tin1 lo4 dei6 mong5天羅地網天罗地网
Jyutpingtin1 lo4 dei6 mong5
Yaletīn lòh deih móhng
Definition
An inescapable dragnet or tight encirclement.
colloquialpeopleother
How it's used
This idiom is almost exclusively used in contexts involving police operations, security measures, or strategic planning where a target is completely surrounded. It carries a dramatic, high-stakes tone often found in crime dramas or news reports about major manhunts. While it can be used metaphorically in business or personal situations to describe a situation where someone is trapped by circumstances, it always implies a sense of overwhelming, inescapable control.
Measure word
go3個goExamples
The police set up a tight dragnet, the thief cannot escape even with wings.
Related words
Common phrases
to set a dragnet
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for a literal net or a physical trap, but it is a figurative expression for a comprehensive strategy or blockade. Do not use it to describe simple physical traps like a mouse trap or a fishing net.
Grammar color guide
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Grammar guides
- TonesCantonese has six tones, and the tones can change in certain grammatical contexts. Learn the six tones and the rules for tone change.
- Time and datesClock time, days of the week, months, and years. The patterns you need to make plans and talk about when things happen.
- Modal verbsHow to say can, will, may, should, must, and want. The core modal verbs of Cantonese and the differences that trip up beginners.
