📖 Meaning
This idiom vividly describes a scene of extreme chaos and commotion, as if horses are rearing up and people are being thrown to the ground. It is used to characterize a situation that is completely disordered and thrown into turmoil.
📜 Origin Story
The phrase comes from Chapter 115 of 'Dream of the Red Chamber' (红楼梦) by Cao Xueqin of the Qing dynasty. In the story, Jia Lian's household is left without help, so he invites Wang Ren to assist with managing affairs. Meanwhile, young Qiaojie cries day and night for her deceased mother and falls ill. As a result, the Rong mansion is thrown into utter chaos—described as '马仰人翻,' with horses rearing and people tumbling over.
💡 Example Usage
一场突如其来的暴雨把工地搅得马仰人翻。
A sudden rainstorm threw the construction site into total chaos.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 马仰人翻
- Pinyin: mǎ yǎng rén fān
- Literal Translation: horse, rear up, person, topple
- Category: Condition
- Characters: 4