捉襟見肘 zhuō jīn jiàn zhǒu

DEFINITIONS

  1. lit. pulling on the lapels exposes the elbows (idiom)
  2. strapped for cash
  3. unable to make ends meet

CHARACTERS

捉 zhuō
HSK 6
grasp, clutch; catch, seize
襟 jīn lapel, collar
見 jiàn see, observe, behold; perceive
肘 zhǒu the elbow; help a person shoulder a load