原指作战把军队布置在无法退却、只有战死的境地，士兵就会奋勇前进，杀敌取胜。后比喻事先断绝退路，就能下决心，取得成功。

置之死地而后生 [zhì zhī sǐ dì ér hòu shēng] 1. 指置于不战则死的境地，然后才能奋勇战斗，取胜得生。语出《孙子·九地》：“投之亡地然后存，陷之死地然后生。” 秦牧《愤怒的海》：“我们现在的景况，真是置之死地而后生了。” 以上来源于：《现代汉语大词典》

现代汉英辞典释义：deploy troops in such a way as to leave no room for maneuver or route for escape so that the soldiers will fight for their dear lives out of desperation and eventually win the battle.

有志者、事竟成，破釜沉舟，百二秦关终属楚； 苦心人、天不负，卧薪尝胆，三千越甲可吞吴。 和破釜沉舟的意思差不多。

I faced some predicaments and I almost failed, but just as suddenly I go through