严阵以待 yán zhèn yǐ dài be fully prepared

Explanation

形容做好充分的战斗准备，等待敌人到来。也比喻做好充分准备，等待时机。

To describe being fully prepared for battle and waiting for the enemy's arrival. Also figuratively means being fully prepared and waiting for the right moment.

Origin Story

话说三国时期，蜀国大将诸葛亮率领大军北伐曹魏。面对曹魏雄厚的军事实力，诸葛亮深知不可轻敌。他下令全军严阵以待，在各个战略要地布下精兵强将，做好充分的战斗准备。他亲自巡视营寨，检查军械，确保每一位士兵都严守纪律，做好随时迎战的准备。同时，他利用各种手段收集情报，分析敌情，制定周密的作战计划。他深知曹魏军队并非不可战胜，只要做好充分的准备，就一定能够取得胜利。最终，蜀军以其严密的组织，精良的装备和高昂的士气，取得了北伐战争的阶段性胜利，这都归功于诸葛亮事先的严阵以待。

huì shuō sān guó shí qī, shǔ guó dà jiàng zhū gě liàng shuài lǐng dà jūn běi fá cáo wèi. miàn duì cáo wèi xióng hòu de jūn shì shí lì, zhū gě liàng shēn zhī bù kě qīng dí. tā xià lìng quán jūn yán zhèn yǐ dài, zài gè gè zhàn lǜ yào dì bù xià jīng bīng qiáng jiàng, zuò hǎo chōng fèn de zhàn dòu zhǔn bèi. tā qīn zì xún shì yíng zhài, jiǎn chá jūn xiè, què bǎo měi yī wèi shì bìng dōu yán shǒu jì lǜ, zuò hǎo suí shí yíng zhàn de zhǔn bèi. tóng shí, tā lì yòng gè zhǒng shǒu duàn shōu jí qíng bào, fēn xī dí qíng, zhì dìng zhōu mì de zuò zhàn jì huà. tā shēn zhī cáo wèi jūn duì bìng fēi bù kě zhàn shèng, zhǐ yào zuò hǎo chōng fèn de zhǔn bèi, jiù yī dìng néng gōng qǔ dé shèng lì. zuì zhōng, shǔ jūn yǐ qí yán mì de zǔ zhī, jīng liáng de zhāo bèi hé gāo áng de shì qì, qǔ dé le běi fá zhàn zhēng de jiē duàn xìng shèng lì, zhè dōu guī gōng yú zhū gě liàng shì xiān de yán zhèn yǐ dài.

During the Three Kingdoms period, Zhuge Liang, a prominent general of the Shu Han kingdom, led his troops on a northern expedition against the powerful Cao Wei kingdom. Knowing that he couldn't underestimate Cao Wei's formidable military strength, Zhuge Liang ordered his army to be fully prepared for battle, deploying elite soldiers to strategic locations and meticulously planning their campaign. He personally inspected the camps and military supplies, ensuring every soldier was disciplined and battle-ready. By diligently collecting intelligence and analyzing enemy movements, he crafted a comprehensive war strategy. Zhuge Liang recognized that the Cao Wei army wasn't invincible, believing that thorough preparation was the key to victory. The Shu army, with its disciplined ranks, superior equipment, and unwavering morale, secured a significant victory in the northern campaign, a testament to Zhuge Liang's foresight and meticulous preparation.

Usage

常用作谓语、定语，形容做好充分准备，等待时机。

cháng yòng zuò wèi yǔ, dìng yǔ, xiáng róng zuò hǎo chōng fèn zhǔn bèi, děng dài shí jī.

Often used as a predicate or attributive to describe being fully prepared and waiting for the right moment.

Examples

• 面对强敌，我军严阵以待，准备迎战。

  miàn duì qiáng dí, wǒ jūn yán zhèn yǐ dài, zhǔn bèi yíng zhàn

  Facing a strong enemy, our army is ready to fight.

• 考试来临，同学们严阵以待，认真复习。

  kǎoshì lái lín, tóng xué men yán zhèn yǐ dài, rèn zhēn fù xí

  With the exam approaching, students are well-prepared and studying hard..

Related Idioms

• 枕戈待旦

• 厉兵秣马

Opposite Idioms

• 麻痹大意

• 掉以轻心