沙汰止(さたや)み

さたやみ
noun
being dropped; coming to nothing; falling through
expression
1. being dropped; coming to nothing; falling through; abandonment of a plan
A plan, discussion, proposal, or matter that gradually fades away and is never carried out or concluded. Implies that something was simply left unresolved rather than explicitly cancelled.
あの計画(けいかく)は沙汰止(さたや)みになった。
That plan fell through.
転勤(てんきん)の話(はなし)は沙汰止(さたや)みになったようだ。
The talk of a transfer seems to have been dropped.
予算(よさん)の問題(もんだい)で、新(あたら)しいビルの建設(けんせつ)計画(けいかく)は沙汰止(さたや)みになってしまった。
Due to budget issues, the plan to build a new building ended up being abandoned.

沙汰(さた) means 'news, decision, or proceedings,' and 止(や)み means 'ceasing.' Together, they describe a situation where communication or action simply stops — not with a formal cancellation, but by gradually fading into silence.

Common patterns

  • ～は沙汰止(さたや)みになった — ... was dropped / came to nothing
  • 沙汰止(さたや)みになる — to fall through, to be abandoned

Similar words

  • 立(た)ち消(ぎ)え — dying out, fizzling out (very similar nuance)
  • 白紙(はくし)に戻(もど)す — to return to a blank slate (explicit cancellation, not gradual)
  • 頓挫(とんざ) — setback, stalling (implies hitting an obstacle, not fading away)

Related Words

Compare: 白紙(はくし)に戻(もど)す (to return to a blank slate)
Compare: 頓挫(とんざ) (setback, stalling)
general
Added 2026.3.27 9:25 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
19500/19818_satayami