📖 Meaning
This idiom describes a situation that is extremely tense and on the verge of erupting, like a bowstring pulled taut and ready to release. It metaphorically refers to a hostile standoff where conflict could break out at any moment.
📜 Origin Story
The phrase comes from Hong Shen's (洪深) work 'The Art of Film and Drama Acting' (《电影戏剧表演术》), written in the early 20th century. In Chapter 6, Hong Shen discusses acting technique, arguing that performers should conserve their energy most of the time and exert force only when necessary, rather than being constantly flushed and tense like a drawn bow and cocked crossbow. The imagery evokes the physical tension of arrows nocked and crossbows cocked, representing a state of maximum strain ready to snap.
💡 Example Usage
谈判桌上双方箭拔弩张，互不相让，气氛十分紧张。
At the negotiating table, both sides were at daggers drawn, each refusing to yield, making the atmosphere extremely tense.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 箭拔弩张
- Pinyin: jiàn bá nǔ zhāng
- Literal Translation: arrow drawn, crossbow stretched
- Category: Condition
- Characters: 4