Definition
捏一把汗 is a fixed phrase that literally means 'to pinch a handful of sweat' — a vivid metaphor for feeling so nervous or anxious on someone else's behalf that you break into a cold sweat. It's commonly used in the pattern 为…捏一把汗 ('to be worried/nervous for someone'), where you are anxious about a task or situation that directly affects another person, not yourself.
v.p.
to break into a cold sweat (from worry or anticipation)to be extremely nervous (usually on behalf of someone else)
Examples
- ，捏一把汗。Kàn tā zài tái shàng yǎnjiǎng, wǒ wèi tā niē yī bǎ.Watching him give a speech on stage, I was nervous for him.
- ，捏一把汗。Bǐsài zuìhòu jǐ miǎo zhōng, dàjiā dōu wèi duìyuán niē yī bǎ.In the last few seconds of the game, everyone was on tenterhooks for the players.
- ，捏一把汗。Tā kāichē tài kuài le, zuò zài pángbiān de rén zhí niē yī bǎ.He drove so fast that the person sitting next to him was breaking into a cold sweat.
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