At A Standstill

B2 8+

Pronunciation: /ˈæt ə ˈstændˌstɪl/

Definitions of at a standstill

noun a word used to identify any of a class of people, places, or things

Example Sentences

A1 The traffic jam brought the cars to a standstill.

A2 The negotiations between the two countries are currently at a standstill.

B1 The construction project came to a standstill due to lack of funding.

B2 The strike has put production at a standstill in the factory.

C1 The peace talks have been at a standstill for months with no progress.

C2 The investigation into the corruption scandal has come to a standstill as key witnesses refuse to cooperate.

adverb modifies a verb, adjective, or other adverb, indicating the location, direction, time, manner, or degree of an action

Example Sentences

A1 The traffic was at a standstill, so we were late to the party.

A2 The negotiations have come to a standstill, with no progress being made.

B1 The construction work is at a standstill due to bad weather conditions.

B2 The project came to a standstill when funding was suddenly cut.

C1 The peace talks have been at a standstill for months, with no resolution in sight.

C2 The economy is at a standstill, with no signs of improvement in the near future.

preposition a word governing, and usually preceding, a noun or pronoun and expressing a relation to another word or element in the clause

Example Sentences

A1 The traffic was at a standstill, so we were late for the movie.

A2 The negotiations have come to a standstill, and we need to find a solution.

B1 The construction work is at a standstill due to bad weather conditions.

B2 The project came to a standstill when the funding was suddenly cut.

C1 The peace talks have been at a standstill for months, with no progress in sight.

C2 The economy is at a standstill, and experts are unsure how to stimulate growth.

Examples of at a standstill in a Sentence

formal The negotiations between the two countries are currently at a standstill.

informal The traffic is at a standstill due to the accident up ahead.

slang The project is at a standstill because of all the red tape.

figurative His career seemed to be at a standstill until he decided to pursue further education.

Grammatical Forms of at a standstill

past tense

was at a standstill

plural

are at a standstill

comparative

more at a standstill

superlative

most at a standstill

present tense

is at a standstill

future tense

will be at a standstill

perfect tense

has been at a standstill

continuous tense

is being at a standstill

singular

is at a standstill

positive degree

at a standstill

infinitive

to be at a standstill

gerund

being at a standstill

participle

at a standstill

Origin and Evolution of at a standstill

First Known Use: 1601 year
Language of Origin: Old English
Story behind the word: The phrase 'at a standstill' originated from the Old English word 'standan' meaning to stand still or come to a stop.
Evolution of the word: Over time, the phrase 'at a standstill' has retained its original meaning of being at a complete stop or halt, but it has also come to be used more broadly to describe a situation where there is no progress or movement.