sticking point
Deal-breaker in talks
A sticking point is an issue that prevents agreement or progress in a negotiation or discussion.
When parties can't move forward because they disagree on something specific, that something is the sticking point: Salary remained the sticking point in contract talks.
The metaphor suggests being stuck—unable to proceed until the obstacle is resolved.
Situation without resolution
- deadlockMutual blocking, no progress
- standoffUnresolved confrontation between opponents
- breakdownFailure or decomposition
- holdupTheft by threat
snag · hangup · stumbling block · bone of contention · non-starter · roadblock · bottleneck · gridlock
Assertion or rivalry
- discordLack of agreement
- riftCrack or estrangement
- clashViolent disagreement or collision
- oppositionActive resistance or dissent
tension · resistance · pushback · objection · reservation · concern · hesitation · reluctance
impasse
Situation without resolution
- deadlockMutual blocking, no progress
- standoffUnresolved confrontation between opponents
- breakdownFailure or decomposition
holdup · snag · hangup · stumbling block · bone of contention · non-starter · roadblock · bottleneck · gridlock · logjam
contention
Assertion or rivalry
opposition · tension · resistance · pushback · objection · reservation · concern · hesitation · reluctance · dissent
- Dealmakingdeal, negotiator, bargaining, offer, counteroffer
- disputesargument, beef, bicker, clash, conflict
- impassesimpasse, deadlock, stalemate, standstill, gridlock
- negotiationsbargaining, offer, counteroffer, counter offer, compromise
- problemsproblem, issue, difficulty, complication, trouble
- pointspeak, peaks, tip, spike, spikes
sticking pointcommon ground
Points of agreement
consensus · compromise · meeting of minds · breakthrough · accord
sticking pointbreakthrough
Sudden important advance
smooth sailing · clear path · green light · no-brainer · facilitator
sticking pointnon-issue
Matter of no importance
easy win · no-brainer · quick fix · slam dunk · low-hanging fruit
stick, sticky, stuck, sticks, points, sticking, stickiness, point, unstick