had been deadlocking

• past perfect progressive

  past perfect progressive

  Used to describe an action that was ongoing continuously in the past up until another past event interrupted it.

  of deadlock.
  deadlock

  noun

  a state in which progress is impossible, as in a dispute, produced by the counteraction of opposing forces; standstill; stalemate.

Related Words

• dilemma
• gridlock
• plight
• predicament
• standoff
• standstill