strive to be first and fear falling behind
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesidiom
to vie with each other to be first; to fall over each other
neutralDescribes a situation where people are eager to be first, often resulting in a lack of order. Can be used literally or figuratively.
Yì一
tīng听
shuō说
yǒu有
miǎn免
fèi费
lǐ礼
wù物
，
dà大
jiā家
zhēng争
xiān先
kǒng恐
hòu后
de地
pái排
duì队
。
As soon as they heard there were free gifts, everyone rushed to line up, eager to be first.
Zāi灾
nàn难
fā发
shēng生
shí时
，
rén人
men们
yīng应
gāi该
yǒu有
xù序
chè撤
lí离
，
ér而
bù不
shì是
zhēng争
xiān先
kǒng恐
hòu后
。
When a disaster occurs, people should evacuate in an orderly manner, not push and shove to be first.
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Hái孩
zi子
men们
zhēng争
xiān先
kǒng恐
hòu后
de地
huí回
dá答
lǎo老
shī师
de的
wèn问
tí题
。
The children rushed to answer the teacher's question.