A Mexican standoff is a confrontation where no strategy exists that allows any party to achieve victory. [1][2] Anyone initiating aggression might trigger their own demise. At the same time, …

The meaning of MEXICAN STANDOFF is a situation in which no one emerges a clear winner; also : deadlock.

MEXICAN STANDOFF definition: a stalemate or impasse; a confrontation that neither side can win. See examples of Mexican standoff used in a sentence.

Mexican standoff definition: 1. a situation in which people on opposite sides threaten each other but neither tries to come to…. Learn more.

Nov 8, 2025 · First use appears c. 1876 in the US. [1] Three-way gun standoffs, popularized in spaghetti westerns such as The Good, The Bad and The Ugly (1966), have come to be called …

Informal, sometimes offensive a situation in which neither side in an argument or contest can.... Click for English pronunciations, examples sentences, video.

Nov 14, 2025 · The number of people involved does not define the standoff. While most classic examples involve three people, two opponents can also be locked in a Mexican stand-off if …

Definition of a Mexican standoff in the Idioms Dictionary. a Mexican standoff phrase. What does a Mexican standoff expression mean? Definitions by the largest Idiom Dictionary.

Mar 21, 2025 · The term “Mexican standoff” is often heard in movies, television shows, and casual conversation. It evokes images of gunfights between rival characters in a tense situation …

The Mexican standoff as an armed stalemate is a recurring cinematic trope. Etymology Sources claim the reference is to the Mexican–American War or post-war Mexican bandits in the 19th …