)

Advanced Usage

• "to be in a cul-de-sac": to be in a situation from which there is no easy exit or progress.

  • The company is in a financial cul-de-sac, with debts exceeding all possible revenue. (A predicament with no viable way forward.)

• "to lead to a cul-de-sac": to result in a dead end or unproductive outcome.

  • This line of research leads to a cul-de-sac; we need a new approach. (The investigation yields no useful results.)

Variants and Related Words

• Cul-de-sac (n) is also spelled cul-de-sac (unchanged in plural: or ).
• Dead end (n): a synonym for a literal or figurative cul-de-sac.
  • The alley was a dead end. (A passage with no outlet.)

Synonyms

• Dead end: a street or situation with no exit.
• Blind alley: a passage closed at one end; also used figuratively.
• Impasse: a situation where no progress is possible.

Related Idioms

• "to hit a dead end": to encounter a point where no further progress can be made.

  • The investigation hit a dead end when the witness disappeared. (The inquiry could not continue.)

• "to be at a standstill": to be in a state of no movement or activity.

  • The project is at a standstill due to lack of funding. (No progress is being made.)