collapse at the first touch; crumble immediately
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesidiom
to collapse at the first touch; to crumble immediately upon contact; (of troops) to be utterly routed at the slightest engagement
Originally a military term describing demoralized troops that flee immediately upon engaging the enemy. Now also used metaphorically for any weak organization, system, or argument that fails under slight pressure.
Dí敌
jūn军
shì士
qì气
huàn涣
sàn散
，
yī一
chù触
jí即
kuì溃
。
The enemy troops were demoralized and collapsed at the first touch.
Tā他
men们
de的
fáng防
xiàn线
kàn看
sì似
jiān坚
gù固
，
shí实
zé则
yī一
chù触
jí即
kuì溃
。
Their defense line looked solid, but in reality it would crumble at the slightest contact.
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Zhè这
zhī支
duì队
wu伍
guǎn管
lǐ理
sōng松
sǎn散
，
dào到
le了
sài赛
chǎng场
shàng上
kǒng恐
pà怕
huì会
yī一
chù触
jí即
kuì溃
。
This team is loosely managed; I'm afraid they would fall apart immediately once on the field.