懸崖勒馬 xuán yá lè mǎ

fig. to act in the nick of time

Word data

HSK Not in HSK
Frequency Unknown

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
懸 xuán
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
馬 mǎ
horse; surname Ma