Describes a situation where no further moves or options are available, often in negotiations, games, or problem-solving. Conveys a sense of being stuck with no way forward.
The negotiations are at a complete deadlock.
This problem is at an impasse; we can't find a solution.
Standard kanji spelling; high-frequency news term.
Variant spelling with simplified okurigana; less common but still encountered.
Compound of 手 (hand, means) and 詰まり (blockage, being blocked), literally 'hand-blocked', referring to having no moves left.