A Mexican standoff is a situation where no one can win, and everyone is at risk of harm. It's a stalemate or impasse where people on opposing sides threaten each other but can't come to an agreement. [1, 2, 3, 4]
How it works [1]
• No one can win
• Initiating aggression can lead to the aggressor's own demise
• Parties can't leave without negotiating a truce or losing
• The situation maintains tension until one of the outcomes occurs or an outside force intervenes
How it's used [2]
• In everyday language, "standoff" and "Mexican standoff" are often used interchangeably [2]
• In M&A transactions, a Mexican standoff can occur when a buyer and seller can't reach a compromise [5]
• In politics, someone might describe a situation as a Mexican standoff [6]
• In film and TV, Mexican standoffs are often depicted with guns, but other weapons can be used [2, 7]
How it originated [4]
• The term may have originated in the late 19th century [4]
• It may be connected to American perceptions of encounters with Mexican bandits during the American-Mexican war [4, 8]
• It was first recorded in 1890–95 [4]
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[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mexican_standoff[2] https://www.studiobinder.com/blog/what-is-a-mexican-standoff-definition/[3] https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/mexican-standoff[4] https://www.dictionary.com/browse/mexican-standoff[5] https://morganandwestfield.com/glossary/mexican-standoff/[6] https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Mexican%20standoff[7] https://nofilmschool.com/mexican-standoff-definition-examples[8] https://www.writerscentre.com.au/blog/qa-the-origin-of-the-mexican-standoff-and-mexican-wave/
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