take advantage of initial momentum; press on to the finish without letup
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
2 senses · 4 examplesidiom
to press on with an initial burst of energy; to get something done in one sustained effort
formal常用于鼓励人们做事要抓住有利时机，趁势头正盛时一举成功，不要拖延。
Wǒ我
men们
yī一
gǔ鼓
zuò作
qì气
，
tiān天
hēi黑
qián前
jiù就
bǎ把
suǒ所
yǒu有
gōng工
zuò作
dōu都
zuò做
wán完
le了
。
We pressed on with an initial burst of energy and finished all the work before dark.
Qiú球
duì队
kāi开
chǎng场
jiù就
lián连
jìn进
liǎng两
qiú球
，
quán全
duì队
yī一
gǔ鼓
zuò作
qì气
ná拿
xià下
le了
bǐ比
sài赛
。
The team scored two goals right after kick-off and, riding on that momentum, went on to win the game.
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Chèn趁
zhe着
yǒu有
líng灵
gǎn感
，
tā他
yī一
gǔ鼓
zuò作
qì气
xiě写
wán完
le了
xiǎo小
shuō说
de的
dì第
yī一
zhāng章
。
Taking advantage of his inspiration, he wrote the first chapter of the novel in one go.
idiom
(original meaning) fighting spirit peaks at the first drumbeat and wanes thereafter
archaic此为成语的字面及历史典故含义，强调勇气或劲头随时间递减的规律。
《
Zuǒ左
zhuàn传
》
yǒu有
yún云
：
“
yī一
gǔ鼓
zuò作
qì气
，
zài再
ér而
shuāi衰
，
sān三
ér而
jié竭
。
”
The Zuo Commentary states: 'Fighting spirit is at its peak with the first drumbeat, wanes with the second, and is exhausted with the third.'