at a dead end; desperate situation
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesidiom
at the end of one's rope; in a desperate situation; at a dead end
literaryUsed metaphorically to describe a situation where all options have been exhausted and there seems to be no way out. Often used in formal or literary contexts.
Tā他
yǐ已
jīng经
shān山
qióng穷
shuǐ水
jìn尽
，
zài再
yě也
jiè借
bù不
dào到
yī一
fēn分
qián钱
le了
。
He was at the end of his rope and couldn't borrow another cent.
Dào到
le了
shān山
qióng穷
shuǐ水
jìn尽
de的
dì地
bù步
，
tā他
zhǐ只
hǎo好
fàng放
qì弃
le了
zhēng挣
zhá扎
。
Having reached a dead end, he had no choice but to give up struggling.
Show 1 more exampleShow fewer examples
Zhè这
jiā家
gōng公
sī司
yǐ已
jīng经
shān山
qióng穷
shuǐ水
jìn尽
，
jí即
jiāng将
xuān宣
bù布
pò破
chǎn产
。
This company is at its wit's end and is about to declare bankruptcy.