straighten one's back; stand up to oppression
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesverb
to straighten one's body; (figurative) to stand up to bullying or oppression
Literally refers to stretching the back or waist to relieve stiffness; figuratively means regaining dignity and no longer submitting to humiliation or oppression.
Tā他
zuò坐
le了
yī一
xià下
wǔ午
，
zhàn站
qǐ起
lái来
shēn伸
le了
shēn伸
yāo腰
。
He had been sitting all afternoon, so he stood up and stretched his back.
Lǎo老
bǎi百
xìng姓
zhōng终
yú于
néng能
shēn伸
yāo腰
le了
，
bù不
zài再
shòu受
dì地
zhǔ主
qī欺
fu负
。
The common people could finally stand up for themselves and were no longer bullied by the landlords.
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Shēn伸
ge个
yāo腰
，
jì继
xù续
gàn干
huó活
。
Stretch your back and continue working.