From the newspaper:

วันนี้ "ทักษิณ ชินวัตร-สมัคร สุนทรเวช" และพรรคพลังประชาชน ตกอยู่ในสถานการณ์เดียวกัน

คือ ถูกรุกไล่จน "หลังชนฝา" ไม่เหลือทางถอยสักตารางนิ้วเดียว และหากยืนนิ่งต่อไปก็มีแต่รอวันตาย

Today, Mr. Thaksin and Mr Samak" and the PPP are all in the same boat, that is _____________. They have no where to which they can retreat, not even one square inch. And, if they stand still, they can only wait to perish.

Two questions: what is the meaning of: "ถูกรุกไล่" and "หลังชนฝา"? In this forum we have discussed before "หัวชนฝา [ADV] stubbornly; obstinately; uncompromisingly" (Lexitron), but I don't remember the metaphor involving one's back. Might this phrase be a direct take-off from the English, "to have one's back up against the wall"?

Thanks.

From the newspaper:

วันนี้ "ทักษิณ ชินวัตร-สมัคร สุนทรเวช" และพรรคพลังประชาชน ตกอยู่ในสถานการณ์เดียวกัน

คือ ถูกรุกไล่จน "หลังชนฝา" ไม่เหลือทางถอยสักตารางนิ้วเดียว และหากยืนนิ่งต่อไปก็มีแต่รอวันตาย

Today, Mr. Thaksin and Mr Samak" and the PPP are all in the same boat, that is _____________. They have no where to which they can retreat, not even one square inch. And, if they stand still, they can only wait to perish.

Two questions: what is the meaning of: "ถูกรุกไล่" and "หลังชนฝา"? In this forum we have discussed before "หัวชนฝา [ADV] stubbornly; obstinately; uncompromisingly" (Lexitron), but I don't remember the metaphor involving one's back. Might this phrase be a direct take-off from the English, "to have one's back up against the wall"?

Thanks.

A couple guesses: it seems that ถูกรุกไล่ may be something along the lines of being attacked and expelled/shunned and หลังชนฝา gives me the impression of someone shamefacedly walking away with their head bowed to the ground so that the rain falls on their back. They are interesting though so when I have time later on I'll do a google search and see what other contexts the phrases are used in to get a better idea.

A liberal translation (full editorial license): โลภมากลาภหาย

Edited July 18, 200817 yr by mangkorn

i see two possible readings:

ถูกรุกไล่ จน "หลังชนฝา"

having been attacked to the point that their backs are to the wall.

or

ถูกรุกไล่จน + "หลังชนฝา"

checkmated and with their backs to the wall.

in the latter case, i'm thinking of รุกจน (checkmate) จนมุม (checkmate) จนตรอก (no way out).

all the best.

[double post]

Edited July 19, 200817 yr by aanon