gRomoZeka wrote:
According to the Cambridge International Dictionary of Idioms this is an old-fashioned British and Australian expression. See http://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/in+a+cleft+stickin a cleft stick — в безвыходном положении
Значит, никто не знает такой идиомки? А сможет ли собеседник понять эту идиому, даже если она ему незнакома?
I just asked my mother who is 90 years old and is still sharp. She was born and raised in Canada and has never heard this expression. Also she could not guess at its meaning.