English [ edit ]

Mexican standoff. Steampunk-styled enactment of a three-way

Etymology [ edit ]

1876 US.[1] Purpose of Mexican unclear: may be general derogatory term for neighboring country, as in Mexican breakfast, and similar use of Dutch in British English;[2] compare rare Dutch standoff, of same meaning.[3] May be more specifically implying cowardly, or unproductive, or perhaps a reference to an event during the Mexican–American War (1846–1847).[4]

Three-way gun standoffs, popularized in spaghetti westerns such as The Good, The Bad and The Ugly (1966), have come to be called Mexican standoffs, though this usage appears to date to the 1990s, notably in reference to Reservoir Dogs (1992); earlier usage refers to this as a “three-way standoff” or “triangular standoff”.

Pronunciation [ edit ]

Audio (AU)

Noun [ edit ]

Mexican standoff (plural Mexican standoffs)

( slang ) A stalemate, or a confrontation among two or more sides that no side can win. 1876 March 19, F. Harvey Smith, “Mexican Stand-Off”, in Sunday Mercury , New York, page 2/col. 5: Mexican stand-off , you lose your money, but you save your life!” [1] “Go-!” said he sternly then. “We will call it a stand-off, a, you lose your money, but you save your life!”

1891 September, N.Y. Sporting Times , volume 19, page 4/col. 3: Mexican stand-off from Dave Rowe has signed with Louisville.[5] ‘Monk’ Cline, who got afrom Dave Rowe has signed with Louisville. ( slang ) An inconclusive standoff, ending in mutual retreat.[6] ( slang ) 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 ) A three-way or more standoff. 1999, Foster Hirsch, Detours and Lost Highways: A Map of Neo-noir , page , Foster Hirsch,, page 259 [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 ( slang , poker ) A pot that is split among the players because of a tie. ( rail transport ) A near-collision between two trains; an averted cornfield meet.

Usage notes [ edit ]

Usage varies significantly over time and between users. In some use, not distinguished from a generic standoff. In other use, specifically between two parties, or specifically between three parties; specifically ending inconclusively, or ending violently.

See also [ edit ]

References [ edit ]