lam4 tin1 gwong1 laai6 niu6臨天光瀨尿临天光濑尿

Jyutpinglam4 tin1 gwong1 laai6 niu6

Yalelàhm tīn gwōng laaih niuh

語句

Definition

To fail at the very last minute right before achieving success.

colloquialother

How it's used

This vivid idiom describes the frustration of failing when the finish line is in sight. It is often used to warn someone to stay focused during the final stages of a project or task. The imagery of wetting the bed just before dawn implies that the failure happens when one is most relaxed, thinking the hard work is already over.

Examples

caa1差siu2少siu2少zau6就gaau2搞dim6掂，dim2點zi1知lam4臨tin1天gwong1光laai6瀨niu6尿aa4呀。

It was almost finished, who knew it would fail at the very last minute.

nei5你siu2小sam1心di1啲，m4唔hou2好lam4臨tin1天gwong1光laai6瀨niu6尿aa4呀。

Be careful, don't mess it up right at the end.

Common phrases

lam4臨tin1天gwong1光laai6瀨niu6尿

to fail at the last hurdle

Common mistake

Do not use this to describe a failure that happens early on or in the middle of a process. It specifically refers to a collapse occurring at the final, critical moment of an otherwise successful endeavor.