Preventing someone from leaving; keeping someone from departing or inducing them to stay.
会場で彼の話が面白くて、みんなを足止めしてしまった。
His talk at the venue was so interesting that he kept everyone there.
交渉で相手を足止めして、追加の条件を引き出した。
We delayed the other party during negotiations and extracted extra conditions.
彼女は友人を引き止めてパーティーに足止めした。
She kept her friend from leaving and kept them at the party.
Being stranded or grounded (unable to continue travel due to weather, breakdowns, etc.).
大雪のため空港で乗客が数時間足止めされた。
Passengers were stranded at the airport for hours due to heavy snow.
バスが故障して途中の駅で足止めを食った。
The bus broke down and we were stranded at a station.
山道で雪崩が起きて、登山客が足止めされた。
An avalanche occurred on the mountain road and climbers were stranded.
A dyeing technique (level/stop dyeing) in which parts of the fabric are prevented from taking dye (e.g., resist-dyeing).
この浴衣は足止めの技法で美しい模様を出している。
This yukata has beautiful patterns created by a resist-dyeing technique.