Dictionary › 捉襟见肘

捉襟见肘

zhuō jīn jiàn zhǒu

4-character word Traditional 捉襟見肘

What 捉襟见肘 means

1. lit. pulling on the lapels exposes the elbows (idiom)
2. strapped for cash
3. unable to make ends meet

The characters in 捉襟见肘

• 捉zhuōto clutch; to grab; to capture
• 襟jīnlapel; overlap of Chinese gown; fig. bosom (the seat of emotions)
• 见jiànto see; to meet; to appear (to be sth)
• 肘zhǒuelbow; pork shoulder