📖 Meaning
Describes an appearance of extreme anxiety and impatience. It depicts someone rubbing their hands together and stamping their feet, unable to stay calm when faced with a difficult situation.
📜 Origin Story
From the Qing dynasty novel "Wenming Xiao Shi" (A Short History of Civilization) by Li Baojia, Chapter 34. In the story, the county magistrate grew so anxious that he rubbed his hands and stamped his feet, summoning his clerks and legal advisors to brainstorm a solution. Despite everyone's deliberation, no one could think of a way out. The phrase vividly captures a person in great distress and agitation.
💡 Example Usage
眼看火车就要开了，他急得搓手顿脚，却怎么也找不到车票。
Seeing the train about to depart, he grew so anxious that he rubbed his hands and stamped his feet, yet still could not find his ticket.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 搓手顿脚
- Pinyin: cuō shǒu dùn jiǎo
- Literal Translation: rub, hands, stamp, feet
- Category: Emotion
- Characters: 4