探头探脑 tàn tóu tàn nǎo peep

Explanation

形容偷偷摸摸地向四处张望。

Describes looking around secretly and cautiously.

Origin Story

在一个漆黑的夜晚，小偷阿强来到了一户富人家门口。他先探头探脑地观察周围有没有人，确定周围没有人后，他轻轻地打开门，溜进了屋里。屋里一片漆黑，他只能摸索着前进。他小心翼翼地打开抽屉，寻找值钱的东西。突然，他听到有人走来的脚步声，吓得他赶紧躲了起来。脚步声越来越近，阿强的心也越来越紧张。他屏住呼吸，不敢发出一点声音。脚步声从他身边经过，然后渐渐远去。阿强这才松了一口气，继续寻找财物。他翻箱倒柜，终于找到了一只装满金银珠宝的首饰盒。他喜出望外，连忙把首饰盒塞进怀里，然后悄悄地溜出了富人家。

zài yīgè qī hēi de yè wǎn, xiǎo tōu ā qiáng lái dào le yī hù fù rén jiā mén kǒu。 tā xiān tàn tóu tàn nǎo de guān chá zhōu wéi yǒu méiyǒu rén, què dìng zhōu wéi méiyǒu rén hòu, tā qīng qīng de dǎ kāi mén, liū jìn le wū lǐ。 wū lǐ yī piàn qī hēi, tā zhǐ néng mō suo de qián jìn。 tā xiǎo xīn yì yì de dǎ kāi chōu tī, xún zhǎo zhí qián de dōng xi。 tū rán, tā tīng dào yǒu rén zǒu lái de jiǎo bù shēng, xià de tā gǎn jǐn duǒ le qǐ lái。 jiǎo bù shēng yuè lái yuè jìn, ā qiáng de xīn yě yuè lái yuè jǐn zhāng。 tā píng zhù hū xī, bù gǎn fā chū yī diǎn shēng yīn。 jiǎo bù shēng cóng tā shēn biān jīng guò, rán hòu jiàn jiàn yuǎn qù。 ā qiáng cái cèi sū le yī kǒu qì, jì xù xún zhǎo cái wù。 tā fān xiāng dǎo guì, zhōng yú zhǎo dào le yī zhǐ zhuāng mǎn jīn yín zhū bǎo de shǒu shì hé。 tā xǐ chū wàng wài, lián máng bǎ shǒu shì hé sāi jìn huái lǐ, rán hòu qiāo qiāo de liū chū le fù rén jiā。

On a dark night, a thief named Aqiang came to the door of a wealthy family's house. He first looked around cautiously to see if anyone was around. After making sure that no one was around, he gently opened the door and slipped into the house. The house was pitch black, and he could only grope his way forward. He carefully opened drawers, looking for valuables. Suddenly, he heard the sound of footsteps approaching and quickly hid himself. The footsteps came closer and closer, and Aqiang's heart grew more and more nervous. He held his breath, not daring to make a sound. The footsteps passed him by and gradually faded away. Aqiang finally breathed a sigh of relief and continued to search for valuables. He turned the house upside down and finally found a jewelry box filled with gold and jewels. He was overjoyed and quickly stuffed the jewelry box into his bosom, then quietly slipped out of the wealthy family's house.

Usage

常用来形容鬼鬼祟祟、偷偷摸摸地窥探的样子。

cháng yòng lái xiáoróng guǐ guǐ suí suí, tōu tōu mō mō de kuī tàn de yàng zi。

Often used to describe the appearance of secretly and cautiously looking around.

Examples

• 他探头探脑地四处张望，好像在寻找什么东西。

  tā tàn tóu tàn nǎo de sì chù zhāng wàng, hǎo xiàng zài xún zhǎo shén me dōng xi。

  He looked around furtively, as if looking for something.

• 小偷探头探脑地观察着周围的环境，伺机下手。

  xiǎo tōu tàn tóu tàn nǎo de guān chá zhe zhōu wéi de huán jìng, sì jī xià shǒu。

  The thief looked around cautiously, waiting for the right time to strike.

Related Idioms

• 东张西望

• 探头缩脑

• 鬼鬼祟祟

Opposite Idioms

• 光明正大

• 坦坦荡荡