sticking point | Idiomator

Meaning: (idiomatic)Adisputedissueorstate of affairsthat causes aninterruptionor outrightimpasseinprogresstowardssomegoalorresolution, especially innegotiationorargumentation.1934July 30, “41,000 Years' Work”, inTime:The question of representing inside workers was asticking point.2002, H. Robert Hall, "Casey and the Negotiation of the Antarctic Treaty" in Jabour-Green, J. & Haward, M. (eds.)The Antarctic: Past, Present and Future: Antarctic CRC Research Report #28, Hobart, pp.27-33:A majorsticking pointhad arisen over draft article IV of the proposed treaty dealing with the disputed Antarctic claims and rights.2022December 14, Mel Holley, “Network News: Strikes go on as RMT rejects RDG's "detrimental" offer”, inRAIL, number972, page 8:A keysticking pointis RDG's requirement of introducing driver-only operation (DOO) on all routes where it can be installed now, and for all future new train deliveries.2024March 8, Ellen Townsend – Policy Director, “Opinion – Will Foreign Drivers Continue Getting Away with Breaking the Law?”, inETSC:Thesticking pointis over whether the legislation can be used for enforcement of ‘Urban Vehicle Access Regulations’ (UVARs) such as the Stockholm congestion charge, or the Brussels low emissions zone (which bans the most polluting vehicles).; (idiomatic,dated)The point at which aprocessorthing, especially astate of mindoremotion, reaches its greateststrengthand remainssteadfast;sticking-place.1842,James Fennimore Cooper, chapter 4, inThe Wing and Wing:It warmed his feelings to thesticking point.1913,Lucy Maud Montgomery, chapter 3, inThe Golden Road:I could not screw my courage to thesticking point.

Examples:

EN: But, uh... if you delay after the gun, that's the only sticking point, you see?
ES: Pero, eh... si te demoras después del tiro, será un problema, ¿te das cuenta?
EN: That whole celibacy thing was always the sticking point for me, though.
ES: ¿Sabe? Lo del celibato es lo que siempre me ha echado para atrás.
EN: I think the sticking point for Kennedy was that if Cuba existed as a Socialist model in the hemisphere it would have been dangerous.
ES: Pienso que el problema para Kennedy era que podía ser peligroso que Cuba existiera como modelo socialista en el hemisferio.
EN: - What's the sticking point?
ES: - ¿Cual es el problema?
EN: So, it's a sticking point.
ES: Entonces es un punto de fricción.
EN: Well, the sticking point is that there's... no tie between the power generator and the primary capacitor. Yes.
ES: Bueno, el caso es que no hay un enlace entre el generador y el capacitador principal.
EN: I think the sticking point is she's insisting she play herself.
ES: Creo que lo complicado es que insiste en actuar de ella misma.
EN: Usually the sticking point is when I reveal that I'm the devil.
ES: Principalmente el truco está cuando revelo que soy el diablo.
EN: He's the sticking point here,isn't he?
ES: Él es el punto polémico aquí. ¿No es así?
EN: The whole age thing's a real sticking point with you.
ES: Toda la cosa de la edad es un punto importante para ti.
EN: It's been a sticking point.
ES: Y ha sido un tema pendiente.
EN: But one of the things that was a sticking point, something that we didn't agree on, was how to open the movie.
ES: Pero una de las cosas que fue un punto de estancamiento algo en lo que no nos poníamos de acuerdo, era cómo empezar la película.
EN: This is our sticking point.
ES: Este es nuestro escollo.
EN: Why do I get the feeling that this is going to be a sticking point?
ES: ¿Por que tengo el presentimiento que este va a hacer un lugar problemático?
EN: The sticking point is the house in Aspen.
ES: La causa es la casa de Aspen.

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