back up from the sidelines; egg on
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesverb
to back up from the sidelines; to echo from the sidelines; to egg on
informalMetaphorical idiom describing assisting or encouraging someone from a secondary position, often by speaking in support or adding momentum to an argument. Also expressed as 打边鼓.
Zhè这
jiàn件
shì事
nǐ你
chū出
mǎ马
，
wǒ我
gěi给
nǐ你
qiāo敲
biān边
gǔ鼓
。
You take the lead on this matter, and I'll back you up from the sidelines.
Tā他
zài在
huì会
shàng上
fā发
yán言
，
jǐ几
gè个
tóng同
shì事
zài在
páng旁
biān边
qiāo敲
biān边
gǔ鼓
。
He spoke at the meeting, with several colleagues chiming in from the sidelines to support him.
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Bié别
guāng光
ràng让
wǒ我
yī一
gè个
rén人
shuō说
，
nǐ你
yě也
lái来
bāng帮
qiāng腔
，
gěi给
wǒ我
qiāo敲
qiao敲
biān边
gǔ鼓
。
Don't just make me do all the talking; you join in too and back me up.