hold back one's skills; keep a trick up one's sleeve
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 4 examplesverb phrase
hold back one's skills/knowledge; keep a trick up one's sleeve
informalOften implies a lack of full trust, a sense of competition, or the intention to maintain an advantage. Commonly used in contexts involving teaching, competition, or trade secrets.
Zhè这
wèi位
lǎo老
chú厨
shī师
zhōng终
yú于
jué决
dìng定
bù不
liú留
yī一
shǒu手
，
bǎ把
zǔ祖
chuán传
mì秘
fāng方
chuán传
gěi给
le了
tú徒
dì弟
。
The old chef finally decided not to hold back and passed the family secret recipe to his apprentice.
Zài在
bǐ比
sài赛
zhōng中
，
tā他
kě可
néng能
hái还
liú留
le了
yī一
shǒu手
，
méi没
yǒu有
shǐ使
chū出
quán全
lì力
。
He might still be holding back some of his strength in the competition.
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Tā他
jiāo教
tú徒
dì弟
shí时
cóng从
bù不
liú留
yī一
shǒu手
，
zǒng总
shì是
qīng倾
náng囊
xiāng相
shòu授
。
He never holds back when teaching his apprentices; he always teaches them everything he knows.
Zuò做
shī师
fu父
de的
yào要
dà大
qì气
，
bié别
zǒng总
xiǎng想
zhe着
liú留
yī一
shǒu手
。
A master should be generous and not always think about keeping a trick up their sleeve.