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3. at a dead end

at a dead end

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at a dead end

At an impasse; at a point where no more progress is possible. The phrase can be literal or figurative. We're at a dead end. We'll have to turn around and take that side road. My research is at a dead end—every experiment I've tried so far has failed.

See also: dead, end

at a dead end

Fig. having reached an impasse; able to go no further forward. I can't go on. I'm at a dead end. We are at a dead end; the project is hopelessly stalled.

See also: dead, end