Mexican standoff

Etymology
1876 US.

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

Noun

 * 1)  A stalemate, or a confrontation among two or more sides that no side can win.
 * 2)  An inconclusive standoff, ending in mutual retreat.
 * 3)  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).
 * 4)  A three-way or more standoff.
 * 5)  A pot that is split among the players because of a tie.
 * 6)  A near-collision between two trains; an averted cornfield meet.
 * 1)  A pot that is split among the players because of a tie.
 * 2)  A near-collision between two trains; an averted cornfield meet.
 * 1)  A pot that is split among the players because of a tie.
 * 2)  A near-collision between two trains; an averted cornfield meet.

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