悬崖勒马 xuán yá lè mǎ

fig. to act in the nick of time

Word data

HSK Not in HSK
Frequency 43111th word

Definitions

  1. 1. fig. to act in the nick of time
  2. 2. lit. to rein in the horse at the edge of the precipice (idiom)

Characters

Character Meaning
悬 xuán HSK 6
to hang or suspend; to worry; unresolved
崖 yá HSK 6
cliff; precipice; Taiwan pr. yái
勒 lè
to strap tightly; to bind; to force
马 mǎ HSK 3
horse; surname Ma