てもあしもでない

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鈴木：　この間のテニスの試合どうでした？
林：　強い相手でね、手も足もでませんでしたよ。

Suzuki-san: Kono aida no tenisu no shiai doo deshita.
Hayashi-san: Tsuyoi aite de ne, te mo ashi mo dema sen deshita yo.

Mr. Suzuki: How'd you get on in your tennis match the other day?
Mr. Hayashi: The opponent was too strong. I did't stand a chance.

* * *

Poor Mr. Hayashi. Unable to return his opponent's service or smash, he spent most of the match running from one side of the court to the other. It's often happened to me so I know how he feels.
When one's best efforts are in vain, against a superior opponent (in tennis, golf, sumo, shogi, etc.), the expression te mo ashi mo denai is often used. It also applies to piano, ballet and calligraphy "concours" when one finds oneself outclassed.
A similar expression is totemo kanawanai e.g. gambatte benkyo shita keredo, A-kun ni wa totemo kanawanakatta. ("I studied hard but was no match for A") and reshitbu no renshu wo shita keredo B-san no saabu ni wa totemo kanawanakatta ("I worked on my return of serve but could not stand up to B's serve).
In connection with this sporting boom, farmers around Lake Yamanaka and Karuizawa have apparently been converting their fields into tennis courts. They are obviously teeen to earn money without having to work but, if others follow suit, where will the food come from that they should have been producing for the rest of us?