悬崖勒马

Pronunciation: xuán yá lè mǎ
Literal meaning: Pull horse at cliff edge

Origin & Usage

This vivid idiom describes pulling (勒) a horse's reins at the edge of a cliff (悬崖), drawing from actual incidents along the treacherous mountain paths of ancient China. Military chronicles from the Warring States period detail how skilled horsemen would train their steeds to stop abruptly at dangerous precipices. The phrase gained wider use during the Ming Dynasty as a metaphor for last-minute course correction. In contemporary usage, it describes the crucial moment of recognizing and averting danger, whether in business decisions, personal relationships, or moral choices. It emphasizes both the importance of vigilance and the possibility of redemption even at the final moment.

Examples

English: "The company halted the risky project just before major losses occurred"

Chinese: 公司在发生重大损失之前及时叫停了高风险项目

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