ضاقت به السبل

English translation: backed into a corner / at the end of his rope / with no means left / Up against the wall

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)

Arabic term or phrase:	ضاقت به السبل
English translation:	backed into a corner / at the end of his rope / with no means left / Up against the wall
Entered by:	Lamine Boukabour

14:47 May 23, 2023

Arabic to English translations [PRO]
Art/Literary - Poetry & Literature

Arabic term or phrase: ضاقت به السبل

Hi everyone,

I know this means something like 'at his wit's end'/'had had enough'.

I was just curious how you all usually would translate this, based on this context:

يقف البطل وقد ضاقت به السبل، يشعر بالظلم ....

Thanks!

Saliha18 KudoZ activity Questions: 560 (7 open) (21 closed without grading) Answers: 0
Local time: 15:09

backed into a corner / at the end of his rope / with no means left / Up against the wall

Explanation:
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Note added at 28 mins (2023-05-23 15:16:26 GMT)
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https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/backed one into a...

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the end of one's ...

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/up against a/the ...

Selected response from:

Lamine Boukabour
Algeria
Local time: 15:09

Grading comment

Thanks!
2 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer

Summary of answers provided

Being trapped / feeling trapped

Yassine El Bouknify

4 +1

backed into a corner / at the end of his rope / with no means left / Up against the wall

Lamine Boukabour

No solution

Abdelhalim MEKBEL

Discussion entries: 1

Answers

8 mins confidence:

Being trapped / feeling trapped

Explanation:
be/feel trappedto be in a bad situation from which you cannot escapebe/feel trapped in Julia felt trapped in her role of wife and mother.
https://www.ldoceonline.com/dictionary/be-feel-trapped

The Arabic phrase "ضاقت به السبل" can be translated to English as "He felt trapped" or "He felt cornered." It conveys a sense of being at a dead end or running out of options. So, in the given context, the translation could be:

"The hero stands, being trapped, ...."

Yassine El Bouknify
Morocco
Local time: 15:09
Native speaker of:

Arabic
PRO pts in category: 185

Notes to answerer

Asker: This is very helpful, thank you!

26 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): +1

backed into a corner / at the end of his rope / with no means left / Up against the wall

Lamine Boukabour
Algeria
Local time: 15:09
Native speaker of:

Arabic
PRO pts in category: 94

Grading comment

Thanks!

1 hr confidence:

No solution

Explanation:
We use this expression to talk about someone who has no solution to his problems, no alternatives

Example sentence(s):

ضاقت به السبل و لا يدري ماذا يعمل

Abdelhalim MEKBEL
Algeria
Local time: 15:09
Specializes in field
Native speaker of:

Kabyle
PRO pts in category: 2

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ضاقت به السبل

English translation: backed into a corner / at the end of his rope / with no means left / Up against the wall

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ضاقت به السبل

English translation: backed into a corner / at the end of his rope / with no means left / Up against the wall

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