catch a turtle in a jar; a sure catch
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 4 examplesidiom
to catch a turtle in a jar; a sure thing; a guaranteed success; capturing someone who has nowhere to escape
Used to describe situations where success is guaranteed because the target is trapped or surrounded with no escape route. Often used in military, police, or competitive contexts.
Dí敌
rén人
yǐ已
jīng经
bèi被
bāo包
wéi围
le了
，
wǒ我
men们
zhè这
cì次
shì是
wèng瓮
zhōng中
zhuō捉
biē鳖
。
The enemy is already surrounded; this time it's like catching a turtle in a jar.
Yǒu有
le了
zhè这
xiē些
zhèng证
jù据
，
zhuā抓
tā他
jiù就
shì是
wèng瓮
zhōng中
zhuō捉
biē鳖
。
With this evidence, arresting him will be a sure thing.
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Zhè这
cì次
xíng行
dòng动
bù布
zhì置
yán严
mì密
，
kě可
yǐ以
shuō说
shì是
wèng瓮
zhōng中
zhuō捉
biē鳖
，
wàn万
wú无
yī一
shī失
。
This operation is meticulously planned; you could say it's like catching a turtle in a jar—absolutely foolproof.
Bǎ把
tā他
piàn骗
jìn进
zhè这
gè个
fáng房
jiān间
，
wǒ我
men们
jiù就
kě可
yǐ以
wèng瓮
zhōng中
zhuō捉
biē鳖
le了
。
Lure him into this room, and then we can catch him like a turtle in a jar.