左支右绌
zuǒ​zhī​yòu​chù

unable to cope

  • created reference approved 左支右绌/左支右絀 → 顾此失彼/顧此失彼 (synonym) — "Initial import from upstream dictionary"

    左支右绌 / 左支右絀 zuǒ​zhī​yòu​chù

    顾此失彼 / 顧此失彼 gù​cǐ​shī​bǐ

    synonym

    Changed: source (simp), source (trad), source pinyin, target (simp), target (trad), target pinyin, type

    created reference

  • created sense approved 左支右绌/左支右絀 · zuǒ​zhī​yòu​chù · unable to cope — "Initial import from upstream dictionary"

    左支右绌 / 左支右絀

    zuǒ​zhī​yòu​chù

    unable to cope

    (idiom) to be in straitened circumstances; to be unable to cope with a situation; to lack the resources to handle every problem at once, resulting in a state of being overwhelmed or spread too thin. Originally referred to the posture of an archer but now describes being in financial or logistical difficulty

    左 (literal) → 左 · zuǒ · to assist 支 (literal) → 支 · zhī · to prop up 右 (literal) → 右 · yòu · to assist 绌 (literal) → 绌/絀 · chù · insufficient

    Changed: simplified, traditional, gloss, definition, pinyin, variant pinyin, variants, separable parts, decomposition

    created sense