敲退堂鼓 qiāotuìtánggǔ to back out Origin Definitions Defs Strokes Stroke Words Sentences Sents 敲 qiāo verb to knock to hit, strike, or tap; to beat a drum; to rap on a door or surface退堂鼓 tuìtánggǔ court-recess drum Drumming that signals an official's withdrawal from court after a legal session in ancient China