用中文说: "Hung out to dry"

Welcome to "用中文说", let's learn some new phrases in Chinese now! 

1. Hung out to dry

【中文】牺牲(他人) 顶罪

   Xīshēng (tārén) dǐngzuì

【解释】 Abandon someone to danger, to get someone into trouble, especially by making them take the blame for a bad situation.

-  The President hung one of his generals out to dry after a scandal. 

丑闻之后,总统让将军们顶罪。

Chǒuwén zhīhòu, zǒngtǒng ràng jiāngjūnmen dǐngzuì.

- His little brother was always the one hung out to dry whenever Tom had trouble in school. 

每一次汤姆在学校遇到麻烦,都是他弟弟来顶罪。

Měi yīcì Tāngmǔ zài xuéxiào yù dào máfan, dōu shì tā dìdì lái dǐngzuì.

2.  Between a rock and a hard place 

【中文】左右为难、进退两难

    Zuǒyòu wéinán, jìntuìliǎngnán

【解释】 When you are between two unpleasant options. It is very similar to the idiom "Out of the fire and into the frying pan."

【例句】

- For generations, Chinese men are caught between a rock and a hard place when asked by their wives, "Whom you are going to save, me or your mother, when both of us are 

drowning. 

几辈中国男人在妻子问他们“掉河里现就我还是你妈”的问题是都左右为难。

Jǐ bèi zhōngguó nánrén zài qīzi wèn tāmen “diào hé lǐ xiàn jiù wǒ háishì nǐ mā” de wèntí shì dōu zuǒyòu wéinán.

- The crew of Apollo 13 were caught between a rock and a hard place.

阿波罗13号的团队成员们陷入了进退两难的境地。

Ābōluó 13 hào de tuánduì chéngyuánmen xiànrùle jìntuìliǎngnán de jìngdì.