What it means
Stuck at a level you cannot climb out of no matter how hard you try, originally a competitive rank in a game. It spilled into life for being wedged in a rut: hardstuck in the same job, hardstuck at the same weight. The frustration of effort that goes nowhere.
Usage examples
"Three years in the same role with no raise, totally hardstuck."
"I am hardstuck on this level, the boss gets me every time."
"I've queued all week and I'm still hardstuck gold, this game's got me in a headlock."
"Mate's been hardstuck in that dead-end job for ages and it's frying his soul."
Where it comes from
It came out of online competitive gaming, especially ranked ladders where players say they're hardstuck when they keep grinding but can't climb past the same rank. From there it spread into wider internet talk for any situation where you're putting in effort and still not moving an inch.
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