碰钉子 (pèng dīngzi) meet with a rebuff/a difficult position

Usage:

“碰钉子”指自己的要求遭到了拒绝或受到斥责，也可以指遇到困难和挫折。在用法上，可以说“碰了钉子”、“碰了个（大）钉子”，书面语中也说“碰壁”。
“碰钉子（pèng dīngzi）”means someone is denounced or his requests is rejected. It also refers to someone meets with a difficult status. We can say“碰了钉子pèngle dīngzi”、“碰了个（大）钉子pèngle gè dàdīngzi”.“碰壁（pèngbì）”is a more formal usage.

Sentences:

1、Xiànzài tā xīnqíng bùhǎo, rúguǒ qù gēn tā shuō zhèjiàn shì, kěndìng pèng dīngzi.
现在他心情不好，如果去跟他说这件事，肯定会碰钉子的。
He is in bad mood now. If you go to talk with him about this thing, you must get rejected.

2、Yǒuxiē rén jíshǐ pèng le dīngzi, yě bìng bù qìněi.
有些人即使碰了钉子，也并不气馁。
There are some people who never lose heart even though they have met with a rebuff.

原文链接