临时抱佛脚 lín shí bào fó jiǎo

doing things at the last minute

Word data

HSK Not in HSK
Frequency Unknown

Definitions

  1. 1. doing things at the last minute
  2. 2. making a hasty last-minute effort
  3. 3. lit. to clasp the Buddha's feet when danger arises (idiom); fig. to profess devotion only when in trouble

Characters

Character Meaning
临 lín HSK 5
to face; to be (just) about to; just before
时 shí HSK 1
time; when; o'clock
抱 bào HSK 4
to hug; to hold; to carry (in one's arms)
佛 fó HSK 5
seemingly; (female) head ornament; variant of 彿fú
脚 jiǎo HSK 3
foot; leg (of an animal or an object); base (of an object)