打退堂鼓 dǎ tuì táng gǔ

DEFINITIONS

  1. lit. to beat the return drum (idiom)
  2. fig. to give up
  3. to turn tail

CHARACTERS

打 dǎ
HSK 1
strike, hit, beat; fight; attack
退 tuì
HSK 5
step back, retreat, withdraw
堂 táng
HSK 6
hall; government office
鼓 gǔ
HSK 4
drum; beat, top, strike