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Home / Idiom / 破釜沉舟

lit. to break the cauldrons and sink the boats (idiom); fig. to cut off one's means of retreat · to burn one's boats

破釜沉舟
pò fǔ chén zhōu
p+ò·4th tonef+ǔ·3rd tonech+én·2nd tonezh+ōu·1st tone
Idiom
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Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms
honor does not allow one to glance back (idiom); duty-bound not to turn back · no surrender · to pursue justice with no second thoughts义无反顾yì wú fǎn gùlit. fight with one's back to the river (idiom); fig. to fight to win or die背水一战bèi shuǐ yī zhàn(idiom) to fight to the death; to wage a life-or-death battle决一死战jué yī sǐ zhànfirm · steady · staunch · resolute坚定jiān dìnglit. either don't do it, or don't rest (idiom) · fig. if you do it at all, you may as well go the whole hog · in for a penny, in for a pound一不做，二不休yī bù zuò , èr bù xiūlit. not to have breakfast until the enemy is destroyed · anxious to do battle (idiom)灭此朝食miè cǐ zhāo shí
Antonyms
indecisive · irresolute优柔寡断yōu róu guǎ duànlit. to look forward and back (idiom) · fig. to consider carefully; to weigh the pros and cons · fig. to be overcautious and indecisive瞻前顾后zhān qián gù hòuto hesitate over what move to make (idiom); to waver · to shilly-shally举棋不定jǔ qí bù dìng
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