Definition
This four-character idiom literally means 'strive to be first, fear to be last.' It describes a situation where people rush to outdo one another, each trying to get ahead of the others, often resulting in a disorderly scramble.
phrase
to vie with each otherto outdo one another (in doing something)
Examples
- 争先恐后。Háizimen zhēng xiān kǒng hòu de pǎo chū jiàoshì.The children ran out of the classroom, trying to be first.
- 争先恐后。Jìzhěmen zhēng xiān kǒng hòu de tíwèn.The reporters vied to ask questions.
- ，争先恐后。Bàomíng yì kāishǐ, dàjiā jiù zhēng xiān kǒng hòu de gǎn lái.As soon as registration started, everyone rushed to get there first.
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