📖 Meaning
Describes an appearance or expression of anger and contempt. It evokes the image of someone glaring with furrowed brows and cold, disdainful eyes, typically directed at a person or force they oppose and despise.
📜 Origin Story
This idiom originates from a modern Chinese poem titled 'Premier Zhou, the Daqing Children Miss You' (《周总理啊，大庆儿女想念你》) by the poet Li Ji (李季). The original line reads: '横眉冷眼不怕鬼，心红胆壮看咱们谁怕谁' — 'With angry brows and cold eyes, we fear no ghosts; with a red heart and bold courage, let's see who is afraid of whom.' The poem honors Premier Zhou Enlai and praises the fearless revolutionary spirit of the Daqing oil workers. Unlike many classical idioms drawn from ancient historical texts, this one has a distinctly modern literary origin. It has since become a common expression for describing a demeanor of angry contempt.
💡 Example Usage
面对挑衅，老将军横眉冷眼，厉声斥责。
Faced with the provocation, the old general glared with angry contempt and sternly rebuked them.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 横眉冷眼
- Pinyin: héng méi lěng yǎn
- Literal Translation: horizontal eyebrows, cold eyes
- Category: Attitude
- Characters: 4