拉长线

拉長線
lāchángxiàn
idiom

Meanings

  1. 1 to play the long game
  2. 2 to make long-term arrangements
  3. 3 to set up a long line (fig.)

Examples

Zhè jiàn shì jí bu dé, děi lāchángxiàn mànmàn lái.
This matter can't be rushed. We have to play the long game.
Gōngsī zài hǎiwài shìchǎng lāchángxiàn, zhǔnbèi dǎ chíjiǔzhàn.
The company is playing the long game in overseas markets, prepared for a drawn-out fight.
Tāmen lāchángxiàn diào dà yú.
They're setting a long line to catch a big fish.

Tips

memory
The image is a fisherman paying out a long line to catch a bigger fish later. 拉长线大鱼 is the full proverb behind this phrase.

Stroke Order

cháng
线 xiàn