偃旗息鼓

yǎnqíxīgǔ

idiom #78,335

Meanings

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

Characters

to lay down; to lower

to stop; to rest

Examples

眼看形势不利，他们只好偃旗息鼓。

Yǎnkàn xíngshì bùlì, tāmen zhǐhǎo yǎnqíxīgǔ.

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

争论了一阵，双方偃旗息鼓。

Zhēnglùnle yīzhèn, shuāngfāng yǎnqíxīgǔ.

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