📖 Meaning
To scramble to be first and fear being left behind. It describes people eagerly competing or rushing forward, unwilling to lag behind others in pursuit of a goal or opportunity.
📜 Origin Story
The idiom comes from Qu Yuan's (屈原) ancient poem 'Li Sao' (《离骚》) from the Warring States period: '众皆竞进以贪婪兮，凭不厌乎求索' — though the exact four-character phrase was later crystallized from this spirit. Another early attestation appears in the classical commentary tradition describing how people vie for advantage. The phrase has been used in its modern form since at least the Tang dynasty, capturing the universal human impulse to outpace one's peers.
💡 Example Usage
商场一开门，顾客们争先恐后地涌进去抢购特价商品。
The moment the store opened, customers scrambled to rush in and grab the discounted items.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 争先恐后
- Pinyin: zhēng xiān kǒng hòu
- Literal Translation: strive, first, fear, last
- Category: Action
- Characters: 4