火中取栗 huǒ zhōng qǔ lì

fig. to be sb's cat's-paw

Word data

HSK Not in HSK
Frequency Unknown

Definitions

  1. 1. fig. to be sb's cat's-paw
  2. 2. lit. to pull chestnuts out of the fire (idiom)

Characters

Character Meaning
火 huǒ HSK 2
fire; hot (popular); fiery or flaming
中 zhōng HSK 1
in; within; middle
取 qǔ HSK 4
to take; to get; to choose
栗 lì
chestnut; surname Li; afraid