Definition
一败涂地 is a fixed four-character idiom (成语) literally meaning 'once defeated, (the blood) covers the ground' — it describes a complete and devastating defeat with no chance of recovery. You commonly use it as a complement after 输得 (lost so badly that…) or as a predicate meaning 'to be utterly routed'. The expression is fixed and cannot be split or reordered.
f.e.
to suffer a crushing defeatto be utterly routed
Examples
- 一败涂地，。Zhè chǎng bǐsài wǒmen shū de yī bài tú dì, yí ge qiú dōu méi jìn.We lost this game so badly that we didn't even score a single goal.
- ，，一败涂地。Zài shāngchǎng shàng, rúguǒ juécè shīwù, gōngsī kěnéng huì yī bài tú dì.In business, if decisions go wrong, the company may suffer a crushing defeat.
- 一败涂地，。Tāmen de jūnduì yī bài tú dì, zài yě méiyou bànfǎ dǎzhàng le.Their army was utterly routed and no longer had any way to fight.
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