also: ゆきがかりじょう
expression
by force of circumstance; given the circumstances
Used when a situation or action is unavoidable or determined by the way things have developed, often implying a reluctant or passive acceptance. Functions as an adverbial phrase.
行きがかり上、彼の提案を受け入れざるを得なかった。
Given the circumstances, I had no choice but to accept his proposal.
行きがかり上、そう言うしかなかった。
By force of circumstance, I had to say that.
Variant with 掛り; rare and somewhat dated.
Alternate reading ゆきがかりじょう; less common than いきがかりじょう.
Similar meaning 'as things turned out' or 'in the course of events', but 成り行き上 emphasizes the natural progression of events, while 行きがかり上 stresses the compelling force of the circumstances that have built up.
Means 'on impulse' or 'by momentum', often used for actions taken spontaneously under the flow of the moment. 行きがかり上 is more about being bound by the situation rather than acting on impulse.
Compound of 行きがかり (circumstances, the way things have developed) + 上 (in terms of, from the standpoint of). The reading いきがかりじょう is standard; ゆきがかりじょう is a less common variant.