sticking-place
Definition
- Noun:
- A point at which a screw or nail becomes fixed and cannot be driven further: In carpentry or mechanics, a "sticking-place" is the position where a fastener (e.g., a screw) jams or stops moving deeper into a material.
- Figurative: a point of obstruction or deadlock: Used metaphorically, a "sticking-place" is a situation where progress halts due to a blockage or inability to proceed, similar to a bottleneck or impasse.
Usage Examples
- (The point where the nail jammed in the wood.)
- (A deadlock where talks could not advance.)
Advanced Usage
- "to come to a sticking-place": to reach a point where something stops or becomes stuck, either literally or metaphorically.
- The project came to a sticking-place when funding was cut. (The project halted due to a blockage.)
Variants and Related Words
- Sticking-point (n): a synonym for "sticking-place," often used interchangeably.
- The debate hit a sticking-point about environmental regulations. (A point of disagreement that blocks progress.)
Synonyms
- Impasse: a situation in which no progress is possible.
- Deadlock: a state of inaction or stalemate.
- Jamming point: the specific location where a mechanism seizes up.
Related Idioms
- Stick at nothing: to be willing to do anything, even unethical things, to achieve a goal. (Note: This uses "stick" differently, not directly related to "sticking-place.")
- Stick in the mud: a person who is slow, old-fashioned, or resistant to change. (Not directly synonymous, but shares the concept of obstruction.)