fly on the eaves and run on the walls
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesidiom
to be so agile and light-footed as to be able to fly over eaves and run on walls
literaryOriginally from classical Chinese martial arts fiction (wuxia), describing the extraordinary qinggong (轻功) skills of martial artists. Used metaphorically to describe someone with exceptional agility or the ability to move quickly and effortlessly in difficult environments. Maintains a literary/descriptive register.
It is said that the martial arts hero possessed superb lightness skills, capable of flying over eaves and running on walls, coming and going without a trace.
In the movie, the ninjas all possess unique skills, traversing eaves and walls as if walking on flat ground.
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The alleyways of this ancient city are narrow and the terrain complex; one almost needs the skill of flying over eaves and walls to navigate it quickly.