缩手缩脚 (suō shǒu suō jiǎo) — (idiom) to shrink from cold; to curl up due to cold; (idiom) to be overcautious; to act with excessive timidity
Definition
Literally 'shrink hands and feet,' this idiom means being timid or overcautious — pulling back from action rather than committing. In the first sense (curling up from cold) it is rare; the everyday meaning is excessive hesitation.
idiom
to shrink from coldto curl up due to coldto be overcautiousto act with excessive timidity
Examples
- ，缩手缩脚。Tiān tài lěng le, dòng dé tā suō shǒu suō jiǎo de.It was so cold that he was shivering and curling up.
- ，缩手缩脚。Zuò jué dìng shí yào guǒ duàn, bù néng suō shǒu suō jiǎo.When making decisions, you need to be decisive and not overcautious.
- 缩手缩脚，。Tā zǒng shì zài guān jiàn shí kè suō shǒu suō jiǎo, cuò shī le hěn duō jī huì.He always hesitates at critical moments, missing many opportunities.
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