骑虎难下 Riding a tiger, difficult to dismount
Explanation
比喻事情进行下去有困难，但又不能停止，处于进退两难的境地。
It means that it is difficult to continue a thing, but one cannot stop either; one is in a predicament.
Origin Story
话说隋文帝杨坚年轻时，娶了北周宣帝的女儿独孤伽罗为妻。独孤皇后出身名门，家族势力庞大。杨坚在朝中步步高升，权势越来越大，但他心中始终忐忑不安。有一天，独孤皇后对杨坚说："如今朝中局势复杂，你已经骑上了虎背，很难再下去了。"杨坚问："那该如何是好？"独孤皇后说："只有继续前进，夺取天下，才能解决困境。"杨坚听了妻子的建议，下定决心，最终统一全国，建立了隋朝，开创了历史上短暂而辉煌的隋朝盛世。从此，"骑虎难下"就成为一个家喻户晓的成语。
It is said that Emperor Wen of Sui, Yang Jian, married Dugu Qieluo, the daughter of Emperor Xuan of Northern Zhou, when he was young. Empress Dugu came from a prominent family with great influence. Yang Jian rose steadily in the court, and his power grew. But he was always restless. One day, Empress Dugu said to Yang Jian: "The situation in the court is now very complicated, you're already riding a tiger, and it's very difficult to get off." Yang Jian asked: "Then what should I do?" Empress Dugu said: "You must only continue to advance, to seize the world, to solve this predicament." Yang Jian listened to his wife's advice, made up his mind, and finally unified the country, establishing the Sui Dynasty, creating a short but brilliant era in history.
Usage
形容处于进退两难的境地。
Describes a situation in which one must choose between two equally undesirable alternatives.
Examples
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他骑虎难下，进退两难。
ta qi hu nan xia, jin tui liang nan.
He is in a dilemma, unable to advance or retreat.
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这件事已经开始做了，现在骑虎难下，只能继续下去。
zhe jian shi yi jing kai shi zuo le, xianzai qi hu nan xia, zhi neng jixu xiaqu
The matter has already begun, and he can't back down now; he is in a difficult situation and must continue.