Definition
碰钉子 (pèng dīng zi) is a colloquial set phrase meaning 'to be rebuffed or rejected'. It literally means 'to bump into a nail' — a vivid image of hitting an obstacle. The phrase can be split (e.g. 碰了一个软钉子 'received a polite refusal'), so the verb 碰 and the object 钉子 can be separated.
phrase
to be rebuffedto meet with a refusal
Examples
- ，碰钉子。Tā qù zhǎo lǐngdǎo shěnpī fāng'àn, jiéguǒ pèng dīng zi le.He went to the leader for approval of the plan, but ended up being rebuffed.
- ，。Xiǎo Wáng xiǎng jiārù nàge shètuán, méi xiǎngdào pèng le yí ge ruǎn dīngzi.Xiao Wang wanted to join that club, but unexpectedly received a polite refusal.
- 碰钉子，。Měi cì xiàng tā biǎobái dōu pèng dīng zi, wǒ juédìng fàngqì le.Every time I confess to her, I'm rebuffed; I've decided to give up.
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