Definition
提心吊胆 (tí xīn diào dǎn) means to be on tenterhooks—a state of prolonged nervous worry. It differs from 惊慌失措 (jīng huāng shī cuò), which is sudden panic and confusion, and from 惊心动魄 (jīng xīn dòng pò), which describes events that are shocking or breathtaking, not the person's feeling.
phrase
to be on tenterhooksto be in a state of extreme fear or anxiety
Examples
- ，提心吊胆。Kǎoshì jiéguǒ hái méi gōngbù, tóngxuémen dōu tí xīn diào dǎn de.The exam results haven't been announced yet, and all the students are on edge.
- 提心吊胆。Tā měitiān tí xīn diào dǎn de děng zhe yīshēng diànhuà.He anxiously waits for the doctor's call every day.
- 提心吊胆，。Nà duàn rìzi tā guò de tí xīn diào dǎn, shēng pà bèi fāxiàn.During those days she lived in constant fear, terrified of being discovered.
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