迫在眉睫
迫在眉睫 (pò zài méi jié) literally means “pressing at brow and lash” and expresses “extremely urgent”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving life philosophy.
Also searched as: po zai mei jie, po zai mei jie,迫在眉睫 meaning, 迫在眉睫 in english
Extremely urgent
Pronunciation: pò zài méi jié Literal meaning: Pressing at brow and lash
Origin & Usage
Pressing (迫) at (在) the brow (眉) and lashes (睫). The measurement is the point: the gap between eyebrow and eyelash is a few millimetres, so the phrase places the threat inside the distance at which anything can be done about it. That makes it stronger than ordinary urgency, which implies time remaining. Deadlines that have arrived rather than approached, and crises already in contact — and it is the standard register of official language about emergencies.
Examples
English: "The deadline was so close that immediate action was necessary"
Chinese: 截止日期迫在眉睫，需要立即采取行动
Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about life philosophy
迫不及待
pò bù jí dài
Can't wait; eager
Learn more →
悬崖勒马
xuán yá lè mǎ
Stop before too late
Learn more →
急于求成
jí yú qiú chéng
Be impatient for success; rush things
Learn more →
欲速不达
yù sù bù dá
Haste makes waste; more haste less speed
Learn more →
自由自在
zì yóu zì zài
Completely free and unrestrained
Learn more →
胜券在握
shèng quàn zài wò
Have victory assured; be confident of winning
Learn more →
势在必行
shì zài bì xíng
No longer optional
Learn more →
成竹在胸
chéng zhú zài xiōng
Have a well-thought-out plan; be confident
Learn more →
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 迫在眉睫 mean in English?
迫在眉睫 (pò zài méi jié) literally translates to “Pressing at brow and lash” and is used to express “Extremely urgent”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Life Philosophy category.
When is 迫在眉睫 used?
Situation: The deadline was so close that immediate action was necessary
What is the pinyin for 迫在眉睫?
The pinyin pronunciation for 迫在眉睫 is “pò zài méi jié”.
Curated Lists Featuring 迫在眉睫
10 Chinese Idioms About Power & Authority
Commanding Chinese idioms about power, authority, and the responsibilities that come with leadership.
SBTI ZZZZ Personality — 5 Chinese Idioms for the Deadliner Type
SBTI ZZZZ activates only at the deadline. 5 Chinese idioms (chengyu) for this last-minute, emergency-awakened personality.