📖 Meaning
Rolling up one's sleeves and clenching one's fists to expose the arms. It describes a person preparing to start a fight or take physical action. The image conveys aggression and readiness for violence.
📜 Origin Story
The idiom originates from the Yuan dynasty zaju play 'Ma Danyang' by playwright Yang Jingxian. In one passage, the character of a music official is criticized for bullying the good and acting lawlessly, described as 'rolling up sleeves and clenching fists to commit violence' (揎拳捋袖行凶暴). The phrase vividly depicts a belligerent posture. Over time, '捋' was replaced or paired with '掳' in common usage, and the expression became a standard idiom for someone on the verge of a physical altercation.
💡 Example Usage
他一听这话，立刻揎拳掳袖，准备大打出手。
Hearing this, he immediately rolled up his sleeves and clenched his fists, ready to start a brawl.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 揎拳掳袖
- Pinyin: xuān quán lǔ xiù
- Literal Translation: roll up fists, bare sleeves
- Category: Action
- Characters: 4