任人摆布

任人擺布
rènrénbǎibù
idiom #32,301

Meanings

  1. 1 to let oneself be ordered around at others' will
  2. 2 to be at someone's mercy
  3. 3 to be a pushover / a puppet

Examples

Wǒ cái bù huì rènrénbǎibù.
There's no way I'll let myself be pushed around.
Ruòxiǎo de guójiā róngyì rènrénbǎibù.
Weak countries easily end up at others' mercy.

Tips

usage
Strongly negative — used to criticize spinelessness or to vow not to be bullied. 摆布 originally means to arrange chess pieces or furniture; to be 任人摆布 is to be moved around like a chess piece. Often paired with 任人宰割 ('let others slaughter you'), as in 任人摆布任人宰割.

Stroke Order

rèn
rén
bǎi