Definition
A deadlock or standstill caused by conflicting interests or an accumulation of obstacles that prevents progress. Literally, a jam of logs blocking a river; figuratively, any situation where movement or resolution becomes impossible.
Example Usage
Budget negotiations hit a logjam when neither department would compromise on funding priorities.
Origin
From the literal phenomenon of logs getting stuck in rivers during timber transport, popularized in 19th-century lumber operations.
Fun Fact
Loggers would use explosives or pikes to break up dangerous river logjams, and this dangerous work inspired the modern metaphor for any stuck situation.
Source: Definition backfill (hailey)
Related Terms
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See “logjam” in Corporate Speak, Gen-Z Slang, Pirate Speak, and more.
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