change the course of events; reverse a situation
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 4 examplesidiom
to change the course of events; to reverse a desperate situation; to exercise great power
literaryOriginally from Du Fu's poetry. Often used to describe someone with the power to change the world or reverse an established situation.
Tā他
lì力
dà大
wú无
qióng穷
，
zhēn真
yǒu有
xuán旋
zhuǎn转
qián乾
kūn坤
zhī之
néng能
。
He possesses immense strength, truly having the ability to move heaven and earth.
Zhè这
wèi位
lǐng领
dǎo导
rén人
yǒu有
xuán旋
zhuǎn转
qián乾
kūn坤
de的
běn本
lǐng领
，
bǎ把
gōng公
sī司
cóng从
pò破
chǎn产
biān边
yuán缘
jiù救
le了
huí回
lái来
。
This leader has the power to reverse the situation, saving the company from the brink of bankruptcy.
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Kē科
xué学
jiā家
xī希
wàng望
néng能
xuán旋
zhuǎn转
qián乾
kūn坤
，
gǎi改
biàn变
shā沙
mò漠
huà化
de的
qū趋
shì势
。
Scientists hope to change the course of nature and reverse the trend of desertification.
Zài在
zhè这
yàng样
de的
jué绝
jìng境
zhōng中
，
zhǐ只
yǒu有
xuán旋
zhuǎn转
qián乾
kūn坤
de的
zhì智
zhě者
cái才
néng能
zhǎo找
dào到
chū出
lù路
。
In such a desperate situation, only a wise person with the power to reverse circumstances can find a way out.