Dead in the Water——一蹶不振

** immobile（不能移動）// inoperable（無法操作）// defunct（失效）// helpless（無助）~~一蹶不振；敗局已定；徹底失敗；無可挽回；陷入絕境；走向墳墓；胎死腹中；死火；沉淪

~~ dead on arrival // at a dead end // in dire straits // against the wall // up a tree // hit the skids // hit a roadblock // ground to a halt // nip in the bud

!! The original allusion is to a disabled ship, which is unable to proceed.

（最初的典故是指殘破的船，無法繼續前進。）

!! Another origin referred to a dead fish floating on water, and not going anywhere.

（另一個來源是指一條死魚漂浮在水面上，不可能到達任何地方。）

!! It is frequently used to describe an about-to-fail company, drifting rather than progressing.

（它經常被用來描述即將倒閉的公司，飄零而沒有發展。）

>> Due to Coronavirus, this year's world economy is dead in the water, with continuing rising unemployment rate.

（因新冠肺炎疫情，今年全世界經濟都一蹶不振，失業率不斷攀升。）

>> In the 2017 UEFA Champions League, Barcelona had trailed Paris Saint-Germain 3:5 three minutes before the match would finish. Everyone thought the match was dead in the water, but who would have known, Barcelona scored three goals in a row and won 6:5.

（二○一七年歐冠杯大賽，巴塞隆拿在完場前三分鐘總比分仍落後巴黎聖日耳門三比五，大家以為敗局已定，誰知巴塞隆拿連入三球，反勝六比五。）

學勤進修教育中心英語專科導師 李啟文 教授