sticking points
Issues blocking agreement
Sticking points are issues that prevent agreement or progress in negotiations.
When parties are mostly aligned but can't close a deal, the remaining disputes are the sticking points: The salary cap remains the main sticking point in labor talks.
The metaphor suggests something that catches or snags, halting forward motion.
- obstaclesThings in the way
- stumbling blockObstacle causing difficulty
- impasseSituation without resolution
- deal breakerUnacceptable condition ending negotiations
- disputeVerbal clash over differences
bone of contention · deadlock · hindrance · thorny issue · argument · misalignment · roadblock · red line · miscommunication · barriers · bottleneck · conflict · sore spot · gridlock · disagreement · hang up · incompatibility · compromise
- annoyancesannoyance, annoyances, irritations, irritation, nuisance
sticking pointscommon ground
Points of agreement
breakthroughs · non-issues · mutual interests · smooth sailing · low-hanging fruit
sticking pointsbreakthroughs
Sudden significant advances
facilitators · enablers · catalysts · bridges · smooth sailing
sticking point, stick, sticks, stuck, sticker, stickers, sticky, stickiness, stickier