dead end; at the end of one's rope
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesidiom
to be at the end of one's rope; to be in a desperate situation with no way out; dead end
literaryUsed to describe someone who has exhausted all options, resources, or paths forward. Can describe literal dead ends (roads) or figurative desperate situations. Often carries a negative, hopeless connotation.
Dí敌
rén人
yǐ已
jīng经
dào到
le了
qióng穷
tú途
mò末
lù路
，
hěn很
kuài快
jiù就
huì会
tóu投
xiáng降
。
The enemy is at the end of their rope and will surrender soon.
Rú如
guǒ果
nǐ你
bù不
gǎi改
biàn变
jīng经
yíng营
cè策
lüè略
，
gōng公
sī司
jiù就
huì会
zǒu走
shàng上
qióng穷
tú途
mò末
lù路
。
If you don't change your business strategy, the company will head toward a dead end.
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Tā他
zài在
dà大
chéng城
shì市
lǐ里
qióng穷
tú途
mò末
lù路
，
zhǐ只
hǎo好
huí回
dào到
jiā家
xiāng乡
chóng重
xīn新
kāi开
shǐ始
。
He was at a dead end in the big city, so he had to return to his hometown and start over.