打边鼓

打邊鼓

dǎbiāngǔ

idiom

Meanings

1 to beat the side drum
2 to chime in in support
3 to assist from the sidelines, often by cheering someone else on

Characters

Examples

主角不开口，配角在旁边直打边鼓。

Zhǔjiǎo bù kāikǒu, pèijiǎo zài pángbiān zhí dǎ biān gǔ.

The lead wouldn't speak, so the sidekick kept drumming up support from the side.

他求婚的时候，朋友在旁边打边鼓。

Tā qiúhūn de shíhou, péngyǒu zài pángbiān dǎ biān gǔ.

When he proposed, his friends were cheering him on from the sidelines.

谈判主要靠他，我只是打边鼓。

Tánpàn zhǔyào kào tā, wǒ zhǐshì dǎ biān gǔ.

He did the real negotiating — I just backed him up.

Tips

usage

Image from old opera: while the lead drum drives the action, the side drum adds supporting rhythm. 打边鼓 = you're not the main voice but you're adding pressure and energy to someone else's pitch.

Stroke Order

打 dǎ

边 biān

鼓 gǔ