sticking point
A topic of discussion or debate that results in disagreement. The subject of curfew is often a real sticking point between teenagers and their parents.
a sticking point
COMMON A sticking point is a point which people cannot agree about and which stops them achieving something. Talks with the actor broke down, and money was assumed to be the sticking point. The Americans have presented a plan on agriculture, the main sticking point in the trade talks.
sticking point
A point or issue on which agreement cannot be reached. Dating from the mid-1900s, this term is often used with regard to negotiations of some kind. For example, a Boston Globe headline for an article about North and South Korea holding a reunion of families separated by war read: “South’s desired location could be sticking point” (September 18, 2010).