noun
cancellation; abandonment; being dropped
Refers to a plan, project, or matter being shelved or abandoned without a formal decision, often after discussion fades. Frequently used in the patterns 沙汰止みとなる or 沙汰止みになる.
その計画は結局沙汰止みとなった。
That plan ended up being shelved.
話し合いが進まず、提案は沙汰止みになった。
Discussions stalled, and the proposal was dropped.
Compound of 沙汰 (matter, affair, discussion) and 止み (stopping, from 止む). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the word literally suggests a matter coming to a halt.