What does cul de sac mean?

"Cul de sac" is a French phrase that literally means "bottom of the bag." It's used in English to refer to:

* A street with only one entrance/exit. This is the most common meaning. A cul-de-sac is a street that is closed off at one end, forming a dead end.

* A situation with no way out. This meaning is figurative and metaphorical, referring to a situation or position that offers no escape or opportunity for progress.

Example:

* "We live on a cul-de-sac, so there's very little traffic." (literal meaning)

* "His career was in a cul-de-sac, with no prospects for advancement." (metaphorical meaning)