扬眉吐气

揚眉吐氣

yángméitǔqì

idiom #34,993

Meanings

1 to raise one's brow and let out one's breath
2 to feel proud and elated after long oppression
3 to hold one's head high at last

Characters

to raise; lift up

to spit out; exhale

Examples

中国队夺得金牌，让全国人民扬眉吐气。

Zhōngguó duì duódé jīnpái, ràng quánguó rénmín yángméitǔqì.

The Chinese team's gold medal made the whole nation hold its head high.

经过多年努力，他终于扬眉吐气了。

Jīngguò duōnián nǔlì, tā zhōngyú yángméitǔqì le.

After years of effort, he finally got to feel proud and elated.

Tips

history

From Li Bai's letter 《与韩荆州书》: 何惜阶前盈尺之地，不使白扬眉吐气，激昂青云耶 — Li Bai pleading for a chance to raise his brow and rise on the clouds of glory.

Stroke Order

扬 yáng

眉 méi

吐 tǔ

气 qì