背城借一 bèi chéng jiè yī fight a last-ditch battle

Explanation

指在自己的城下与敌人决一死战，多指决定存亡的最后一战。形容孤注一掷，拼死一搏。

To fight a decisive battle under one's own city walls, often referring to a final battle that determines survival or destruction. It describes a desperate, last-ditch effort.

Origin Story

春秋时期，齐国被晋、鲁、卫三国联军打败，齐顷公派使者向晋军求和。晋军提出过分的要求，使者知道难以接受，便向齐顷公禀报说：‘形势危急，只能背城借一了！’齐国军队在都城下摆开阵势，准备与晋军决一死战。这是齐国生死存亡的关键时刻，他们决心拼死一搏，最终赢得胜利。

chūnqiū shíqī, qí guó bèi jìn lǔ wèi sān guó liánjūn dǎbài, qí qǐng gōng pài shǐ zhě xiàng jìn jūn qiú hé. jìn jūn tíchū guòfèn de yāoqiú, shǐ zhě zhīdào nán yǐ jiēshòu, biàn xiàng qí qǐng gōng bǐng bào shuō: 'xíngshì wēijí, zhǐ néng bèichéng jièyī le!' qí guó jūnduì zài dū chéng xià bǎi kāi zhànshì, zhǔnbèi yǔ jìn jūn juédì sǐzhàn. zhè shì qí guó shēngsǐ cúnwáng de guānjiàn shí kè, tāmen juéxīn pǐnsǐ yībó, zuìzhōng yíngdé shènglì.

During the Spring and Autumn period, the State of Qi was defeated by a coalition of three armies. The ruler of Qi sent envoys to sue for peace. The coalition made excessive demands, which the envoys found unacceptable. They reported to the ruler of Qi: “The situation is critical; we can only fight our last battle.” The Qi army lined up under the city walls, preparing for a decisive battle. This was a critical moment of life and death for Qi; they decided to fight to the death, and ultimately won the victory.

Usage

用于形容在危急关头，孤注一掷，拼死一搏。

yòng yú xiáoróng zài wēijí guāntóu, gūzhù yìzhì, pǐnsǐ yībó

Used to describe a desperate, last-ditch effort in a critical situation.

Examples

• 面对强敌，他们决定背城借一，决一死战。

  miànduì qiángdí, tāmen juédìng bèichéng jièyī, juédì sǐzhàn

  Faced with a strong enemy, they decided to fight to the death.

• 公司面临破产危机，只能背城借一，孤注一掷了。

  gōngsī miànlín pòchǎn wēijī, zhǐ néng bèichéng jièyī, gūzhù yìzhì le

  The company is facing bankruptcy and can only take a desperate gamble.

Related Idioms

• 背水一战

• 破釜沉舟

• 殊死搏斗

Opposite Idioms

• 重整旗鼓

• 东山再起