sticking point

American  

noun

1. a point, detail, or circumstance causing or likely to cause a stalemate or impasse.

   The bill would have gone through the Senate quickly but for one sticking point.

2. sticking place.

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sticking point British  

noun

1. a problem or point on which agreement cannot be reached, preventing progress from being made

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Etymology

Origin of sticking point

First recorded in 1820–30

Example Sentences

The sticking points are the NFL’s desire to have greater access to officials and the ability to implement a performance-based model—along with the financial cost to get what it wants from the union.

From The Wall Street Journal

But duration of tournaments is not the biggest sticking point.

From BBC

A year-long strike over AI protections for video game actors ended in July this year, with fears over replicating performances without consent being the main sticking point.

From BBC

This was apparently one of the sticking points over the weekend as Kiffin negotiated his exit.

From The Wall Street Journal

The proposal became a major sticking point in negotiations, keeping the Univision channels off YouTube TV since Sept. 30 and drawing the attention of Washington.

From Los Angeles Times

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