broke the deadlock
Resolved the impasse
Broke the deadlock means to end a stalemate or impasse where neither side can gain advantage.
The phrase comes from situations—negotiations, competitions, votes—where progress has stopped because opposing forces are perfectly balanced.
A late goal broke the deadlock.
After hours of talks, a compromise finally broke the deadlock.
- bargainingNegotiating mutually acceptable terms
- mediationIntervention to resolve conflict
- concessionsThings granted or yielded
- give and takeMutual concession between parties
- breakthroughSudden important advance
tipping point · arbitration · olive branch · progress · compromise · common ground · intervention · final push · consensus-building · clincher · winning goal · turning point · game changer · diplomacy · settlement · persuasion · reconciliation · last minute deal
broke the deadlockstonewalled
Deliberately unresponsive
stalemated · gridlocked · threw a wrench in · stood pat · at loggerheads
broke the deadlockkicked the can down the road
Delayed addressing an issue
stalled · delayed · procrastinated · dithered · hesitated
broke, break, breaks, breaking, broken, breaker, breakers, breakage, unbroken