seoi2 zam3 ngaan5 mei4水浸眼眉
Jyutpingseoi2 zam3 ngaan5 mei4
Yaleséui jam ngáahn mèih
Definition
To be in a desperate situation; running out of time in a crisis.
colloquialemotionwork
How it's used
This idiom vividly describes the feeling of being overwhelmed by an imminent deadline or a sudden crisis. It implies that the pressure has reached a critical point where immediate action is required to avoid disaster. It is frequently used in professional or high-stress environments to urge someone to stop procrastinating.
Examples
It is a desperate situation, why don't you think of a solution quickly?
The boss said the goods must be delivered tomorrow, it is really a crisis.
Related words
Common phrases
as urgent as a crisis
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
