" in irons, " in nautical language, incapable of coming about or filling away — said of a sailing vessel when, in tacking, she comes up head to the wind and will not fill away on either tack.
“in irons”,用航海语言来说,无法转身或加油——指的一艘帆船,她迎风航行时,她迎风而上,在任何一次航行中都不会加油。