stalematestale‧mate /ˈsteɪlmeɪt/ noun [countable, uncountable] 
an attempt to break the stalemate The discussions with the miners’ union ended in stalemate.► see thesaurus at progress2a position in chess in which neither player can win—stalemate verb [transitive]
WORD ORIGINstalemate
Origin:
1700-1800 stale ‘stalemate’ (15-18 centuries) (from Old French estal; ➔ STALE) + mate ( ➔ MATE2 (3))EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- an attempt to break a stalemate in the Middle East peace process
- At that point the strike appeared to have reached a stalemate.
- Congress remains in a stalemate over the federal budget.
- It looks like the long-running dispute could end in stalemate.
- Negotiations with the 200 army rebels are at a stalemate.
- the stalemate in the three-month long pay dispute
- The proposal was aimed at ending the stalemate between environmentalist and business groups.
- All this has produced a dangerous stalemate.
- Also, a presidential system can so balance power between legislature and executive that there are damaging stalemates and confusion of accountability.
- Any conversation, even if it was only about food, was better than this stalemate.
- But at least the stalemate had been been broken.
- But the talks themselves were a virtual stalemate.
- The cultural patterns themselves are influenced by the structural instability and the cultural stalemate.
- We had reached a position of stalemate - but a position which for the sake of the Government had to be settled.
THESAURUSno progress
[countable, uncountable] a situation in which no further progress can be made because two groups or organizations cannot find a way to end a disagreement: · The negotiations ended in deadlock.· At that point the strike appeared to have reached a stalemate.· the year-long political deadlock between the two parties
[singular] formal a situation in which progress has stopped completely, especially because people cannot agree on what to do next: · The continuing impasse over the budget.· The situation seemed to have reached an impasse.
to slowly stop making any progress: · The economy seems to be grinding to a halt.· It was clear that the peace talks had ground to a halt.
Longman Language Activatorwhen people disagree when people disagree with each other: · The party is seriously split by internal rivalries and disagreements.disagreement about/over: · Disagreement over who should produce the next album caused the band to split.disagreement between/among: · There is some disagreement among medical experts about the best treatment for back pain.
when people are unable to agree, especially about something important - use this as a way of avoiding more direct words like 'argument' and 'disagreement': difference of opinion about/over: · There were major differences of opinion over who should command the UN forces.difference of opinion between/among: · There is a difference of opinion between the chairman and the board as to the best way to handle the takeover.
a serious disagreement about a decision, plan, or action, that causes arguments for a long time in newspapers, on television etc: · Controversy surrounds the TV show, which many consider to be racist, sexist, and homophobic.controversy over: · There has been a huge controversy over where to put the city's new sports stadium and who should build it.
a situation in which two groups disagree, and no agreement is possible because each group refuses to change its mind even slightly: · Parents believe that pressure from city hall could force an end to the stalemate with the school board.deadlock/stalemate over: · the political deadlock over allowable levels of greenhouse emissionsbreak the deadlock/stalemate (=end the situation): · US negotiators met with representatives from both countries today in an attempt to break the deadlock.
continuous disagreement and angry feelings or unfriendliness between people: · Teenage children begin to assert their independence and this can lead to a good deal of friction in the family.friction between: · There has been serious friction between the two army commanders.
formal strong disagreement that makes people feel unfriendly towards each other: · Money is the single biggest cause of discord in marriage.discord over: · There has always been discord over NATO's role in world conflict.
a refusal to accept an official opinion or an opinion that most people accept: · During the Prime Minister's speech there were several murmurs of open dissent from the crowd.· Anti-war dissent was increasing by the time Nixon took office.
a situation in which there is no progress a situation in which no further progress can be made because two groups or organizations disagree with each other about what to do, and cannot think of any way to end the disagreement: reach a stalemate/be at a stalemate: · At that point the strike appeared to have reached a stalemate.· Negotiations with the 200 army rebels are at a stalemate.end in stalemate: · It looks like the long-running dispute could end in stalemate.stalemate between: · The proposal was aimed at ending the stalemate between environmentalist and business groups.stalemate in: · the stalemate in the three-month long pay disputebreak a stalemate (=make it possible for discussions to continue): · an attempt to break a stalemate in the Middle East peace process
a situation in which no further progress can be made because two groups disagree strongly with each other and refuse to change their minds: · In the same year the issue came before Parliament, but there was complete deadlock.deadlock between: · There are hopes that an agreement can be made to break the deadlock between the White House and Congress.deadlock over: · The deadlock over the US budget had turned away some investors.end in deadlock: · Their first trial ended in deadlock when the jury could not reach an agreement.break a deadlock (=to make it possible to agree so that you can progress): · Syria and Israel broke a six-month deadlock in their talks when they sent peace envoys to Maryland.
a situation in which it is impossible to make any further progress in your work or in what you are trying to do: · My mother thought that I should be a model, but I knew that was a dead end.be/feel you are at a dead end: · At 52, Martin felt he was at a dead end professionally.come to/hit/reach etc a dead end (=stop making any progress): · The development of this drug has come to a dead end because of doubts about its safety.
formal a situation in which progress has stopped completely, especially because people cannot agree on what to do next: impasse in: · The continuing impasse in negotiations made military conflict seem likely.impasse between: · an impasse between the US and its European trading partnersimpasse over: · There seemed no way to end the impasse over the Lockerbie affair.reach an impasse/be at an impasse: · It was clear that the Soviet economy was at an impasse.· On July 25, the situation seemed to have reached an impasse.
an action or change that makes a situation worse, so that the progress that has been made is lost: a step backwards for: · Accepting the job would be a step backwards for me.· Several opposition leaders described the programme as a major step backwards for democracy.take a step backwards: · Any sort of stress such as upset in the family may cause a child to take a step backwards in behaviour.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY an attempt to break the stalemate The discussions with the miners’ union ended in stalemate.COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSNOUN
1a situation in which it seems impossible to settle an argument or disagreement, and neither side can get an advantage SYN deadlock: an attempt to break the stalemate The discussions with the miners’ union ended in stalemate.· Because of the budget stalemate, the $ 175 million only became available in May, Lockhart said.· The stepped-up Republican attack against Mr Rubin only heightened investors' concern over the budget stalemate in Washington.· Stocks sold off sharply amid fears of disappointing earnings in the technology sector as well as continued concerns over the budget stalemate.· The partial government shutdown derived from the budget stalemate will reach three weeks this Friday.· Traders pointed to the federal budget stalemate and worries the gridlock could continue indefinitely.· The added wrinkle of possible impeachment proceedings only heightened investors' concern over the budget stalemate in Washington.
VERB· These steps demonstrate a political will by Barak to break out of stalemate.· Mitchell is consulting with the officials on a proposal by his three-member international panel to break the stalemate in peace negotiations.· The invention of the tank and the aircraft broke through the defensive stalemate that had characterised the first world war.· But hopes that Mr Freeman would break the stalemate were dashed.· In the summer of 1557, some of them tried to break the stalemate.
· We had reached a position of stalemate - but a position which for the sake of the Government had to be settled.· The chess game reaches a very different stalemate in the case of the albatross.· Only when they have reached stalemate with the bank will the ombudsman then consider a claim.· By then, the war had again reached stalemate.
an attempt to break the stalemate The discussions with the miners’ union ended in stalemate.► see thesaurus at progress2a position in chess in which neither player can win—stalemate verb [transitive]