Basic Details
Word: Impasse
Part of Speech: Noun
Meaning: A situation in which no progress can be made or no agreement can be reached; a deadlock.
Synonyms: Deadlock, stalemate, standstill
Antonyms: Agreement, resolution, solution
Idioms and Phrases
- Hit a brick wall: To reach a point where you cannot make any further progress. Example: "After discussing for hours, we hit a brick wall and couldn't decide on anything."
- At a standstill: To be in a situation where no action is happening. Example: "The negotiations were at a standstill until both parties came up with new offers."
Usage Examples
Example 1: The talks between the two countries reached an impasse, and peace seemed far away.
Example 2: The committee found itself at an impasse over how to allocate the budget for the upcoming year.
Example 3: After numerous attempts at solving the puzzle, she admitted that she had reached an impasse.
Fun Fact
The word "impasse" comes from the French language, where it means "blocked path." This suggests a situation where one cannot proceed any further.
Famous Quote
"An impasse is the result of a failure to compromise." - Unknown
Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
1. What does "impasse" mean?
a) A new beginning
b) A situation with no progress
c) A type of dance
d) A celebration
Answer: b) A situation with no progress
2. Which of these is a synonym of "impasse"?
a) Momentum
b) Deadlock
c) Swift
d) Agreement
Answer: b) Deadlock
3. What is the opposite of "impasse"?
a) Standstill
b) Resolution
c) Deadlock
d) Stalemate
Answer: b) Resolution
4. Which sentence uses "impasse" correctly?
a) They celebrated the impasse with a party.
b) The impasse made the winner very happy.
c) After hours of discussion, they found themselves at an impasse.
d) The impasse was moving swiftly towards a conclusion.
Answer: c) After hours of discussion, they found themselves at an impasse.
5. Which idiom means that progress has stopped?
a) Hit a brick wall
b) As easy as pie
c) In the same boat
d) Rolling in the deep
Answer: a) Hit a brick wall
