stalled out
Stopped making progress
Stalled out describes something that has lost momentum and stopped making progress.
An engine stalls out when it dies unexpectedly.
A project or negotiation stalls out when forward movement ceases: The peace talks stalled out over territorial disputes.
The phrase emphasizes the cessation itself—not just slowing down, but coming to a complete halt.
- gridlockedImmobilized by congestion
- jammedUnable to move freely
- dead in the waterUnable to proceed further
- ceaseTo discontinue activity
- haltComplete sudden stop
at a standstill · paralyzed · impasse · seized · engine · stuck in neutral · deadlocked · stalemate · stagnant · sputtering · stuck · spinning wheels · unresolved · lost momentum · delayed · blocked · paused · derailed
- setbacksfailing, back to square one, stuck, losing, stumbles
- stagnationstagnation, standstill, stasis, deadlock, stalemate
stalled outrunning
Swift foot travel
idling · purring · revving · firing on all cylinders · started up
stalled outmoving forward
Continuing toward a goal
progressing · advancing · picking up steam · rolling along · taking off
stall, stalled, stalling, stalls, out, outed, outing, outs, outer