穷途末路 At the end of one's rope
Explanation
形容走投无路、无路可退，处于非常糟糕的境地。
Describes a situation where one is at a dead end, with no way out or retreat, and is in a very bad situation.
Origin Story
古代有一个叫王子的年轻人，他从小就喜欢读书，梦想成为一位大官。然而，他家境贫寒，无法负担昂贵的学费。王子为了实现自己的梦想，他四处奔波，四处借钱，却始终无法凑齐足够的学费。最终，他不得不放弃了学业，回到了家乡。回到家乡后，他发现自己已经没有路可走了。他的家人早已去世，他的朋友也散落在各地。他找不到工作，没有钱，也没有地方住。他每天都过着饥一顿饱一顿的生活。他走遍了家乡的每一个角落，却始终没有找到任何机会。王子终于意识到，自己已经走到了穷途末路。他坐在田埂上，望着远处的田野，心里充满了绝望。他知道，自己的梦想已经破灭了，他的人生已经走到尽头了。
There was once a young man named Prince who loved to read from a young age and dreamed of becoming a high official. However, he was from a poor family and could not afford the expensive tuition. In order to realize his dream, Prince traveled from place to place and borrowed money, but he could never get enough to pay the tuition fees. In the end, he had to give up his studies and returned to his hometown. Back in his hometown, he found that he had no other choice. His family had already passed away, and his friends were scattered to the winds. He could not find a job, had no money, and nowhere to live. He lived from day to day, not knowing how to survive. He walked through every corner of his hometown, but he never found any opportunity. Prince finally realized that he was at the end of his rope. He sat on a field and looked out at the distant fields, filled with despair. He knew that his dream had been shattered and his life was at an end.
Usage
当一个人或事物处于无路可走、无计可施的困境时，可以用“穷途末路”来形容。
The idiom
Examples
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经过连续几场败仗，敌军已到了穷途末路。
jīng guò lián xù jǐ chǎng bài zhàng, dí jūn yǐ dào le qióng tú mò lù.
After a series of defeats, the enemy was at the end of their rope.
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他因贪污受贿，被捕后，走投无路，最终选择自首。
tā yīn tān wū shòu huì, bèi bǔ hòu, zǒu tóu wú yī, zhōng jiū xuǎn zé zì shǒu.
He was arrested for bribery and, with no way out, finally chose to confess.
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公司经营不善，面临倒闭的风险，如今已到了穷途末路。
gōng sī jīng yíng bù shàn, miàn líng dǎo bì de fēng xiǎn, rú jīn yǐ dào le qióng tú mò lù.
The company is poorly run and faces the risk of bankruptcy, now it is at the end of its rope.