break into a sweat from nervousness; be extremely worried
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 4 examplesverb phrase
be on tenterhooks; hold one's breath
neutralUsed to describe the physical and emotional reaction of extreme anxiety, often while watching a tense situation unfold.
Kàn看
zhe着
xiǎo小
hái孩
zài在
hé河
biān边
wán玩
shuǎ耍
，
mā妈
ma妈
bù不
jīn禁
niē捏
yī一
bǎ把
hàn汗
。
Watching the child playing by the river, the mother couldn't help but break into a sweat.
Zá杂
jì技
yǎn演
yuán员
biǎo表
yǎn演
zǒu走
gāng钢
sī丝
，
guān观
zhòng众
dōu都
tì替
tā他
niē捏
yī一
bǎ把
hàn汗
。
The acrobat walked the tightrope, and the audience held their breath for him.
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Bǐ比
sài赛
jìn进
rù入
zuì最
hòu后
shí时
kè刻
，
suǒ所
yǒu有
qiú球
mí迷
dōu都
zài在
niē捏
yī一
bǎ把
hàn汗
。
The game entered its final moments, and all the fans were on tenterhooks.
Tā他
shuō说
yào要
zì自
jǐ己
chuàng创
yè业
，
fù父
mǔ母
tīng听
le了
dōu都
niē捏
yī一
bǎ把
hàn汗
。
He said he wanted to start his own business, and his parents broke into a sweat when they heard.