From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishcul-de-saccul-de-sac /ˈkʌl də ˌsæk, ˈkʊl- $ ˌkʌl də ˈsæk, ˌkʊl-/ noun [singular] 1 TTRa road which is closed at one end, so that there is only one way in and out2 PROGRESSan unhelpful situation in which you cannot make any more progress SYN dead end These ideas lead us into a philosophical cul-de-sac.
Examples from the Corpus
cul-de-sac• The emphasis has to be on quality not quantity, otherwise the game will drift down a cul-de-sac of mediocrity.• She followed him through a network of alleyways until he mistakenly darted into a cul-de-sac.• The administration finds itself in an ideological cul-de-sac that will be difficult to get out of.• The omnipresent cul-de-sac, for example, lowered speeds but not enough for child safety, especially on the long straight legs.• The rented villa was identical to a dozen others lining the cul-de-sac.• Turning, he saw at the end of the cul-de-sac a police-car.• Ten minutes of easy walking brought her to the cul-de-sac where Delia Forbes lived.• As the town hall clock struck twelve he found himself in an untidy cul-de-sac beneath the railway arches.Origin cul-de-sac (1800-1900) French “bottom of the bag” 