hold power over life and death
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesidiom
to have absolute power over life and death, reward and punishment; to hold the power of life and death
formalOriginally describing the supreme authority of feudal rulers. Now often used to describe anyone with absolute, unchecked power over others. Highly formal and literary register.
Zài在
fēng封
jiàn建
shè社
huì会
，
huáng皇
dì帝
duì对
chén臣
mín民
shēng生
shā杀
yǔ予
duó夺
，
yōng拥
yǒu有
zhì至
gāo高
wú无
shàng上
de的
quán权
lì力
。
In feudal society, the emperor held the power of life and death over his subjects, possessing supreme authority.
Lǎo老
bǎn板
bù不
néng能
duì对
yuán员
gōng工
shēng生
shā杀
yǔ予
duó夺
，
yīng应
gāi该
zūn尊
zhòng重
tā他
men们
de的
hé合
fǎ法
quán权
yì益
。
Bosses cannot have absolute power over their employees; they should respect their legal rights.
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Zhè这
zhǒng种
shēng生
shā杀
yǔ予
duó夺
de的
dà大
quán权
shǐ使
tā他
biàn变
de得
zhuān专
hèng横
bá跋
hù扈
。
This absolute power over life and death made him domineering and arrogant.