芒刺在背 thorns in the back
Explanation
形容心里害怕不安，好像背后有芒刺扎着一样。
Describes a feeling of fear and uneasiness, as if there were thorns in one's back.
Origin Story
汉宣帝刘询即位后，前往太庙祭祀祖先。在庄严肃穆的太庙中，他看到霍光这位权倾朝野的大臣站在身边，心中不禁感到深深的不安和恐惧。霍光虽然是辅佐过他的大臣，但他的权势之大，让刘询感受到巨大的压力，如同芒刺在背，如坐针毡。刘询表面上恭敬地行着祭祀的礼仪，内心却忐忑不安，直到霍光去世后，他才感到轻松自在。这段经历也让他深刻体会到权力斗争的残酷和自身地位的不稳定。
After Emperor Xuan of Han ascended the throne, he went to the Taimiao Temple to worship his ancestors. In the solemn Taimiao Temple, when he saw Huo Guang, the powerful minister standing beside him, he couldn't help but feel deep anxiety and fear. Although Huo Guang had once assisted him, his great power put immense pressure on Emperor Xuan, making him feel like he had thorns in his back. Externally, he performed the sacrificial rites respectfully, but internally he was uneasy. Only after Huo Guang's death did he feel relaxed and at ease. This experience made him deeply understand the cruelty of power struggles and the instability of his own position.
Usage
常用来形容内心不安、恐惧的状态。
Often used to describe a state of inner uneasiness and fear.
Examples
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他总是小心翼翼，生怕别人发现他的秘密，心里一直芒刺在背。
tā zǒngshì xiǎoxīn yìyi, shēngpà biérén fāxiàn tā de mìmì, xīn lǐ yīzhí mángcì zài bèi.
He is always careful, afraid that others will discover his secret, and he always feels uneasy.
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面对强敌，他心中芒刺在背，难以平静。
miàn duì qiángdí, tā xīnzhōng mángcì zài bèi, nán yǐ píngjìng.
Facing a strong enemy, he felt uneasy and could not calm down.
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会议上领导的批评让他芒刺在背，坐立不安。
huìyì shàng lǐngdǎo de pīpíng ràng tā mángcì zài bèi, zuòlì bù'ān。
The criticism from the leader at the meeting made him feel uneasy and restless.