I think, as an American, the metaphor carries with it the idea of a situation you think at the outset should be relatively easy but once you get invested in it

I think, as an American, the metaphor carries with it the idea of a situation you think at the outset should be relatively easy but once you get invested in it seems to have no way out until you leave relatively defeated. For history buffs from Europe, the experience of Germanicus (at least as recounted by Tacitus) in the swamps across the Rhine may have a similar implication. Oh look, we're the Roman army, the most powerful army in the world. Defeating a few barbarians should be easy! But then the actual requirements start piling up, one gets into the swamps, can't move about like one would have hoped, logistics gets disrupted, and eventually it takes outside help even to retreat.....