as silent as a winter cicada; too afraid to speak
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesadjective
too scared to make a sound; dead silent (out of fear)
literaryUsed to describe a person or group who is intimidated into complete silence. The idiom paints a vivid picture by comparing the quiet person to a cicada in cold weather, which cannot chirp.
Lǎo老
bǎn板
dà大
fā发
léi雷
tíng霆
hòu后
，
zhěng整
gè个
bàn办
gōng公
shì室
de的
rén人
dōu都
jìn噤
ruò若
hán寒
chán蝉
。
After the boss flew into a rage, everyone in the entire office was as silent as cicadas in winter.
Miàn面
duì对
yán严
lì厉
de的
zhì质
wèn问
，
tā他
xià吓
de得
jìn噤
ruò若
hán寒
chán蝉
，
yī一
gè个
zì字
yě也
shuō说
bu不
chū出
lái来
。
Faced with the severe questioning, he was so frightened he didn't dare make a sound and couldn't utter a single word.
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Zài在
nà那
gè个
quán权
wēi威
rén人
wù物
miàn面
qián前
，
píng平
shí时
ài爱
shuō说
huà话
de的
tā他
yě也
jìn噤
ruò若
hán寒
chán蝉
le了
。
In front of that authoritative figure, even he, who usually loves to talk, fell as silent as a winter cicada.