ceot1 zeon6 baat3 bou2出盡八寶出尽八宝
Jyutpingceot1 zeon6 baat3 bou2
Yalechēut jeuhn baat bóu
Definition
To exhaust all possible means, using every resource and creative approach, to accomplish a task.
colloquialdaily actionswork
How it's used
This idiom implies a sense of desperation or intense effort, often involving a mix of conventional methods and creative, sometimes unconventional, tricks. It is frequently used when someone is trying to win someone over or solve a particularly stubborn problem. The imagery suggests a performer or magician reaching into their bag of tricks until nothing is left.
Examples
They really exhausted every possible means to make the event a success.
Do you really need to pull out all the stops just to please that client?
Common phrases
to pull out all the stops to coax someone
to exhaust all means to solve
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with simply working hard, as it specifically highlights the variety and creativity of the methods used. It is not used for routine tasks but rather for situations where one is struggling to achieve a specific outcome.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
- Possession (嘅)How to say my, your, and his, and how to link a describing word to a noun, all with the little word 嘅 (ge3).
