saai3 laang1曬冷晒冷
Definition
To go all-in in a bet; to make a last-ditch effort with all one's resources, or to show off everything one has.
- to go all-in; to bet all one's chips at once
- figurativeto make a last-ditch attempt with all of one's resources
- slangto show off all of one's assets, strength, or connections
How it's used
Originating from Teochew dialect where 冷 refers to people, this term originally described gathering all one's followers to show strength. It has evolved into a versatile metaphor for committing everything to a single cause or showing off one's entire collection of assets. While it carries a sense of high stakes, it is frequently used in casual contexts to describe someone revealing all their cards or resources at once.
Examples
Related words
Common phrases
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 曬馬, which specifically refers to gathering a group of people to intimidate others. While both involve showing off one's full hand, 曬冷 focuses on the total commitment of resources or assets rather than just manpower.
Grammar color guide
Grammar guides
- LocationHow to say where something is using 喺 (hai2), place words like 度, and the common coverbs that work like English prepositions.
- Serial verbsStringing two or more verbs together without any joining word, like go to the shop buy things. Extremely common in Cantonese.
- 將 disposalHow to move the object in front of the verb with 將, to focus on what happens to it. Common in instructions and writing.
