at daggers drawn; tension on the verge of breaking out
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesidiom
at daggers drawn; in a tense confrontation
formalUsed to describe a situation of high tension and hostility, where conflict could break out at any moment. Can describe military standoffs, heated arguments, or intense rivalries.
Tán谈
pàn判
zhuō桌
shàng上
shuāng双
fāng方
dài代
biǎo表
zhēn针
fēng锋
xiāng相
duì对
，
qì气
fēn氛
jiàn剑
bá拔
nǔ弩
zhāng张
。
The representatives of both sides were sharply opposed at the negotiation table, the atmosphere was at daggers drawn.
Zhè这
liǎng两
zhī支
zú足
qiú球
duì队
shì是
duō多
nián年
de的
sù宿
dí敌
，
měi每
cì次
bǐ比
sài赛
qián前
dōu都
jiàn剑
bá拔
nǔ弩
zhāng张
。
These two football teams are long-time rivals; before every match, tensions are at a boiling point.
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Jīng经
guò过
yī一
fān番
tiáo调
jiě解
，
jiàn剑
bá拔
nǔ弩
zhāng张
de的
jú局
miàn面
cái才
huǎn缓
hé和
xià下
lái来
。
After some mediation, the tense situation finally eased.