捏一把汗

niēyībǎhàn

idiom #57,500

Meanings

1 to break out in a cold sweat (with anxiety)
2 to be on edge worrying about someone
3 a nail-biter

Characters

handful (measure word)

Examples

看他走钢丝，我真替他捏一把汗。

Kàn tā zǒu gāngsī, wǒ zhēn tì tā niē yī bǎ hàn.

Watching him on the tightrope, I was really sweating for him.

比赛到最后一分钟，大家都捏了一把汗。

Bǐsài dào zuìhòu yī fēnzhōng, dàjiā dōu niē le yī bǎ hàn.

With the match down to the last minute, everyone was on edge.

听到他的冒险计划，我不禁捏了一把汗。

Tīng dào tā de màoxiǎn jìhuà, wǒ bùjīn niē le yī bǎ hàn.

Hearing his risky plan, I couldn't help breaking into a nervous sweat.

Tips

history

Attested in 《红楼梦》 chapter 62: a character anxious about being found out 'each day clenched a fistful of sweat' (每日捏一把汗) waiting for news.

memory

Literally 'to pinch a handful of sweat' — you're gripping so hard with tension your palms go clammy. Often preceded by 替 ('for someone') or 为 ('because of').

Stroke Order

捏 niē

一 yī

把 bǎ

汗 hàn