Meaning of Mexican standoff | Babel Free

Definitions

1. A stalemate, or a confrontation among two or more sides that no side can win.
   slang
2. An inconclusive standoff, ending in mutual retreat.
   slang
3. A confrontation among two or more armed parties, none of which wants to attack first (fearing that the other could retaliate), but neither of which will disarm (for fear the other will attack).
   slang
4. A three-way or more standoff.
   slang
5. A pot that is split among the players because of a tie.
   slang
6. A near-collision between two trains; an averted cornfield meet.

Examples

““Go-!” said he sternly then. “We will call it a stand-off, a Mexican stand-off, you lose your money, but you save your life!””

“‘Monk’ Cline, who got a Mexican stand-off from Dave Rowe has signed with Louisville.”

““Either way you want it,” says Babbs, grinning in the most frightening manner now, like the next step is eight karate chops to the gizzards and giblets. Suddenly it is a Mexican standoff—with both sides glaring but nobody swinging a punch yet.”

“Looks like we got us a Mexican Standoff.”

“[About Reservoir Dogs] In this scene, and in the three-way shootout, a Mexican standoff, the extreme, almost operatic violence is grazed with black comedy”

CEFR level