Definition
不胫而走 is a chengyu (four-character idiom) that literally means 'to run without legs'. It is used to describe how news, rumors, or information spreads extremely quickly and widely, as if by itself. The phrase is figurative — you wouldn't use it for literal running or disappearance; the 'without trace' sense in English is a secondary, less common extension for lost objects.
f.e.
to spread like wildfire (of news, rumors, information)
Examples
- 不胫而走，。Zhège xiāoxi bù jìng ér zǒu, hěn kuài jiù chuánbiàn le quán chéng.This news spread like wildfire and soon reached the whole city.
- 不胫而走，。Tā dé jiǎng de xiāoxi bù jìng ér zǒu, dàjiā dōu lái zhùhè.News of his award spread like wildfire, and everyone came to congratulate him.
- 不胫而走，。Zhège yáoyán bù jìng ér zǒu, gōngsī bùdébù gōngkāi chéngqīng.The rumor spread like wildfire, and the company had to publicly clarify.
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