节骨眼 (jiē) — critical moment; crucial juncture; the decisive point on which things turn
Definition
Idiom for the 'critical moment' when a decision or outcome turns — often used with 上 or 到. Stresses the make-or-break instant, not the situation itself.
noun
critical momentcrucial juncturethe decisive point on which things turn
Examples
- 节骨眼，。Zài zhè ge jiē shàng, nǐ bù néng fàng qì.At this critical moment, you can't give up.
- 节骨眼，。Shì qing dào le jiē, yí dìng yào lěng jìng.When things come to the crucial point, you must stay calm.
- 节骨眼。Tā zǒng zài guān jiàn jiē shàng fàn cuò.He always makes mistakes at the key juncture.
Appears in
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