背水一战
bèi shuǐ yī zhàn
a last-ditch fight
Character by character
背bèi
back to
back to
水shuǐ
water
water
一yī
one
one
战zhàn
battle
battle
Example
这场比赛是背水一战，输了就要被淘汰。
This match is do-or-die — lose and we’re out.
Tone: neutral.
Usage and origin
The general Han Xin camped with a river at his back so his men could not retreat; 背 is bèi.
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