剑拔弩张 swords drawn, bows bent
Explanation
形容双方关系紧张，气氛严峻，随时可能爆发冲突。
To describe a tense situation between two parties, where conflict could break out at any moment.
Origin Story
话说三国时期，蜀汉大将诸葛亮七擒孟获，平定南蛮之后，南蛮诸王虽然表面上臣服，但暗地里却依然不服，经常派人到边境挑衅。一天，蜀汉边境告急，说是南蛮军队集结在边境，随时可能入侵。蜀汉朝廷立即召集文武百官商议对策。一时间，朝堂之上，气氛紧张，剑拔弩张。诸葛亮沉着冷静地分析了南蛮的形势，并提出了相应的战略部署，最终成功平息了危机。
During the Three Kingdoms period in ancient China, after Shu Han general Zhuge Liang subdued the southern barbarians by capturing and releasing their leader Meng Huo seven times, the barbarian kings, though outwardly submissive, secretly harbored resentment. They frequently sent people to provoke incidents at the border. One day, an emergency was reported at the Shu Han border: the southern barbarian army was massing, poised to invade. The Shu Han court immediately convened a meeting of civil and military officials to discuss countermeasures. The atmosphere in the court was tense and on edge. Zhuge Liang calmly analyzed the southern barbarians' situation and proposed appropriate strategic plans, successfully averting the crisis.
Usage
多用于形容两国或两方势力关系紧张对峙的局面。
Often used to describe the tense confrontation between two countries or powers.
Examples
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两军对峙，剑拔弩张。
liǎng jūn duìzhì, jiànbá nǔzhāng
The two armies faced each other, swords drawn.
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谈判破裂，双方剑拔弩张，一触即发。
tánpàn pōliè, shuāngfāng jiànbá nǔzhāng, yīchù jífā
Negotiations broke down, and both sides were on the verge of conflict.