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芒刺在背 (máng cì zài bèi) — like thorns on the back — to feel extremely nervous or uneasy

Definition

A chengyu meaning 'like thorns prickling the back' — to feel intense, restless anxiety, often because someone is watching or judging you. Pairs with 坐立不安 in the example sentences.

idiom
like thorns on the back — to feel extremely nervous or uneasy

Examples

  • ，芒刺在背，。
    Tīng dào zhè ge xiāo xi, tā rú máng cì zài bèi, zuò lì bù ān.
    Upon hearing this news, he felt like having thorns on his back and couldn't sit still.
  • 芒刺在背，。
    Měi cì kǎo shì qián tā dōu máng cì zài bèi, shēng pà zì jǐ kǎo bù hǎo.
    Before every exam, she feels nervous and uneasy, afraid she won't do well.
  • ，芒刺在背。
    Lǎo bǎn lěng lěng de kàn le tā yì yǎn, tā dùn shí máng cì zài bèi.
    The boss gave him a cold look, and he immediately felt a thorn in his back.

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