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Three-way gun standoffs, popularized in spaghetti westerns such as The Good, The Bad and The Ugly (1966), have come to be called Mexican standoffs, though this usage appears to date to the 1990s, notably in reference to Reservoir Dogs (1992); earlier usage refers to this as a “three-way standoff” or “triangular standoff”.
‘Monk’ Cline, who got a Mexican stand-off from Dave Rowe has signed with Louisville.[2]
(slang) An inconclusive standoff, ending in mutual retreat.[3]
(slang) 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).
1999, Foster Hirsch, Detours and Lost Highways: A Map of Neo-noir, page 259:
[About Reservoir Dogs] In this scene, and in the three-way shootout, a Mexican standoff, the extreme, almost operatic violence is grazed with black comedy
(slang,poker) A pot that is split among the players because of a tie.
Usage varies significantly over time and between users. In some use, not distinguished from a generic standoff. In other use, specifically between two parties, or specifically between three parties; specifically ending inconclusively, or ending violently.