to be exasperated at sb.'s failure to meet expectations
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 4 examplesidiom
to be exasperated at someone's failure to improve; to wish iron would turn into steel
neutralOften used by parents, teachers, or superiors to express frustration and high expectations towards someone (usually younger or subordinate) who is not living up to their potential. The frustration stems from a place of care and hope.
Fù父
qin亲
duì对
tā他
de的
xué学
xí习
chéng成
jì绩
hěn很
bù不
mǎn满
yì意
，
zhēn真
shì是
hèn恨
tiě铁
bù不
chéng成
gāng钢
。
His father is very dissatisfied with his academic performance; it's a classic case of wishing iron would turn into steel.
Jiào教
liàn练
mà骂
tā他
men们
，
yě也
shì是
hèn恨
tiě铁
bù不
chéng成
gāng钢
，
xī希
wàng望
tā他
men们
néng能
ná拿
guàn冠
jūn军
。
The coach scolds them out of exasperation, hoping they can win the championship.
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Lǎo老
shī师
duì对
wǒ我
yán严
lì厉
shì是
hèn恨
tiě铁
bù不
chéng成
gāng钢
，
wǒ我
xīn心
lǐ里
míng明
bai白
。
I understand that the teacher is strict with me because she wants me to succeed.
Kàn看
dào到
ér儿
zi子
zhěng整
tiān天
wán玩
yóu游
xì戏
，
mǔ母
qin亲
yǒu有
zhǒng种
hèn恨
tiě铁
bù不
chéng成
gāng钢
de的
wú无
nài奈
。
Seeing her son play games all day, the mother feels a helpless exasperation.