be refused entry; be turned away at the door
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesidiom
to be refused entry at the door; to be denied admission; to find the door locked when visiting
Originally referred to being served a 'geng' (thick soup) at the door as a polite way of refusal. Now used broadly for any situation where a visitor is turned away or cannot gain entry.
Tā他
méi没
yǒu有
yù预
yuē约
jiù就
qù去
le了
，
jié结
guǒ果
chī吃
le了
bì闭
mén门
gēng羹
。
He went without an appointment and ended up being turned away at the door.
Wǒ我
qù去
zhǎo找
tā他
shāng商
liàng量
shì事
qing情
，
méi没
xiǎng想
dào到
chī吃
le了
bì闭
mén门
gēng羹
。
I went to discuss something with him, but unexpectedly found the door closed to me.
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Tuī推
xiāo销
yuán员
zuì最
pà怕
de的
jiù就
shì是
chī吃
bì闭
mén门
gēng羹
。
What salespeople fear most is being refused entry.