A word for when you are
faced with a certain predicament that must be
worked around-- more specifically, a situation that is part impasse, part dilemma. It is an event or other such obstruction that prevents you from achieving a certain goal that usually must be puzzled out in some form or another. Good for situations where words
like puzzle would be appropriate, but specifically the kind of puzzle to be found in
Zelda games.
Not to be confused with holdup, which is a situation that by most definitions is a conundrum that cannot be solved through
one's own power. Also not to be confused with laidup, which is to be incapacitated (usually through sickness or injury), though it is related.
Sorry I'm late, I had a bit of a layup on my
way here:
traffic was seriously backed up on 43rd, so I had to find another
way 'round.