" 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——指的是一艘帆船，当她迎风航行时，她迎风而上，在任何一次航行中都不会加油。