logjam

American  

[lawg-jam, log-] / ˈlɔgˌdʒæm, ˈlɒg- /

noun

1. an immovable pileup or tangle of logs, log, as in a river, causing a blockage.

2. any blockage or massive accumulation.

   a logjam of bills before Congress.

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Etymology

Origin of logjam

First recorded in 1880–85; log ¹ + jam ¹

Example Sentences

Thousands of Filipinos descended on Melbourne Park, creating a logjam outside court six and a line that stretched several hundred yards through the grounds.

From BBC

Of course, four out of five wouldn’t be bad either, and I have a suspicion that Venice Grand Jury Prize winner “The Voice of Hind Rajab” breaks through the Neon logjam.

From Los Angeles Times

After switching sides, she broke a development logjam between the two companies.

From The Wall Street Journal

Wins by Tampa Bay and Atlanta would create a three-team logjam at 8-9 that would be decided by a head-to-head results tie-breaker -- which would send Carolina into the playoffs even with a defeat.

From Barron's

"Both sides need to get back round the table to break the logjam."

From BBC

Related Words

• lag
• moratorium
• postponement
• problem
• setback
• stoppage
• suspension
• wait