Meaning of 拖泥带水
拖泥带水 means to do things in a messy or complicated way; to be long-winded or indecisive in speech or action. Pronounced tuō ní dài shuǐ.
- to do things in a messy or complicated way; to be long-winded or indecisive in speech or action
Definitions & Examples
Tā他
shuō说
huà话
zǒng总
shì是
tuō拖
ní泥
dài带
shuǐ水
de的
，
shuō说
bàn半
tiān天
yě也
shuō说
bu不
qīng清
chu楚
。
He always speaks in a long-winded way, talking for ages without making things clear.
Xiě写
wén文
zhāng章
yào要
jiǎn简
jié洁
míng明
liǎo了
，
bù不
yào要
tuō拖
ní泥
dài带
shuǐ水
。
Writing should be concise and clear, not long-winded.
Zuò做
shì事
yào要
guǒ果
duàn断
，
bù不
néng能
tuō拖
ní泥
dài带
shuǐ水
。
One must be decisive in doing things, not sloppy or hesitant.
Zhè这
gè个
bào报
gào告
xiě写
de得
tài太
tuō拖
ní泥
dài带
shuǐ水
le了
，
xū需
yào要
shān删
jiǎn减
。
This report is written in too convoluted a manner and needs to be cut down.