临阵退缩

Traditional: 臨陣退縮

lín zhèn tuì suō

Dictionary entry

to shrink back as the time for battle approaches (idiom)

What does 临阵退缩 mean?

临阵退缩 (lín zhèn tuì suō) has the following dictionary meaning.

1to shrink back as the time for battle approaches (idiom)

2to get cold feet

Character breakdown

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临línto face · to overlook 阵zhèndisposition of troops · wave 退tuìto retreat; to withdraw · to reject; to return (sth)缩suōto withdraw · to pull back

Reviewed examples

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How to pronounce 临阵退缩

临阵退缩

lín zhèn tuì suō

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Base dictionary data: CC-CEDICT · CC BY-SA 4.0.