traffic jam
Bumper-to-bumper crawl
A traffic jam is a long line of vehicles on a road that are moving very slowly or not at all, typically caused by heavy volume, an accident, or construction.
The term extends to any similar congestion: a traffic jam of pedestrians at the stadium exit.
To be stuck in traffic or caught in traffic means delayed by such conditions.
Busiest commuting period
- morning commuteRegular trip to work
- evening commuteAfter-work journey home
- carpoolShared commute arrangement
- highwayMajor road for travel
expressway · freeway · interstate · on-ramp · off-ramp · merge · lane closure · accident
Constriction limiting throughput
- gridlockComplete mutual obstruction
- standstillTotal cessation of movement
- backupStored duplicate for recovery
- snarl-upTangled traffic situation
tailback · logjam · chokepoint · blockage · pileup · bumper-to-bumper · crawl · slowdown
Point where paths meet
- stoplightIntersection flow controller
- crosswalkMarked street-crossing zone
- downtownCentral business district
- city centerUrban area's main district
honking · horns · exhaust · fumes · smog · idling · taxi · bus
Displeasure from blocked efforts
- impatienceIntolerance of delay
- boredomWeary disinterest from monotony
- delayEnforced waiting period
- stalledStopped unexpectedly
stranded · late · missed appointment · stop-and-go · crawling · killing time · podcast · audiobook
rush hour
Busiest commuting period
- morning commuteRegular trip to work
- evening commuteAfter-work journey home
- carpoolShared commute arrangement
highway · expressway · freeway · interstate · on-ramp · off-ramp · merge · lane closure · accident · fender-bender
bottleneck
Constriction limiting throughput
- gridlockComplete mutual obstruction
- standstillTotal cessation of movement
- backupStored duplicate for recovery
snarl-up · tailback · logjam · chokepoint · blockage · pileup · bumper-to-bumper · crawl · slowdown · stoppage
intersection
Point where paths meet
- stoplightIntersection flow controller
- crosswalkMarked street-crossing zone
- downtownCentral business district
city center · honking · horns · exhaust · fumes · smog · idling · taxi · bus · motorcycle
frustration
Displeasure from blocked efforts
- impatienceIntolerance of delay
- boredomWeary disinterest from monotony
- delayEnforced waiting period
stalled · stranded · late · missed appointment · stop-and-go · crawling · killing time · podcast · audiobook · radio
- bottleneckschokepoint, congestion, gridlock, narrow passage, single lane
- car experiencesdriving, parking, commuting, car wash, road trip
- crowdedcrowded, packed like sardines, crammed, jammed, teeming
- disruptionsinterruption, disturbance, interference, delay, obstruction
- driving slangfloor it, gun it, pedal to the metal, pedal to metal, peel out
- late excusesrunning late, lost track of time, delayed, behind schedule, overslept
traffic jamopen road
Unobstructed route ahead
green lights · smooth sailing · cruising · cruising speed · light traffic
jam, traffic, trafficking, trafficker, trafficked, traffickers