一网打尽

Pronunciation: yī wǎng dǎ jìn Literal meaning: Capture all in one net

Origin & Usage

Commonly used in classical Chinese, the idiom 一网打尽 (yī wǎng dǎ jìn) paints a vivid image of capturing everything in one net. The phrase is often used to describe a strategy or action that aims to achieve total success or to leave nothing behind. The characters 一 (yī) mean 'one', 网 (wǎng) means 'net', 打 (dǎ) means 'to hit or strike', and 尽 (jìn) means 'to exhaust or use up'. In modern usage, this idiom is applied in contexts where a comprehensive or all-encompassing approach is taken, such as in business strategies or problem-solving scenarios, where the goal is to address all aspects or capture all opportunities in one decisive action.

Examples

English: "The detective set a trap to catch all the suspects in one go."

Chinese: 侦探设下圈套，一网打尽所有嫌疑犯。