不绝如缕 on the verge of extinction
Explanation
形容情势危急或声音、气息等低沉微弱、时断时续。
Describes a dangerous situation or a weak, intermittent sound or breath.
Origin Story
话说当年秦末农民起义，陈胜吴广一声号角，揭竿而起，响应者云集，一时间，天下大乱，各路诸侯纷纷起兵。项羽率领楚军与秦军激战，势如破竹，眼看就要推翻暴秦的统治，可是秦军主力反扑，楚军节节败退，形势危急，如同细线一般，随时可能断裂，可谓不绝如缕。经过一番苦战，楚军终于扭转乾坤，取得了最终的胜利。
It is said that during the peasant uprising at the end of the Qin Dynasty, when Chen Sheng and Wu Guang blew the horn of rebellion, many joined the movement, and the country was in chaos for a time. Various feudal lords started to fight one after another. Xiang Yu led the Chu army and fought against the Qin army, and won a decisive victory. It seemed that the rule of the Qin Empire was about to collapse. But the main force of the Qin army fought back, and the Chu army retreated. The situation became critical, like a thin thread, which could break at any time. After a bitter battle, the Chu army finally turned the tide of the war and won the final victory.
Usage
多用于形容局势危急或声音、气息等低沉微弱，时断时续。
Often used to describe a dangerous situation or a weak, intermittent sound or breath.
Examples
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革命形势危急，革命的道路如同细线一样，随时都有可能断裂，真是不绝如缕啊！
géming xíngshì wēijí, gémìng de dàolù rútóng xìxiàn yīyàng, suíshí dōuyǒu kěnéng duànliè, zhēnshi bù jué rú lǚ a！
The revolutionary situation is critical, and the path of revolution is like a thin thread, which could break at any time. It is truly a precarious situation.
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他病得非常严重，呼吸非常微弱，奄奄一息，真是不绝如缕。
tā bìng de fēicháng yánzhòng, hūxī fēicháng wēiruò, yǎnyǎn yīsī, zhēnshi bù jué rú lǚ
He was very sick, his breathing was very weak, he was dying, it was truly a precarious situation