缩手缩脚 suō shǒu suō jiǎo shrink back

Explanation

形容因寒冷或害怕而手脚不能舒展的样子，也形容做事胆小，顾虑重重，不敢放手。

Describes the state of being unable to relax one's limbs due to cold or fear; it also describes someone who is timid and cautious, unwilling to take risks.

Origin Story

寒冬腊月，鹅毛大雪纷纷扬扬地下个不停。一个小男孩儿独自一人走在回家的路上，凛冽的北风像一把把尖刀，刮在他的脸上，冻得他直打哆嗦。他裹紧了身上的棉衣，两只手缩在袖筒里，脚步也慢了下来，一步一步地挪动着。路边，几只麻雀躲在屋檐下，瑟瑟发抖。小男孩儿同情地看着它们，心里想：它们一定比我还冷吧！他加快了脚步，想要早点儿回家。可是，他的手脚冻得僵硬了，怎么也跑不快。他心里有些着急，又有些害怕，不由自主地加快了步伐，加快了步伐。终于，他看到家门口温暖的灯光了。他努力地迈着步子，一步一步地走着，像个小小的蜗牛。他知道，只要再坚持一会儿，就能回家了。回家后，他赶紧脱下棉衣，喝上一杯热腾腾的牛奶，浑身暖和起来。这场雪，让他深深地体会到了寒冷的滋味。从此以后，每当遇到寒冷的天气，他总是会格外地珍惜温暖，同时他也更明白了，遇到困难时，不要缩手缩脚，要勇敢地去面对，这样才能战胜困难。

hán dōng là yuè, é máo dà xuě fēn fēn yáng yáng dì xià ge bù tíng. yī gè xiǎo nánhái ér dú zì yī rén zǒu zài huí jiā de lù shàng, lǐn liè de běi fēng xiàng yī bǎ bǎ jiān dāo, guā zài tā de liǎn shàng, dòng de tā zhí dǎ duō suō. tā guǒ jǐn le shēn shàng de miányī, liǎng zhī shǒu suō zài xiù tóng lǐ, jiǎobù yě màn le xià lái, yī bù yī bù de nuó dòng zhe. lù biān, jǐ zhī má què duǒ zài wū yán xià, sè sè dǒu dǒu. xiǎo nánhái ér tóng qíng de kàn zhe tāmen, xīn lǐ xiǎng: tāmen yīdìng bǐ wǒ hái lěng ba! tā jiā kuài le jiǎobù, xiǎng yào zǎo diǎn ér huí jiā. kěshì, tā de shǒu jiǎo dòng de jiāng yìng le, zěnme yě pǎo bù kuài. tā xīn lǐ yǒuxiē zhāojí, yòu yǒuxiē hàipà, bù yóu zì zhǔ de jiā kuài le bù fá, jiā kuài le bù fá. zhōngyú, tā kàn dào jiā mén kǒu wēn nuǎn de dēng guāng le. tā nǔlì de mài zhe bù zi, yī bù yī bù de zǒu zhe, xiàng ge xiǎo xiǎo de wō niú. tā zhīdào, zhǐ yào zài jiānchí yī huì ér, jiù néng huí jiā le. huí jiā hòu, tā gǎn jǐn tuō xià miányī, hē shàng yī bēi rè téng téng de niúnǎi, húnshēn nuǎn huo qǐ lái. zhè chǎng xuě, ràng tā shēn shēn de tǐhuì dào le hán lěng de zīwèi. cóng cǐ yǐ hòu, měi dāng yù dào hán lěng de tiānqì, tā zǒngshì huì gé wài de zhēnxī wēn nuǎn, tóngshí tā yě gèng míngbai le, yù dào kùnnan shí, bù yào suō shǒu suō jiǎo, yào yǒnggǎn de qù miànduì, zhèyàng cáinéng zhànshèng kùnnan.

In the cold winter, the snow was falling heavily and continuously. A little boy walked home alone on the road. The bitter north wind was like a sharp knife, scratching his face and freezing him. He wrapped his cotton coat tightly around him, hid his hands in his sleeves, and slowed down, moving step by step. On the roadside, a few sparrows hid under the eaves, shivering. The little boy looked at them sympathetically, thinking: They must be colder than I am! He quickened his pace, wanting to go home early. But his hands and feet were frozen stiff, and he couldn't run fast. He was a little anxious and a little afraid, and he unconsciously quickened his pace. Finally, he saw the warm light at the entrance of his house. He struggled to walk, step by step, like a small snail. He knew that as long as he persevered, he could go home. Back home, he immediately took off his coat, drank a cup of hot milk, and his whole body warmed up. This snowy day made him deeply understand the taste of cold. From then on, whenever he encountered cold weather, he would cherish the warmth more, and he also understood that when encountering difficulties, one should not shrink back but face them bravely, so as to overcome the difficulties.

Usage

常用作谓语、宾语、状语；形容做事胆小，畏缩不前。

cháng yòng zuò wèi yǔ, bīn yǔ, zhuàng yǔ; xíngróng zuòshì dǎn xiǎo, wèi suō bù qián

Often used as a predicate, object, or adverbial; describes someone who is timid and hesitant.

Examples

• 他做事总是缩手缩脚，缺乏魄力。

  tā zuòshì zǒngshì suō shǒu suō jiǎo, quēfá pòlì

  He always acts timidly and lacks decisiveness.

• 面对困难，我们不能缩手缩脚，而要勇敢面对。

  miàn duì kùnnan, wǒmen bùnéng suō shǒu suō jiǎo, ér yào yǒnggǎn miànduì

  When facing difficulties, we should not shrink back but face them bravely.

• 这个计划因为大家的缩手缩脚而失败了。

  zhège jìhuà yīnwèi dàjiā de suō shǒu suō jiǎo ér shībài le

  This plan failed due to everyone's hesitation and lack of commitment.

Related Idioms

• 畏首畏尾

• 缩头缩脑

• 胆怯

Opposite Idioms

• 放开手脚

• 胆大妄为

• 豪迈