three-way deadlock; trilemma
Refers to a situation where three parties are mutually restraining each other, like rock-paper-scissors. Originates from the snake fearing the slug, the slug the frog, and the frog the snake.
This problem is in a three-way deadlock, and no one can make a move.
Rock-paper-scissors represents a three-way deadlock relationship.
Most common spelling; uses kana for すくみ to avoid rare kanji.
Full kanji spelling; the kanji 竦 is uncommon.
From the traditional Japanese motif of the snake fearing the slug, the slug the frog, and the frog the snake, forming a three-way deadlock. The kanji 三 means 'three', and すくみ comes from 竦む (すくむ), meaning 'to freeze' or 'to be paralyzed'.