俎そ上じょうの魚うお

expression, noun

helpless situation; fish on a chopping board

Idiomatic expression describing a person or group that is completely at the mercy of others, with no way to resist or escape. The literal image is of a fish already placed on a cutting board, ready to be prepared.

• 彼かれは敵てきに囲かこまれて、まさに俎そ上じょうの魚うおだった。

  Surrounded by enemies, he was truly like a fish on a chopping board.

• 交こう渉しょうの場ばで、我われ々われは完かん全ぜんに俎そ上じょうの魚うおの状じょう態たいだった。

  At the negotiation table, we were completely in a helpless situation.