Definition
扳手 is a verb-object phrase (v.o.) that can mean either (1) literally 'to hold back or pull someone's hand', or (2) colloquially 'to be short of money, to be strapped for cash'. The literal sense is a physical action, while the figurative sense is used in informal speech to describe financial difficulty. As a v.o., it can be split (e.g., 扳了手) when adding aspect particles or measure words.
v.o.
(v.o., literal) to hold back or pull someone's hand(v.o., colloquial) to be short of moneyto be strapped for cash
Examples
- ，。Tā yònglì bān le yíxià wǒ de shǒu, shìyì wǒ bié shuōhuà.He forcefully pulled my hand, signaling me not to speak.
- 扳手，。Zuìjìn shǒutóu hěn bān shǒu, mǎi bú qǐ xīn shǒujī.I've been very short of money lately, can't afford a new phone.
- 扳手，。Zhège yuè bān shǒu le sān gè yuè, zhōngyú děng dào fā gōngzī.I've been broke for three months this time, finally waiting for payday.
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