[ˈɡrɪdlɒk], (Noun)

Definitions:
- a situation of very severe traffic congestion
(e.g: the city reaches gridlock during peak hours)

- a situation where no progress can be made because opposing factions are in stalemate
(e.g: the country's political gridlock had reinforced its international image as hopelessly divided)


Phrases:

Origin:
1980s (originally US, in reference to a traffic jam affecting a whole network of intersecting streets): from grid + lock