English idiom
come unstuck
Register · NeutralNeutral — appropriate in most situations, both spoken and written, without sounding too casual or too stiff.
CEFR C1
Example
“The negotiations came unstuck when neither side would compromise.”
Dictionary details
Component words
Tags
Related idioms
Expressions connected by reviewed component words or topic tags.
come in from the cold
CEFR C1to regain safety or acceptance after living in secrecy, isolation, or exclusion
Formal
body blow
CEFR B2a major setback that seriously weakens a person, organization, or effort
Neutral
rock bottom
CEFR B2the lowest possible point in a difficult situation
Neutral
easier said than done
CEFR B1Something that sounds simple to do but is actually hard.
Neutral
go downhill
CEFR B1to become progressively worse in condition, quality, or performance
Neutral
hang in there
CEFR B1to persevere and not give up despite difficulty
Informal
Source methodology
Meanings, register, CEFR, and examples come from the reviewed dictionary record. Expression notes may describe a reviewed present-day word picture or a background note; they are not presented as verified etymology.