Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun A road or passage having no exit; a cul-de-sac.
  • noun A situation that is so difficult that no progress can be made; a deadlock or a stalemate.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun An impassable road or way; a blind alley; cul-de-sac; fig., a position or predicament affording no escape.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun a road with no exit; a cul-de-sac
  • noun a deadlock or stalemate situation in which no progress can be made

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun a street with only one way in or out
  • noun a situation in which no progress can be made or no advancement is possible

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[French : in-, not (from Latin in-; see in–) + passe, a passing (from Old French, from passer, to pass; see pass).]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From French impasse (19th century), from in- + passer.

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Examples

Comments

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  • Not to be confused with imp ass.

    April 30, 2011