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退堂鼓
tuì​táng​gǔ

court-recess drum

Definitions Defs Origin Strokes Stroke Words Sentences Sents
  • 打退堂鼓 dǎ​tuì​táng​gǔ to give up
    (idiom) to give up midway; to back out of a commitment; to lose heart and quit
  • 敲退堂鼓 qiāo​tuì​táng​gǔ to back out
    literally to beat the drum signaling the end of a court session; to give up halfway or back out of a commitment