gon2 gau2 jap6 kung4 hong6趕狗入窮巷赶狗入穷巷
Jyutpinggon2 gau2 jap6 kung4 hong6
Yalegón gáu yahp kùhng hohng
Definition
To force someone into a corner; to push a weaker party into a desperate situation where they are forced to retaliate.
colloquialpeopleother
How it's used
This idiom serves as a warning against pushing an opponent too far, as desperation often leads to unpredictable and fierce retaliation. It highlights the strategic danger of removing all options for an adversary, effectively turning a manageable conflict into a dangerous one. It is frequently used in workplace or social disputes to advise moderation in negotiation or confrontation.
Examples
Don't push people into a corner, leave them a way out.
Are they trying to corner us and force us to fight back?
Related words
Common mistake
Do not use this phrase to describe someone who is simply in a difficult situation; it specifically describes the act of forcing someone into that state through external pressure or bullying.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
