fight with one's back to the river; make a last-ditch stand
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesnoun
a situation where one fights with their back to the river; a do-or-die, last-ditch stand
formalThis is an idiom derived from a famous military tactic in Chinese history. It describes a desperate situation where success depends on fighting fiercely because retreat is impossible. It is often used metaphorically in both formal and informal contexts.
Gōng公
sī司
miàn面
lín临
pò破
chǎn产
，
zhè这
cì次
tán谈
pàn判
wú无
yì异
yú于
yī一
chǎng场
bèi背
shuǐ水
zhèn阵
。
With the company facing bankruptcy, this negotiation is no different from a last-ditch stand.
Zài在
jué决
sài赛
zhōng中
，
wǒ我
men们
yǐ已
wú无
tuì退
lù路
，
bì必
xū须
ná拿
chū出
bèi背
shuǐ水
zhèn阵
de的
jué决
xīn心
。
In the finals, with no way to retreat, we must show the determination of fighting with our backs to the river.
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Tā他
de的
zhè这
gè个
mào冒
xiǎn险
cè策
luè略
，
pō颇
yǒu有
dāng当
nián年
Hán韩
Xìn信
shè设
bèi背
shuǐ水
zhèn阵
de的
qì气
pò魄
。
His risky strategy carries the same boldness as when Han Xin set up his army with its back to the river.