Tā zài tánpàn zhōng fànle cuò, xiànzài jìntuìshījù.
He made a mistake in negotiations and is now stuck with no good options.
Tips
history
From 《后汉书·樊英传》 (Book of the Later Han, Biography of Fan Ying), criticizing someone who could neither stand by his principles nor properly serve at court — leaving him with no firm ground (据, jù) for either advance or retreat.
usage
Formal/literary. Common in news commentary on political or business missteps. For everyday "stuck" use 左右为难 (zuǒyòu wéi nán, hard either way) instead.
