回马枪

回馬槍

huímǎqiāng

noun #43,977

Meanings

1 sudden counterattack
2 lit. a spear thrust as one wheels the horse around
3 (fig.) catching a pursuer off guard

Characters

return, turn back

Examples

他杀了个回马枪，把对手打了个措手不及。

Tā shāle ge huímǎqiāng, bǎ duìshǒu dǎle ge cuòshǒubùjí.

He turned around and counterattacked, catching his opponent completely off guard.

球队下半场来了个回马枪，连进两球。

Qiúduì xiàbànchǎng láile ge huímǎqiāng, lián jìn liǎng qiú.

The team made a sharp comeback in the second half, scoring two goals in a row.

Tips

culture

From classical battlefield tactics: a horseman pretends to flee, then suddenly turns and thrusts his spear at the pursuer. Famously used by 马超 Ma Chao in Romance of the Three Kingdoms. The fixed phrase is 杀回马枪 (sha huimaqiang) - 'to deal out a turn-around spear.'

usage

Now used widely beyond combat - in business, sports, exams, debates - whenever someone makes a surprise comeback or unexpected counter-move.

Stroke Order

回 huí

马 mǎ

枪 qiāng