standstill
gb/stˈændstˌɪl/ us/stˈændstˌɪl/
B2
Engleză
Sensuri
0 sensuri
Substantiv
B2
state
1
a complete stop in movement
a complete stop, especially of traffic or movement
Tipar de utilizare:
[movement/traffic] is at a standstill; come to a standstill
Greșeală frecventă:
Do not use it as a verb (not: *to standstill*). Use it after articles or in set phrases: 'a standstill', 'at a standstill'.
Sinonime
halt (general word for stopping movement.)
|
stoppage (often used for traffic or work stopping for a period.)
|
gridlock (specifically severe traffic that cannot move.)
Antonime
flow (continuous smooth movement, especially of traffic.)
|
movement (the state of moving rather than being stopped.)
Colocații
traffic standstill
|complete standstill
|absolute standstill
|dead standstill
|near standstill
|sudden standstill
|bring traffic to a standstill
|come to a standstill
|at a standstill
|crawl to a standstill
Teme
transport
|daily_life
Exemple
- The crash brought the motorway to a standstill for hours.
- By 8 a.m., traffic was at a standstill in the city centre.
- The train shuddered and then came to a standstill outside the station.
Exemple pentru cursanți
- Traffic is at a standstill.
- The bus came to a standstill.
Substantiv
C1
state
2
a situation with no progress
a time when something stops and does not move forward
Tipar de utilizare:
[talks/negotiations/progress] reach a standstill; [plans/projects] are at a standstill
Greșeală frecventă:
Learners may confuse this with 'still' (quiet) or 'stand still' (an instruction). 'Standstill' is usually a noun meaning 'no progress'.
Sinonime
stalemate (suggests deadlock between two sides, often in negotiations.)
|
deadlock (emphasizes that no agreement is possible without change.)
|
impasse (a point where progress is blocked, often formal.)
Antonime
progress (movement forward toward completion or improvement.)
|
momentum (continuing force that keeps progress going.)
Colocații
reach a standstill
|come to a standstill
|talks at a standstill
|negotiations at a standstill
|progress at a standstill
|development at a standstill
|project at a standstill
|work at a standstill
|economic standstill
|bring negotiations to a standstill
Teme
business
|politics
|work
Exemple
- Peace talks are at a standstill after weeks of disagreement.
- The project is at a standstill while the team waits for funding.
- After the resignation, decision-making in the department reached a standstill.
Exemple pentru cursanți
- The talks are at a standstill.
- Work is at a standstill today.
Gramatică
Forma de dicționar
standstill
IPA
GB/stˈændstˌɪl/
US/stˈændstˌɪl/
Silabe și accent
stand - still (2 silabe)
Stress on 1st syllable (stand)
Forme ale cuvântului
Noun
- Base: standstill
Expresii
at a standstill
1/ˈæt ə stˈændstˌɪl/
fixed phrase
not moving or progressing
completely stopped
Exemple
- Traffic was at a standstill for nearly an hour.
- Negotiations are at a standstill until both sides return to the table.
- The investigation is at a standstill because key evidence is missing.
bring [something] to a standstill
1/bɹˈɪŋ sˈʌmθɪŋ tə ə stˈændstˌɪl/
fixed phrase
cause something to stop
to make something stop completely
Exemple
- The accident brought traffic to a standstill.
- A software bug brought online orders to a standstill.
- The strike brought construction to a standstill across the city.
come to a standstill
1/kˈʌm tə ə stˈændstˌɪl/
fixed phrase
stop completely from moving
to stop completely
Exemple
- The bus came to a standstill at the red light.
- Production came to a standstill during the power cut.
- When the snow got heavier, traffic came to a standstill.
grind to a standstill
1/ɡɹˈaɪnd tə ə stˈændstˌɪl/
idiom
slowly come to a complete stop
To become slower and slower until nothing is happening or moving.
Exemple
- The city ground to a standstill during the snowstorm.
- Talks have ground to a standstill over money issues.
- Without funding, the project will grind to a standstill.
grind to a standstill
1/ɡɹˈaɪnd tə ə stˈændstˌɪl/
idiom
slowly stop after problems
to slow down and then stop completely
Exemple
- Without spare parts, the factory gradually ground to a standstill.
- After days of heavy snow, the city ground to a standstill.
- Bureaucracy can make even simple projects grind to a standstill.
standstill agreement
1/stˈændstˌɪl əɡɹˈimənt/
fixed phrase
legal
agreement to pause an action
a legal deal to pause an action for a time
Exemple
- The companies signed a standstill agreement while they explored a merger.
- A standstill agreement prevented the lender from starting court action for 30 days.
- The board negotiated a standstill agreement with an activist investor.