one-way street
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one-way street
A street where traffic is only allowed to flow in one direction. The spelling with 'ss' is common in Switzerland.
Vorsicht, du darfst hier nicht links abbiegen, das ist eine Einbahnstrasse.
Careful, you can't turn left here; that's a one-way street.
one-way street
Figuratively, a situation that allows no return or alternative and often leads in an undesirable direction.
Seine Verschuldung wurde zu einer Einbahnstrasse, aus der er allein nicht mehr herauskam.
His debt became a one-way street that he could no longer get out of on his own.
The word is made up of 'Ein-', '-bahn-', and '-strasse'. It literally describes a street that has only one lane or direction.
Die Verkehrsführung wurde geändert; diese Strasse ist jetzt eine Einbahnstrasse.
The traffic routing was changed; this street is now a one-way street.
The spelling 'Einbahnstrasse' with 'ss' is common in Switzerland. In Germany and Austria, the word is written with 'ß': 'Einbahnstraße'.
In Zürich gibt es viele enge Einbahnstrassen in der Altstadt.
In Zurich, there are many narrow one-way streets in the old town.
The preposition 'in' is used differently: 'in eine Einbahnstrasse fahren' (to drive into a one-way street, accusative) describes movement into it, while 'in der Einbahnstrasse sein' (to be in the one-way street, dative) describes location.
Er ist aus Versehen in die falsche Richtung in die Einbahnstrasse gefahren.
He accidentally drove the wrong way into the one-way street.
You can recognize the figurative meaning from the context. If it is not about traffic but about abstract topics such as a relationship, a discussion, or a financial situation, the figurative meaning is intended.
Die Kommunikation mit ihm ist eine Einbahnstrasse; er hört nie zu.
Communication with him is a one-way street; he never listens.
dead end
A Sackgasse emphasizes that a situation offers no apparent solution or way forward. An Einbahnstrasse, by contrast, emphasizes movement in only one direction, with no turning back or alternative. In negotiations, Sackgasse is appropriate when talks have stalled, while Einbahnstrasse describes a lack of reciprocity.
Die Verhandlungen sind eine Einbahnstrasse, weil nur eine Seite Zugeständnisse macht.
The negotiations are a one-way street because only one side is making concessions.
Die Verhandlungen stecken in einer Sackgasse, weil keine Lösung mehr erkennbar ist.
The negotiations are at a dead end because no solution is in sight.
