To be in a degrading or corrupting environment, and consequently be sullied or defiled by it; to be in a wretched and filthy state.
他在这份工作里待久了，觉得自己也有些坐于涂炭，逐渐失去了原有的理想。
Having stayed in this job for a long time, he felt he was also somewhat "sitting in mud and charcoal," gradually losing his original ideals.
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