Words / C1

GRIDL-ok/ˈɡrɪdlɒk/

Gridlock is traffic that cannot move, or decision-making that cannot move: city-centre gridlock, political gridlock. A jam is everyday; a backlog is a queue of work; progress sits opposite. Do not boast “robust scrutiny” of a queue that never clears.

Meaning

A complete standstill of traffic; also a total block in decision-making.

Examples

• “Gridlock in the approvals queue is a dated backlog, not “robust scrutiny” as a boast.”
• “Jam is everyday roads. Deadlock is two sides stuck. Scrutiny is a real duty with dates. A queue that ages is delay. Put timestamps on the pile. Clear it, or minute why it cannot move.”

Good to know

Total jam (roads or decisions). Everyday: jam. Close: deadlock / backlog. Scrutiny has dates; a freeze is not a boast.

Near in meaning

deadlock

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