tiu4 meng6 dung3 gwo3 seoi2條命凍過水条命冻过水
Jyutpingtiu4 meng6 dung3 gwo3 seoi2
Yaletìuh mehng dung gwo séui
Definition
In great danger; facing a life-threatening situation where one could die at any moment.
colloquialemotionpeople
How it's used
This idiom uses the imagery of a body losing heat to describe a situation where someone is on the verge of death or facing a catastrophic outcome. It is often used hyperbolically to describe someone who has made a grave mistake or offended a powerful person, implying that their situation is beyond saving.
Examples
He caused such a huge disaster this time, his life is really in serious danger.
Why don't you leave quickly? If you stay here any longer, your life will be in grave danger!
Related words
Common phrases
really in great danger
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with the literal temperature of water. It is strictly used to describe a person's life or safety, not the state of an object or a literal cold environment.
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.
