📖 Meaning
This idiom means to obstruct or hinder someone from all directions and by every possible means. It conveys the sense of multiple parties putting up relentless barriers to prevent something from happening. The phrase emphasizes the persistent and varied nature of the obstruction.
📜 Origin Story
The idiom originates from the Qing dynasty novel 《儿女英雄传》 (Tales of Heroic Sons and Daughters) by Wen Kang, specifically in the fortieth chapter. In the scene, the maternal aunt repeatedly tries to talk the character out of something with all sorts of objections, yet despite her constant interference, the character stays sharp-witted and eventually manages to work out the rest of the words under discussion. The phrase captures the aunt's relentless attempts to block and derail the conversation.
💡 Example Usage
他想出去闯荡一番，父母却横拦竖挡，怎么也不肯答应。
He wanted to go out and make his way in the world, but his parents obstructed him at every turn and would not agree.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 横拦竖挡
- Pinyin: héng lán shù dǎng
- Literal Translation: horizontally block, vertically obstruct
- Category: Action
- Characters: 4