偃旗息鼓

yǎnqí-xīgǔ

idiom #78,335

Meanings

1 to lower the flags and still the drums
2 to cease fighting; to call off an action
3 to give up or back down quietly

Characters

to lay down; to lower

to stop; to rest

Examples

HSK 6

眼看形势不利，他们只好偃旗息鼓。

Yǎnkàn xíngshì bùlì, tāmen zhǐhǎo yǎnqí-xīgǔ.

Seeing the situation turn against them, they had no choice but to call things off.

HSK 7-9

争论了一阵，双方偃旗息鼓。

Zhēnglùn le yīzhèn, shuāngfāng yǎnqí-xīgǔ.

After arguing for a while, both sides quieted down.

Tips

history

From Pei Songzhi's commentary on 《三国志·蜀书·赵云传》: Zhao Yun, retreating into camp, flung open the gates, lowered the flags and silenced the drums. Cao Cao's troops, suspecting ambush, pulled back. A famous feint rather than a real surrender.

usage

Often implies a quiet, face-saving retreat rather than outright defeat. Can describe campaigns, protests, arguments, or business pushes that are dropped.

Stroke Order

偃 yǎn

旗 qí

息 xī

鼓 gǔ