冷处理 (lěng chǔ) — (metallurgy) cold treatment, subzero treatment; (figurative) deliberate non-response or postponement of an issue to let tensions cool
Definition
A literal metallurgy term (subzero treatment to harden metal), used figuratively for deliberately shelving an issue to let tempers cool. The figurative sense is what learners will meet in modern usage.
noun
(metallurgy) cold treatmentsubzero treatment(figurative) deliberate non-response or postponement of an issue to let tensions cool
Examples
- 冷处理，。Zhè jiàn shì xiān lěng chǔ yí xià, děng dà jiā lěng jìng le zài tán.Let's put this matter on ice for now and talk about it once everyone has calmed down.
- 冷处理。Tā duì nà ge wèn tí cǎi qǔ le lěng chǔ de tài dù.He adopted a wait-and-see attitude toward that issue.
- 冷处理。Zhè zhǒng jīn shǔ jīng guò lěng chǔ hòu yìng dù huì tí gāo.After cold treatment, this metal's hardness increases.
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