fei1 ceot1 sau2 zi2 laa3飛出手指罅飞出手指罅

Jyutpingfei1 ceot1 sau2 zi2 laa3

Yalefēi chēut sáu jí la

語句

Definition

To escape someone's control; to get away or slip through someone's fingers.

colloquialmoneydaily actions

How it's used

This idiom is primarily used when referring to opportunities, money, or people that one has failed to retain or control. It carries a sense of regret or frustration, emphasizing that the object was almost within grasp before it escaped. It is rarely used for physical objects that are simply lost, but rather for things that were actively being managed or pursued.

Examples

le1呢daan1單saang1生ji3意caa1差di1啲zau6就fei1飛ceot1出sau2手zi2指laa3罅laa3喇。

This business deal almost slipped through my fingers.

nei5你tai2睇gan2緊di1啲cin2錢，m4唔hou2好bei2畀keoi4佢fei1飛ceot1出sau2手zi2指laa3罅aa4呀。

Keep an eye on your money, don't let it slip away.

Common phrases

caa1差di1啲fei1飛ceot1出sau2手zi2指laa3罅

almost slipped through the fingers

Common mistake

Learners often mistake this for a literal description of something falling through fingers, but it is strictly metaphorical. Do not use it to describe dropping a physical item like a pen or a phone.