Definition
撂挑子 is a colloquial separable verb (离合词) that literally means 'to put down the carrying pole' — a worker walking off the job. Figuratively, it means to quit one's job or abandon a responsibility in a huff, often as a protest. As a separable verb, you can insert aspect markers or modifiers between 撂 and 挑子, e.g. 撂了挑子 ('quit in a huff'), 撂过挑子 ('has quit before'). The object is always 挑子; you don't add another object after the compound.
v.o.
to quit one's job or abandon a responsibility in a huffto throw in the towel
Examples
- ，撂挑子。Tā yīnwèi bù mǎnyì gōngsī de zhèngcè, zhíjiē liāo le.He quit in a huff because he was dissatisfied with the company's policies.
- ，。Zhège xiàngmù cái zuò dào yībàn, tā jiù liào le tiāozi.He abandoned the project halfway through.
- 撂挑子。Dàjiā dōu bù yuànyì zài guānjiàn shíkè liāo.Nobody wants to throw in the towel at a critical moment.
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