📖 Meaning
This idiom describes people rubbing their fists and wiping their palms, indicating a state of eager excitement and readiness for action. It portrays the enthusiasm and high spirits of people preparing for a contest, battle, or labor. It is a variant of the more common idiom 摩拳擦掌.
📜 Origin Story
This idiom is a variant form of the well-known expression 摩拳擦掌 (mo quan ca zhang), which appears in classical vernacular novels of the Ming and Qing dynasties. The imagery of rubbing fists and palms conveys the physical eagerness of fighters or workers about to begin. While 摩拳擦掌 became the standard form, the variant 擦拳抹掌 appears in some literary works with the same meaning and usage. No single definitive origin story is associated with this particular variant.
💡 Example Usage
比赛还没开始，队员们已经擦拳抹掌，准备大显身手。
The competition hadn't even started yet, but the team members were already rubbing their fists and wiping their palms, ready to show their skills.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 擦拳抹掌
- Pinyin: cā quán mò zhǎng
- Literal Translation: rub fist, wipe palm
- Category: Attitude
- Characters: 4