Feb 8, 2009 07:13
15 yrs ago
4 viewers *
English term
back to the wall
English to Arabic
Social Sciences
Idioms / Maxims / Sayings
back to the wall, also "back against the wall"
http://www.answers.com/back to the wall
Also, back against the wall. In a hard-pressed situation; also, without any way of escape. For example, In the closing few minutes, our team had its back to the wall but continued to fight gallantly, or The bank has him with his back to the wall; he'll have to pay up now. This term was used originally for a military force that is making a last stand.
http://www.answers.com/back to the wall
Also, back against the wall. In a hard-pressed situation; also, without any way of escape. For example, In the closing few minutes, our team had its back to the wall but continued to fight gallantly, or The bank has him with his back to the wall; he'll have to pay up now. This term was used originally for a military force that is making a last stand.
Proposed translations
(Arabic)
Proposed translations
3 hrs
Sumaia Sawalha
United Arab Emirates
United Arab Emirates
Native in Arabic
United Arab Emirates
translator,(eng-ara & vv) (it-ara & vv)
Native in: Arabic 
Works in: Arabic, English to Arabic, Arabic to English, and 4 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
4
Selected
في موقف لا مفر منه / ليس لديه أي خيار سوى.../ لا خيار أمامه سوى
translation this expression depends on the context.
for example when we say:
the soldiers have their backs to the wall, we translate it :
وجد الجنود أنفسهم "في موقف لا مفر منه فالبحر من خلفهم و العدو من أمامهم" 1
the soldiers are fighting with their backs against the wall
ليس لدى هؤلاء الجنود أي خيار سوى القتال
our team had its back to the wall but continued to fight gallantly
لا خيار امامهم سوى مواصلة القتال
for example when we say:
the soldiers have their backs to the wall, we translate it :
وجد الجنود أنفسهم "في موقف لا مفر منه فالبحر من خلفهم و العدو من أمامهم" 1
the soldiers are fighting with their backs against the wall
ليس لدى هؤلاء الجنود أي خيار سوى القتال
our team had its back to the wall but continued to fight gallantly
لا خيار امامهم سوى مواصلة القتال
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "ها هو موقفهم: العدو أمامهم و البحر من واراهم
شكرا على الجميع"
+1
12 mins
1 hr
انعدام الخيارات المتوفرة
"لم يكن أمام الجنود من خيارات متوفرة سوى القتال".
+3
2 hrs
Nadia Ayoub
Egypt
Egypt
Native in Arabic
Works in field
Egypt
Never lost for words!
Native in: Arabic
Works in: English to Arabic, Arabic to English, Italian to Arabic, and 4 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
182
في مأزق
also.
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
asd_trans
50 mins
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Msny thanks Asd :)
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| agree |
Hassan Al-Haifi (wordforword)
: I like this!
1 hr
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Many thanks Hassan :)
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| agree |
samah A. fattah
6 hrs
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Many thanks Samah :)
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2 hrs
Khaled Osman
France
France
Native in Arabic
Works in field
France
25-year exp in intl/business translation
Native in: French , Arabic
Works in: English to French, Arabic to French
ظهره للحائط, لا مفر أمامه
Though less idiomatic than in English, the literal translations is also used (mainly in the press) and understood in Arabic. otherwise, la mafarra amamahu means he has no way out
Discussion
the soldiers have their backs to the wall
they know there is no other option or no way to escape from the battle field, the only option is to fight till the end, either win or lose the battle.