Definition
扬眉吐气 is a four-character idiom that literally means 'to raise one's eyebrows and exhale' — a vivid image of releasing pent-up frustration. It's used when someone finally achieves success or recognition after a period of hardship or oppression, conveying a strong sense of pride and relief. You'll hear it in contexts like sports victories, career breakthroughs, or national independence.
v.p.
to feel proud and elated (after overcoming difficulties or humiliation)
Examples
- ，扬眉吐气。Zhè cì bǐsài yíng le, tā zhōngyú yáng méi tǔ le.Winning this competition, he finally felt proud and relieved.
- ，扬眉吐气，。Jīngguò duō nián fèndòu, tā zhōngyú yáng méi tǔ, dāng shàng le jīnglǐ.After years of hard work, she finally felt proud and became a manager.
- 扬眉吐气。Guózú chūxiàn de xiāoxi ràng quánguó rénmín yáng méi tǔ.The news of the national football team advancing made the whole country feel proud and elated.
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