斩钉截铁(斬釘截鐵)

Pronunciation: zhǎn dīng jié tiě Literal meaning: Chop nail cut iron

Origin & Usage

Born in the workshops of Tang Dynasty metalworkers, this phrase captures the clean, decisive action of chopping nails (斩钉) and cutting iron (截铁). The imagery demands absolute commitment - hesitation ruins both material and tools. Song Dynasty administrators adopted it to describe unequivocal decision-making, where clarity outweighs nuance. In contemporary usage, it describes decisions and actions that, like cutting metal, must be executed with singular purpose and no possibility of reversal.

When to Use

Situation: The judge made a decisive ruling that left no room for appeal or interpretation

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