拉下马 (lā xià mǎ) — (figurative, verb-object) to depose, to overthrow (someone in power)

Definition

A chengyu/verb-object phrase meaning to 'depose or overthrow' someone in power. Used for removing leaders or governments (often via 把 construction, as in 把腐败的政府拉下马).

verb
(figurative, verb-object) to deposeto overthrow (someone in power)

Examples

  • 拉下马。
    Rén mín zhōng yú bǎ nà ge dú cái zhě lā xià mǎ le.
    The people finally deposed that dictator.
  • 。
    Zhè xiē jūn guān xiǎng lā zǒng tǒng xià mǎ.
    These military officers want to overthrow the president.
  • 拉下马。
    Tā men tōng guò xuǎn jǔ bǎ fǔ bài de zhèng fǔ lā xià mǎ le.
    They overthrew the corrupt government through elections.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

拉下pull down
拉lāpull下xiàdown
补充Verb + complement
马mǎhorse

拉 (pull) 下 (down) a 马 (horse): removing someone from power.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
手手shǒuhand
Sound part声符shēngfú
立
立lì拉lā
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

拉 pairs 手 (hand) with 立, a component that supplies the sound.

Open 拉 →

An abstract idea shown by a mark or a diagram rather than by a picture of an object.

下 is drawn as a short horizontal line below a long curved line.

Open 下 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 馬; 马 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 馬 shows a horse with its head facing left, a flowing mane, and two legs standing vertically.

Open 马 →

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