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Home / Idiom / 隔岸观火

to watch the fires burning across the river · to delay entering the fray until all others have been exhausted by fighting amongst themselves (idiom)

隔岸观火
gé àn guān huǒ
Idiom
Chain
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Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms
(idiom) to observe with an indifferent attitude; to be a bystander (usually referring to someone who could get involved but chooses not to)冷眼旁观lěng yǎn páng guānto wait and see; to watch from the sidelines · to look around; to survey观望guān wàngsit by and watch · stay behind the breastworks and watch others fight · be an onlooker · look on with folded arms作壁上观zuò bì shàng guānto sit and await success or failure (idiom); to wait to see the outcome of a fight before taking sides · to sit on the fence坐观成败zuò guān chéng bài
Antonyms
(idiom, from the Analects) (usu. of a passer-by who comes across a critical situation) to step in and help; to take brave or selfless action见义勇为jiàn yì yǒng wéi(idiom) to experience it for oneself · to actually *be* there (as opposed to reading about it etc)身临其境shēn lín qí jìng